Southport, CT

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Southport Residential Eating Disorder Program

Discovery begins here.

Welcome to the place where you’ll find the peace and comfort you need to get back to the you you’re meant to be.

Here, you’ll gain the strength to uncover what needs to come to light in our warm, home-like environment. Every facility is selected to be the very best match possible for your specific needs.

At Discovery, you’ll work with our highly-trained, expert staff who’ll give you the confidence and reassurance you need to succeed. Using evidence-based techniques, they’ll guide you through the entire process and help propel you to discovering a better you.

It won’t always be easy. But we will always be here for you.

Welcome to Discovery. Welcome to new beginnings.

Center For Discovery Southport eating disorder treatment center offers residential treatment and partial hospitalization to male and female adolescents 10-17 years of age who are in need of a higher level of care. The Southport location opened in November 2012 and provides care to all of New England, New York and New Jersey. This southern Connecticut location partners with Learnwell for education consultation clients can keep up with their studies while undergoing the best care for their eating disorder. This Connecticut location was the Center For Discovery eating disorder program to open on the East Coast and now it is known as one of the leading eating disorder programs in the entire state of Connecticut. The staff is composed 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 Rd.
Southport, CT 06824-3017

GET IN TOUCH
CALL 866.482.3876

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Meet the Team

Kara Becker, LMFT

Kara Becker, LMFT

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Kara Becker attended Quinnipiac University and received her undergraduate degree in Management. Kara earned her Master’s Degree from Southern Connecticut State University in Marriage and Family Therapy with a concentration in Gestalt Therapy. At SCSU, she developed and facilitated a body acceptance group for female students.

Kara has experience working in an outpatient setting, as well as in a therapeutic school. Kara’s primary focus is in working with family systems. Kara believes that family experiences have a significant impact on the growth and development of an individual. She has experience working with personality disorders, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorders. She has worked with children, adolescents, families, and couples.

While completing her master’s degree, Kara worked in Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program’s residential program. Kara is happy to be returning to Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program as New Haven’s outpatient primary therapist.

Amy Patnode, MS

Amy Patnode, MS

FACILITY MANAGER

Amy graduated from the University of New Haven with bachelors in Legal Studies and History. She went on to receive her Master’s in Education at the University of Bridgeport. Amy is a certified teacher who has worked with adolescents with varying degrees of behavioral concerns. Amy’s combined passions of learning and teaching others provided her with the Teacher and Counselor dual role at Center for Discovery. Throughout her experience with Center for Discovery, Amy has continued to mentor and guide others, leading her to her new role as Facility Manger and the Educational Liaison Supervisor. She looks forward to training new employees and fostering the discovery culture.

Alexandria D’Aurio

Alexandria D’Aurio

PRIMARY THERAPIST

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.

Stacie Handel

Stacie Handel

PROGRAM THERAPIST

Stacie has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Stacie is passionate about working with families and practices from a systemic lens when working with families as well as individuals. Stacie was a senior counselor at Center for Discovery before being promoted to becoming the Primary Therapist. She has run several therapeutic groups at Center for Discovery including dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT) Group, Multi-Family Group, Shame Resilience and Relapse Prevention Group. Stacie has experience working with children, teenagers, adults, families and couples. She has previously worked in Youth and Family Service programs collaborating with social services agencies and schools. Stacie believes in promoting growth and recovery in the individual as well as the family. Stacie works from a cognitive behavioral approach and believes that thoughts and behaviors are strongly connected. With Center for Discovery client’s and families she works to empower the family system and fostering family communication.

Nicole Ferri, RD, CD-N

Nicole Ferri, RD, CD-N

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Nicole Ferri is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist in the state of Connecticut. Nicole completed her education at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire, receiving a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Science-Nutrition. Her research experience includes studying the effects of garden-to-table education on preschool age children, as well as analyzing the use of government nutrition programs in New Hampshire childcare facilities. Nicole has been working with the eating disorder population and with Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program for nearly 3 years to effectively promote weight restoration, appropriate attitudes toward food, and an overall healthy lifestyle to clients seeking treatment. Nicole is currently working towards attaining her certification as an eating disorder specialist to further her knowledge and education of this specialized population.

Dr. Llana Karpenos, MD

Dr. Llana Karpenos, MD

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Llana Karpenos is the Psychiatrist at Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program’s Southport location. Dr. Karpenos graduated with Cum Laude honors and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the City College of New York. Dr. Karpenos received her MD at New York State University and completed an internship at the North Shore University Hospital in pediatrics. Dr. Karpenos began her training in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.

In addition to working at Center For Discovery Eating Disorder Program, Dr. Karpenos also works with clients at her private practice in Westport. Education is very important to Dr. Karpenos and she provides consultation to the surrounding school districts in Fairfield County, CT. to ensure appropriate educational services are provided to all children.

Marcie Schneider, MD, FAAP, FSAM

Marcie Schneider, MD, FAAP, FSAM

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

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 a member of its Committee on Nutrition. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was a member of its Committee on Nutrition from 2005 to 2011. Dr. Schneider is also an active member of the Academy of Eating Disorders.

Dr. Schneider graduated from Brown University and attended medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She did her pediatric residency training at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, and her fellowship training in Adolescent Medicine at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.

