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SOUTHPORT EATING DISORDER PROGRAM

Southport, CT

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Center for Discovery Southport eating disorder treatment center offers residential treatment and partial hospitalization for adolescents from 10-17 years of age and of all genders who are in need of a higher level of care. The Southport location opened in 2012 and provides care to all of New England, New York and New Jersey. This southern Connecticut location partners with Learnwell for education consultation so clients can keep up with their studies while undergoing the best care for their eating disorder. Treatment modalities we offer include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure & response prevention (ERP) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

In addition to receiving evidence-based therapies, patients all have the opportunity to put “joyful” back into movement through yoga and other activities. Discovery’s specialized binge eating disorder (BED) program, Path to Peace, is also offered at this location.

Insurances we accept include but are not limited to Aetna / Shaller Anderson/GHC, UNICARE – Beacon HS, Optum BH – UHC/UBH including PBH/Oxford and Anthem BC/BS of CT. Please remember that the insurances we accept change frequently. Our insurance team will verify your coverage.

This Connecticut location was the first Center for Discovery eating disorder program to open on the East Coast and is renowned as one of the leading eating disorder programs in the entire state of Connecticut. The staff is comprised of therapists who incorporate mindful movement and yoga meditation, registered dietitian and medical doctors who have been on staff since this location opened.

CENTER FOR DISCOVERY

1320 Mill HIll Road
Southport, CT 06890
PH 866.482.3876
M-F 9:00am to 5:00pm

PROGRAM FEATURES

Residential
Partial Hospitalization
All Genders
Ages 10-17

FIND HELP TODAY CALL 866.482.3876
OR SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION

MEET THE TEAM

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Amy Patnode, MS
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Alexandria D’Aurio
PHYSICIAN

Dr. Marcie Schneider, MD, FAAP, FSAHM
PHYSICIAN

Sara Levine, MD, MPH, FAAP
PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Ilana Karpenos, MD
Registered Dietitian

Victoria Lilly
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Logan McKechnie
Clinical Director

Colleen Armitage, LCSW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Toni Brown (she/her/hers)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Amy Patnode, MS

Amy graduated from the University of New Haven with bachelor’s in Legal Studies and History which lead her on to receive her Master’s in Education at the University of Bridgeport. Amy’s combined passions of learning and teaching others provided her an opportunity to fulfill the Teacher and Counselor dual role at Center for Discovery. Throughout her experience with Center for Discovery, Amy has progressed from a Milieu Manager, Northeast CPI trainer, and now in her current position as Executive Director of Southport. Her goal is to continue to mentor, support, and encourage the growth of all of the Southport team and patients that she comes in contact with.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Alexandria D’Aurio

Alexandria D’Aurio has received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Long Island University as well as her Master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling with a Graduate level certification in Laban Movement Analysis from Columbia College Chicago. Alex’s passion for movement and mental health began in high school and continued with her through her undergraduate studies eventually leading her to combine her two passions in her Master’s studies. Alex has a background working with children, adolescents, and adults in individual and group settings with substance abuse, developmental disabilities, autism, and behavioral and emotional difficulties. Alex is excited about bringing a movement based approach to her work here at Center for Discovery.

PHYSICIAN

Dr. Marcie Schneider, MD, FAAP, FSAHM

Dr. Schneider graduated from Brown University, and attended medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her residency was in Pediatrics at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, followed by a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine was at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. She remained at North Shore for a total of 13 years and during that time became Associate Chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine, and Medical Director for the Eating Disorders Day Program. She was recruited by Greenwich Hospital to start an Adolescent Program, which ran from June 1999 through June of 2005. Since July 2005, she has been in full time private practice of adolescent medicine. Additionally, since 2012 she has served as medical consultant for Center for Discovery’s Fairfield county adolescent and young adult residential facilities. Dr. Schneider is board certified in Pediatrics and in the subspecialty of Adolescent Medicine. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. She has served on the board of directors of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, and was a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition from 2005 – 2011. She was has served on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Adolescent Health November since 2013.

PHYSICIAN

Sara Levine, MD, MPH, FAAP

Dr. Levine is board-certified in both general pediatrics and adolescent medicine.  She graduated from Yale University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency and adolescent medicine fellowship at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.  Dr. Levine is in private practice at Greenwich Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine, and she has been a medical consultant to Center for Discovery since 2012.

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Ilana Karpenos, MD

Dr. Ilana Karpenos graduated from Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education/ SUNY Downstate, a 7 year BS/MD program. She completed her training in pediatrics, psychiatry and child psychiatry at North Shore University Hospital and NY Presbyterian Hospital.

She has been in private practice in Westport for the past 20 years and has worked with CFD since 2012.
In addition, Dr. Karpenos has worked with IOPs as well consulted for multiple school districts in Fairfield County.
She’s board-certified in adult psychiatry and neurology as well as child and adolescent psychiatry.

Registered Dietitian

Victoria Lilly

Victoria Lilly is a Registered Dietitian who received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Dietetics at Olivet Nazarene University. She went on to complete her dietetic internship and Master of Science through Murray State University, gaining experience in community, research, food service and clinical nutrition. She whole heartedly believes in an all foods fit mentality and is passionate about health at every size, intuitive eating, and breaking down diet culture.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Logan McKechnie

Logan McKechnie received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Sacred Heart University along with her master’s degree in social work also from Sacred Heart University. Logan was previously a counselor for a few years at Center For Discovery before becoming a therapist. Logan has a background in working with both children, adolescents, and adults in school, hospital, and private practice settings. Logan is excited to continue her work at Center For Discovery and pursue her passion of working with adolescents in recovery.

Clinical Director

Colleen Armitage, LCSW

Colleen joined the Center for Discovery team in 2015 and has worked in various roles. As the clinical director for Southport’s residential and outpatient programs, Colleen oversees clinical operations and supports both teams in providing the highest quality treatment to clients and their families.

Colleen received a master’s in social work from Southern Connecticut State University. She is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked within the mental health and eating disorder treatment community in a variety of settings including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs and outpatient settings. Colleen specializes in eating disorders, substance use disorders, trauma and co-occurring disorders. She is intensively trained in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which is an integral component of treatment at Center for Discovery. Colleen is EMDR trained and believes in the importance of uncovering the underlying factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders to promote healing. Additionally, she received in-depth training in psychodrama. Colleen utilizes a strengths-based and person-centered approach. She believes in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and empowering clients to help them meet their treatment goals.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Toni Brown (she/her/hers)

Toni has a passion for working with the children and adult population which is what bought her to Center for Discovery six years ago. She began her journey with Center for Discovery in one of our Connecticut eating disorder facilities as a counselor/on-call facility manager. Toni joined Southport Outpatient to further her career as an executive director. 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 patients towards their recovery.
 
As the executive director, 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 making 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 Perpetual Commotion.

Support Group

This location provides free online eating disorder support groups. Our online support groups vary. Find out more about how to join our free support groups.

Covid Clean Logo Large

COVID-19 Update: Online telehealth is offered for intensive outpatient treatment as an option to patients living in California, Florida, New Jersey and Texas.

In-person intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization is also offered at this location. Residential treatment continues to be offered at our residential facilities for individuals in need of a higher level of care. Learn about all that we are doing to protect the safety and wellbeing of our patients and staff.

Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Health Insurance

VERIFY INSURANCE

Patient, Family & Staff Safety is our Priority: COVID-19Update