TACOMA OUTPATIENT EATING DISORDER PROGRAM

Maureen Peterson, MA, LMHC, CEDS-S

Maureen Peterson is the Regional Director for the Pacific Northwest & Northern California at Center For Discovery treating adolescents, adults, and families impacted by eating disorders. Maureen is a licensed mental health counselor and earned her BA  in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University and her MA in Counseling Psychology from Saint Martin’s University. She also completed a certificate program in The Long Term Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders through the University of Washington School of Social Work. Maureen has been working in the mental health field since 1991 and has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1996. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Supervisor through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. In 2011, Maureen received the “Spirit of the Alliance” award through the Alliance for Families, a national organization. She is passionate about community service, and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Chloe Allen

Chloe is the adolescent facility coordinator in Tacoma. She graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma with a Bachelors of Artsdegree in psychology. She studied abroad in Austria for a short time where she learned about the psychology of food and culture. Chloe believes that different cultures and different backgrounds can influence one’s relationship with food and the body. She has a passion for working with people with eating disorders and body image challenges. She is also a certified yoga teacher and believes that yoga has healing properties and can help with body acceptance and body positivity. Other interests include art, traveling and practicing reiki. Chloe is committed to supporting people in recovery.

Kacie Plantenberg, MA, LMHC, LMFTA

Kacie Plantenberg is a Program Therapist at Center for Discovery’s outpatient program in Tacoma, WA. Kacie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and graduated with a Master of Arts in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, from Brandman University. Kacie also received her Bachelor’s degree from Brandman University, majoring in Psychology and earning a certificate in Nutrition and Wellness. Kacie has been passionate about pursuing knowledge in the eating disorders field and has been a volunteer with the National Eating Disorders Association for the past six years. Kacie believes in the healing power of community and enjoys seeing the communities of recovery that Center for Discovery fosters in its clients.

Emily Duncan

Emily Duncan, a registered dietitian nutritionist, is health at every size advocate, and a strong proponent of evidence-based treatment plans for establishing a healthy relationship with food and body. Her background in dance and athletics means that she has experienced first hand the pressures put upon us by family members and peers to maintain “perfection.” It is this personal experience that lends well to Emily’s capacity to really engage her clients as she implements sustainable nutrition lifestyle practices. Emily is an intuitive eating coach, with both a gentle and evidence-based approach to teaching and inspiring while adopting an all foods fit approach to her own life and coaching. She enjoys trying new foods, teaching dance, hiking, shopping, and following pop culture.

Bianca Johnson

Bianca is a Brazilian Dietitian who holds a bachelor degree from the School of Public Health/University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She recently moved to WA to continue to learn and grow in her field. While in college she was inspired by a professor that is specialized in eating disorders. Bianca is passionate about the Intuitive Eating philosophy. Her goal as a Dietitian is to help people to create a healthier relationship with food, mind and body. In her spare time, Bianca likes to try new recipes, play card games with friends and find new TV shows to watch.

Alyssa Viray

Alyssa Viray is a Counselor III at Center for Discovery’s outpatient program in Tacoma, WA. Being a Washingtonian, Alyssa decided to start her educational journey at Pacific Lutheran University before transferring to the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, where she completed her undergraduate degree in University Studies and Psychology. She continued her education by earning her Master’s degree from Northcentral University, San Diego, in Psychology with a Health specialization and is currently achieving her Ph.D. in Psychology with Health specialization from Northcentral University.  Alyssa is passionate about the relationships between culture and cuisine, education, and healthcare. Before the Center for Discovery, Alyssa has worked within the local education system, supporting adolescents to navigate high school and future plans. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys being with family and exploring her home state.

Lindsay Birchfield

Lindsay’s formal education defines them as a Registered Dietitian, but they prefer to identify as a gender and body activist. Lindsay is committed to undoing the dehumanizing and fatphobic legacy of diet culture and traditional dietetics. They strive to work in partnership with their clients to help clarify an authentic and intuitive sense of their own ideas of health, nourishment, and recovery.  They have a personal and professional investment in the intersections of body and fat liberation across gender identities. Lindsay’s passion lands within changing the harmful nutrition practices that isolate bodies and genders outside the “status quo.”

