PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Leilani Sechler, LMFT

Leilani received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University of Sacramento and her master’s degree in counseling psychology from National University. During her master’s program she trained as a grief counselor in the hospice department at Kaiser Permanente before settling on a career in eating disorders.

Leilani is the program director at Center for Discovery in Sacramento and has been working in the field of eating disorder treatment since 2012. In addition to eating disorders, Leilani specializes in grief and loss, and PTSD and uses cutting edge Brainspotting therapy to resolve trauma.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Heidi Tash-Ngo, RD

Heidi Tash-Ngo, RD is a Registered Dietitian (RD) specialized in providing nutrition therapy for individuals struggling with disordered eating. She is experienced in treating both adolescents and adults diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and compulsive overeaters.

Heidi has worked in various treatment settings including residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care. Additionally, Heidi completed her dietetic internship at The University of Minnesota, the only program in the nation with an emphasis on eating disorder treatment. Heidi’s comprehensive approach is based on the principles of intuitive eating focusing on weight stabilization, elimination of harmful weight reduction behaviors, normalization of eating patterns and challenging erroneous beliefs about food and nutrition.

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Jessica Beauchene, MD

Dr. Jessica Beauchene completed her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of the Pacific. She then worked on a Master’s Program before attending UC Davis for medical school. She did her psychiatry residency at UCSF-Fresno Campus. While at UCSF she treated several eating disorder patients and trained at the Stanford-Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. She has now returned to Sacramento where she is working with the Placer County Mental Health Services and is the staff psychiatrist for the Center for Discovery in Sacramento.

FACILITY MANAGER/NURSE ADMINISTRATOR

Carolyn Willis, BA

Carolyn Willis received her BS in Community Mental Health Psychology with a Certificate in Addiction Studies from William Jessup University. Prior to joining Discovery, Carolyn worked with YCCC Harmony House specializing in adults with mental health disorders. Carolyn has been working with Center For Discovery Sacramento since 2015. Carolyn has worked in both adolescent and adult residential eating disorder treatment. Carolyn’s favorite aspect of Center For Discovery is the small treatment setting and individualized care that she is able to give clients. Carolyn enjoys hiking, camping, and anything coffee related.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Dr. Sara Shakked, MD

Dr. Shakked is the primary care Physician at Center For Discovery Sacramento residential eating disorder program. She is a family physician that particularly focuses on working with patients with psychiatric issues. Dr. Shakked’s hope is to help clients find and make meaning out of their life narrative. She also has a particular interest in dialectical behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and archetypal patterns as they play out in the individual. Dr. Shakked authored a curriculum manual for therapists who provide care to physicians and has an interest in the physician experience as a sociological construct.