Sara Buchdahl Levine, MD, MPH, FAAP

Sara Buchdahl Levine, MD, MPH, FAAP

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Dr. Levine graduated from Yale University and attended medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She did her pediatric residency training and her adolescent medicine fellowship at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, New York. In addition, Dr. Levine earned a Master of Public Health from Columbia University.

Dr. Levine is board-certified in Pediatrics and in the subspecialty of Adolescent Medicine. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a member of the Society for Adolescent Medicine and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. In addition, Dr. Levine is a program committee member and faculty member of the Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Education Program, sponsored by Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health and multiple other medical organizations.

Dr. Levine has published original research and reviews in the areas of asthma, substance use and menstrual issues. She lectures to parents, teenagers, and the medical community about adolescent growth and development, risk behaviors, and reproductive health.

Southport Residential Eating Disorder Program

Discovery begins here.

Welcome to the place where you’ll find the peace and comfort you need to get back to the you you’re meant to be.

Here, you’ll gain the strength to uncover what needs to come to light in our warm, home-like environment. Every facility is selected to be the very best match possible for your specific needs.

At Discovery, you’ll work with our highly-trained, expert staff who’ll give you the confidence and reassurance you need to succeed. Using evidence-based techniques, they’ll guide you through the entire process and help propel you to discovering a better you.

It won’t always be easy. But we will always be here for you.

Welcome to Discovery. Welcome to new beginnings.

Center For Discovery Southport eating disorder treatment center offers residential treatment and partial hospitalization to male and female adolescents 10-17 years of age who are in need of a higher level of care. The Southport location opened in November 2012 and provides care to all of New England, New York and New Jersey. This southern Connecticut location partners with Learnwell for education consultation clients can keep up with their studies while undergoing the best care for their eating disorder. This Connecticut location was the Center For Discovery eating disorder program to open on the East Coast and now it is known as one of the leading eating disorder programs in the entire state of Connecticut. The staff is composed of therapists who incorporate mindful movement and yoga meditation, registered dietitian and medical doctors who have been on staff since this location opened.

GET IN TOUCH / CALL 866.482.3876

CENTER FOR DISCOVERY

1320 Mill Hill Rd.
Southport, CT 06824-3017


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TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR

Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Health Insurance

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Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Health Insurance

VERIFY INSURANCE

  • I was sent to [Center for Discovery], an all women's eating disorder treatment facility, and I was terrified to go. I was told I would be there for a month and would return home after that. I ended staying there for almost 3 months, and I can honestly say I am beyond thankful for my time there. I learned so much and they helped me find myself and get over my traumas and learn to cope with issues that I was having. All the staff was super helpful and had my best interest at heart. I may have not liked all of them, but I knew they wanted what was best for me. Even after my insurance run out, the therapist I was working with arranged for me to go to another center to continue my treatment because I was not ready to come home. I highly recommend getting help with Center for Discovery. They truly care!
    Rebecca S
    Alumni
  • I was at [Center for Discovery] for 6 weeks. I'm from Ohio and being so far away from home was hard. The staff made me feel super comfortable and cared for, making my stay much more manageable. The program was very individualized. They worked hard to make sure my specific needs were met and that my specific behaviors were addressed. This is a top notch facility with incredibly caring staff. Not only were the house staff wonderful, but everyone from admissions to the medical director worked hard to make sure I knew what was going on. This is a wonderful company who are true to what they say. They gave me my life back. I'm someone who has been in and out of treatment for my eating disorder and this program was by far the best. I feel so optimistic about my future. The progress I made there was life changing and I will be forever grateful. I recommend this program to anyone who is serious, willing, and ready to get better.
    Natalie F
    Alumni
  • I was surprised by my parents with the option of going to get help for my eating disorder and overall unhealthy lifestyle. I so badly wanted to get help, but was too ashamed. After talking to my mom I agreed to at least talk to someone from Center for Discoveryabout what program I would be in and what it would be like. The gal was super helpful, kind, and did not make me feel like I was the only person who suffered from what I did. She was very patient with me and overall helped out our family with the process of insurance and costs and what not. As for the actual facility I stayed at, it was a great experience.
    Rebecca S
    Alumni
  • We had our son in an acute care hospital and the social worker recommended the Center for Discovery. Before our son was discharged, my wife and I met with the staff and toured the facility. We were impressed by the staff and how the program was structured. Our son was there 6 weeks. It was a game changer and now we feel our son left with a good base of skills that he has continued to use. We now feel our son can leave a normal type life and not have to worry that he may need to live in a group home setting as an adult. We can't say enough for the help and support we received from the entire staff at the Center for Discovery. When we were considering the facility we did some reviews on line. Some weren't overly positive, but most were and we feel that it was a very positive experience for our son and our family. Even our son now admits that he learned some great skills and that his time at Center for Discovery turned his life around.
    John W
    Parent of Alumni
  • I completely recommend this outpatient program for the treatment of eating disorders.  The program is tailored to each individual and my daughter was able to attend school while attending. The staff is caring, knowledgeable and fully committed to the treatment process for the patient and family.  My family now better understands eating disorders and we are able to support our daughter through her recovery.  5 stars all the way!!
    C.Y.
    Parent of Alumni