PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Jessica LePera, LMFTA

Jessica LePera is the Program Director at Center for Discovery- Southport ED OP and has been with Discovery since 2017.  Within Discovery’s Eating Disorder Programs, Jessica started her experience working as a Counselor III at the Adolescent RTC Facility in Southport, CT. Jessica continued by joining Greenwich IOP/PHP as a Program Therapist and became the Path to Peace lead due to her joy of working with the Binge Eating Disorder population. Jessica moved to the New Haven OP facility as Program Director before transitioning to Southport OP.

Jessica received her Bachelors degree from Southern Connecticut State University in Psychology, minoring in Forensics. She then continued her education at SCSU by gaining a Masters Degree in Marital and Family Therapy as well as certifications in Gestalt Therapy and Evidenced Based Practices. Jessica’s interest in trauma work influenced her to receive EMDR basic training and is continuing to work towards hours for certification. She has worked with both children and adults providing individual, family and group therapy while using a systemic lens.

Jessica has a passion for using theory in therapy that decreases anxiety, while increasing self- esteem and overall self-worth. Jessica’s goal within therapy is to bring the awareness of the clients inner strengths into their journey of recovery.

FACILITY COORDINATOR

Toni Brown

Toni Brown has a passion for working with the children and adult population which is what bought her to Center for Discovery. She began her journey with Center for Discovery in one of our Connecticut’s Eating Disorder Facility as a counselor/on call facility manager she recently joined the Southport Outpatient facility to further her career as a Facility Coordinator.

Toni will continue to pursue her education in Business Management to receive her degree. Her long term goal is to work in Operations so she can continue to assist clients towards their recovery.

As the Facility Coordinator, Toni handles daily operations including administrative duties, research, clinical documentation, and customer service. Toni continues to strive to keep the adolescents and staff safe while keeping the facility a place they can call home.

In Toni’s free time, you can find her watching all of her favorite shows or playing her favorite card game Unstable Unicorns.

Registered Dietitian

Rachael Utstein, MS, RD, CD-N

Rachael is a Registered Dietitian at Center for Discovery Southport Outpatient and Center for Discovery Greenwich. Prior to studying nutrition, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Education from Binghamton University. After completing her undergraduate degree, Rachael decided to combine her passion for education with her passion for nutrition and went back to school to study dietetics. She received a master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from D’Youville College in 2018. Through her dietetic internship, Rachael gained experience working in a variety of different inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Rachael practices with a non-diet, weight inclusive approach and firmly believes in the nutrition philosophy “all foods fit”. She is excited for the opportunity guide others in rejecting the diet mentality and developing a positive relationship with food.

Clinical Intake Coordinator

Christine Sacane, LMSW

Christine is the Clinical Intake Coordinator at the Southport Adolescent PHP/IOP program. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and continued her education at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Work, earning her Master of Social Work degree. She is a Licensed Master of Social Work.
Christine has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in individual and family settings, utilizing a strengths-based and solution-focused approach in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, OCD, autism-spectrum disorder, and behavioral and emotional issues. She is passionate about the importance of family support systems in a client’s treatment, and also finds that warmth and connection with her clients is essential in establishing a safe environment where healing can occur. Christine believes in collaboratively working with clients to strengthen self-esteem, empowerment and interpersonal relationships as a path to healing.

A lifelong dancer of a variety of dance forms such as ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and group tribal-style bellydance has enabled Christine to deeply understand the positive effects dance and movement can have on mental health and body positivity and acceptance.

PSYCHIATRIST

Ronald A. Grant, M. Div., S.T.M., M.D., D. Min., LP

Ronald Grant Is the Medical Director and Psychiatric Consultant at Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program’s Southport outpatient program and Fairfield residential program that specializes in treating adults, adolescents and their families impacted by eating disorders, substance abuse and other mental health issues. He earned his MD degree from Boston University School of Medicine and trained as a physician and psychiatrist at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and New York State Psychiatric Institute. Ronald is also a Psychoanalyst having graduated from the C. G. Jung Institute of New York where he is a member of the faculty, a supervising and training analyst, and a past president of the Institute’s Board of Directors. Having done his undergraduate work at Tufts University, he is also a three time graduate of Andover Newton Theological School with an M. Div., an S.T.M., and a D. Min. in Pastoral Counseling.

