PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Valerie Le Cann Jones, LMFT

Valerie Le Cann Jones is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who will be taking on the role of Program Director with the Center for Discovery. Valerie has an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fairfield University and a B.S. in Psychology from Union College. Valerie is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) and she is currently pursuing certification to be a certified AAMFT supervisor. She has completed the coursework for her LMFT School Certification and has completed both Parts I and II of basic EMDR Training.

Valerie was previously a Clinical Supervisor with LifeBridge Community Services. Before that, she was under the Office of Victim Services grant as the Survivor Care Navigator for the town of Newtown, where she worked with families of children who survived the tragic shooting in Sandy Hook.

Prior to joining the Town of Newtown, Valerie worked as a clinician at Liberation Programs, a local substance abuse and behavioral health agency. Valerie also volunteered for many years as a domestic abuse counselor for the Women’s Center of Danbury’s domestic violence hotline. Valerie previously worked in the Corporate world as the Boutique Liaison in Retail Operations for Cartier, Inc. and in Real Estate law as a title closer.

Valerie has both experienced and witnessed the devastating results of trauma both in her family of origin and as a community member of Sandy Hook. She views trauma though a systemic lens and understands the importance of working with the entire family when focusing on resiliency and trauma recovery.

Valerie and her husband live in Sandy Hook with their 12-year-old twin girls and their therapy dog-in-training, Oliver. Valerie enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, taking Barre classes, playing piano, listening to music, and traveling.

FACILITY MANAGER

Amy Patnode, MS

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’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 role as Senior Facility Manager. Her goal is to continue to her developing her own skills as a means to support Center for Discovery’s mission.

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.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Annaliese DiFabbio

Annaliese DiFabbio is a Registered Dietitian who received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Dietetics at the University of Connecticut. She went on to complete her dietetic internship through Hartford Hospital and University of Connecticut, gaining experience in community, research, food service and clinical nutrition. Annaliese has worked with Center For Discovery over the past 2 years as a diet technician, dietetic intern and now registered dietitian. She whole heartedly believes in an all foods fit mentality and promotes an overall healthy lifestyle with emphasis on balance, moderation and variety.

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.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Ann Epifanio

Ann Epifanio is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist having received her M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy from Fairfield University and her B.A. in Psychology from Hobart & William Smith Colleges. Ann also has her CCTS-I certification, Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (Individual), and is equipped to help clients with residual effects of trauma. Ann worked previously for Positive Directions in Westport, CT, an outpatient setting providing psychotherapy services to adolescents, parents, and families. Prior to joining the PD team, Ann worked as a counselor in a residential facility in Bridgeport, CT treating adults with co-occurring disorders.

Ann’s approach is warm, compassionate, and kind, creating a safe space for clients to share any and all issues that clients are struggling with currently. Being a LMFT, Ann views presenting problems from a systemic lens and viewing the current issue within its greater context can result in sustained change. Ann utilizes a solution-focused, strength-based approach, helping clients uncover their inner strengths, enhancing feelings of empowerment and resilience.