Sammantha Paulsen

Sammy Paulsen is a Registered Dietitian at Center for Discovery. After graduating from Seattle Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Sammy worked with eating disorder clients at the residential level of care as a dietetic technician for about three years. She then completed a dietetic internship with an eating disorders emphasis at University of Minnesota. Sammy’s experience has fueled her passion for helping clients to overcome their eating disorders. She employs a compassionate approach to individualized nutrition counseling that is centered on establishing healthy relationships with food and body. In her spare time, Sammy enjoys spending time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, cooking meals for her friends and family, reading books, and film photography.

Clacy Albert

Clacy Albert is the Regional Clinical Outreach Representative at Center for Discovery in the Northwest treating adolescents, adults, and families impacted by eating disorders. Clacy earned her BA in Speech Communication in 2000 from the University of Washington. Clacy has been working in healthcare sales, marketing, and education since 2001.  In 2017, Clacy found her passion in helping those affected by eating disorders and joined Center for Discovery in 2019. Clacy loves being a resource for professionals, patients, and families.  When she is not working, she can be found hanging out with her dog, her nieces and nephew, and the rest of her family and friends.

Linden Hale

Linden Hale is a Registered Dietitian at Center for Discovery in Tacoma. Linden was born in Washington State and grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii before moving back to the Seattle area for college. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Washington, Linden worked as a lab manager and research study assistant doing social cognitive developmental research at UW for 5 years. She went back to school to receive her Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bastyr University and completed her dietetic internship through the University of Houston. Linden is a passionate advocate for inclusive and affirming nutrition and healthcare that seeks to support individuals in rethinking their definitions of health, especially within the context of eating disorder treatment and recovery. In her spare time, Linden enjoys playing with her dog, cooking delicious food, taking care of her plants, and spending time with her husband.  

Jenna Rudnitskas

Jenna is an ED technician III at Center for Discovery’s outpatient program in Tacoma, Washington. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jenna moved to Washington to attend Pacific Lutheran University. Jenna graduated with her Bachelor of Art degree in psychology with plans to pursue her master’s degree in social work. Jenna is dedicated to uplifting peer-based recovery and support and believes in a patient-centered approach to care. Jenna uses her lived experience with mental illness and the harmful effects of diet culture to understand the pressures that society puts on us and the harm that comes from it, and uses that first-hand experience to best inform treatment of others. Jenna has fully embraced the Health at Every Size ® philosophy and has been especially passionate about sharing these values with her five young nieces. In her spare time, Jenna enjoys traveling, experiencing new foods and tabletop gaming with friends.

Grace Whorley MA, LMHC

Grace is a licensed mental health counselor and a Health at Every Size ® advocate. A Washington state local, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Washington University in psychology, with an emphasis in neuroscience. She went on to earn her Master of Arts degree in psychology with an emphasis in counseling specialization from Saybrook University while working with at-risk youth in Snoqualmie. Grace had always had an interest in being on a team supporting those through eating disorder treatment and officially started working in the eating disorder field in 2018. She is passionate about serving those on the margins of eating disorder treatment and empowering them to approach recovery in creative and compassionate ways. On the weekend, you likely will find Grace playing outside and enjoying all forms of joyful movement.

Rhys McCuiston

Rhys is a dietetic technician at the Center for Discovery. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition with a specialization in Dietetics from Central Washington University. Rhys plans to return to Central Washington University to obtain her master’s in nutritional sciences in the near future. Rhys is passionate about nutrition for all and helping others accept and feel comfortable in their bodies. In her spare time, Rhys enjoys playing with her Corgis, surfing, snow skiing, cooking and baking and spending time with her friends and family.

Madeline Miller

Madeline is a registered dietitian with Center for Discovery. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition at Central Washington University, she went on to complete a Master of Science and dietetic internship program through Marywood University. Madeline is a passionate proponent of Health at Every Size ® and uses an All Foods Fit ® philosophy in guiding patients to reject diet culture and rebuild an intuitive relationship with food. In her spare time, you can find Madeline playing with her Maltese puppy or exploring with new recipes in the kitchen.

Suzra Martha Antoine

Suzra Martha Antoine has been working with the Center for Discovery since June of 2021 and has worked in the mental health field for two and a half years. She has experience working with anxiety, depression, ADHD and PTSD with a trauma-focused lens and has worked with young children, adolescents and adults. This is Suzra’s first time working within the eating disorder field. She brings a wealth of ideas and experience from her previous experience in the mental health field. She has the talent, heart and creative ability to connect with children and adolescents who struggle with mental health. When Suzra is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, watching scary movies, shopping and arts and crafts.

Andrewnette Reed