Ronald has over forty years of experience working in the above areas and has been a medical director and psychiatric consultant to schools, churches and several different counseling centers. He has also been a supervisor to psychologists, social workers, psychoanalysts, pastoral counselors and psychiatric nurse practitioners. He has several certifications and is a Lifetime Member of the American Psychiatric Association. Ronald has special interests in Eating Disorders, Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Trauma, Spirituality and Healing. He has private offices in Greenwich, Westport & Southbury Connecticut where he works with children, adolescents, adults, couples & families.

ART THERAPIST

Elizabeth M. Madden M.A.A.T., LPC

Elizabeth has attained her Master’s in art therapy as well as being a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has accrued over ten years of experience in the field of expressive art therapy and psychotherapy. Working with children, adolescents, and adults as well as families who are challenged by trauma, loss, PTSD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She has worked in both in and outpatient programs, schools, and community centers. Elizabeth has established her own private practice with offices in Newtown, Westport, and Greenwich. She has always had a passion for art and believes it can be used as a means of initiating and facilitating the process of healing through the expression of images and symbols. It is also a unique and effective approach for offering an alternative means of communication.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Amanda D’Elia, LPCA

Amanda is a part-time primary therapist at Center for Discovery, Southport outpatient program. Amanda began at Center for Discovery in 2018 as an intern counselor facilitating Dialectical behavioral therapy skills groups. Amanda received her bachelors in psychology at Southern Connecticut State University. There, Amanda found her passion to work within the eating disorder population through involvement in campus organizations. Amanda received her masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Bridgeport and worked as a graduate teaching assistant for two years. Amanda is currently an Adjunct Professor, having taught Intro to Psychology discussion labs, First-Year Seminar and Abnormal Psychology. Amanda has also interned at Sacred Heart University counseling center where she provided counseling for college students and co-facilitated a women’s support group.

Amanda has experience in working with adolescents and young adults. She has provided individual and group therapy at outpatient and inpatient facilities. Amanda has experience in CBT, DBT, Solution-focused, and motivational interviewing. Amanda has had training in BASICS 2 for substance use in college campuses. Amanda has provided treatment to individuals with Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia and Adjustment disorder.

Amanda believes that support and self-compassion through the use of positive self-talk facilitate growth and change. She believes in providing a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere for clients to express themselves and grow.

DIETETIC TECHNICIAN

Gabriela Brito, BS

Gabriela Brito is a Dietetic Technician at the Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program in Southport. Gabriela received her Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. Currently she is completing her Master’s of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is also working towards applying for a Dietetic Internship and becoming a Registered Dietitian with a focus on eating disorders.

Gabriela has a passion for promoting intuitive eating in her own life as well as supporting it in others, particularly through cooking and experimenting with recipes in her free time. Gabriela’s goal is to facilitate a peaceful relationship with food amongst clients working on their journey towards recovery.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Nicole Danish, LMSW

Nikki received her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and then went on to receive her master’s degree in social work with a concentration in individuals, groups, and families. Nikki’s love of story telling led her to a passion for helping individuals tell their own in a grounded, nonjudgmental space. She is a licensed master social worker who specializes in eating disorders, disordered eating, and LGBTQIA+ gender affirming care. Nikki is fully committed to Health at Every Size™ principles and is passionate about providing brave spaces to individuals living in marginalized bodies. During her graduate career, she received training in Body Trust™ which she utilizes to help her clients unpack trauma and reclaim their bodies.

Nikki has multiple years of experience working with eating disorders and co-occurring mental illnesses for both adolescents and adults at the residential level of care. She practices from a feminist and systems theory perspective while using narrative and acceptance and commitment approaches to support recovery; furthermore, Nikki wholeheartedly believes recovery is possible and seeks to hold space for her clients who are learning this themselves.