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.

Jenni Scharf

Jenni Scharf is the Clinical Outreach Supervisor and Staff Recruitment Representative at Center For Discovery in the Northwest treating adolescents, adults and families impacted by eating disorders. Jenni earned her degree in Journalism, with an emphasis in Management from Western Washington University. Jenni has been working in healthcare marketing since 2001 and has held seats on 4 separate Pacific Northwest iaedp chapter boards. Jenni loves being a resource for professionals. She is a wife and mom to three kids and is passionate about helping families find the recovery they need to be healthy, whole and happy once again.

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 Certified Nutritionist and Dietetic Intern at Center for Discovery. 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.

Justice Aragon

Justice is a primary therapist and a licensed clinical social worker associate at Center for Discovery in Tacoma. Justice was born and raised in Washington and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelor’s in social work. During her undergraduate experience, Justice interned at a community court as a case manager and sought to identify root causes of patients’ contact with the justice system and reduce recidivism rate amongst those individuals. During this time and at graduate school, Justice worked as a registered behavior technician and implemented ABA interventions with children on the spectrum in their homes while advocating for just treatment and resources in school. Justice attended the University of Washington and earned her master’s in social work with a concentration in community centered integrative practices. During the program, she was a mental health clinician at a community mental health organization providing therapeutic interventions for children and families. Justice was also a part of a team that offered knowledge of children’s emotional needs during legal processes and times of change. Justice prioritizes self-reflection, intersectionality and empowerment. Justice believes that healthcare providers cannot work in silos, as this does not resemble the impact our systems have on people. In Justice’s spare time, you can find her with friends, family, enjoying the outdoors with her two puppies, and playing or watching soccer.

Briana Jacinto

Briana is a diet technician at Center for Discovery-Woodland Hills. She is currently in the California State University, Long Beach, Combined Master of Science and Dietetic Internship Program. Additionally, Briana plans to complete her thesis with CFD on food insecurity in the eating disorder population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Briana enjoys working with the eating disorder population and would love to work at Center for Discovery as a registered dietitian nutritionist in the near future. Providing support at meals and seeing patients work on building a therapeutic relationship with food are highlights for Briana while working at CFD.

Emma Conners, MPH

Emma earned her Bachelor of Science degree in health policy and administration at DePaul University. After finishing her degree, she pursued a Master in Public Health degree with a concentration in health service administration at the University of Arizona. While in graduate school, Emma discovered her passion for working in the eating disorder treatment field and spent a year and a half as a counselor assistant at Mirasol Eating Disorder Treatment Center in Tucson, Arizona. Emma used her experience and education to fuel her graduate internship project where she implemented Health At Every Size® and Intuitive Eating ideology into a peer support group program at a local network of health clinics. 

Emma advocates for food freedom, food access equity, and nutrition in the health care and public health field through sharing resources, information, and participating in thought-provoking discussions with other practitioners and professionals. She also enjoys researching and learning about the intersection of culture and food belief systems, something influenced by her upbringing on the Mexican-American border in Arizona. Emma is enthusiastic and honored to support patients on their journey to recovery.

Rachel Douglas, AMFT

Rachel is a registered associate marriage and family therapist and an associate professional clinical counselor and therapist at Center for Discovery. She holds a Master of Science degree in marriage, couple and family counseling, and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a specialization in child and adolescent development from Walden University where she graduated summa cum laude. She worked at Airport Marina Counseling Service where she gained practical experience in psychiatric and community mental health. Prior, she worked as a counselor for Crisis Text Line.

Jasmine Washington, MS RDN

Jasmine is a non-diet registered dietitian who is passionate about dismantling diet culture. She seeks to help patients from diverse backgrounds make peace with food and reconnect with their joy of food and movement. She received her Master of Science degree in nutritional science from California State University, Los Angeles, and her Bachelor of Music degree in music business from New York University. Prior to joining Center for Discovery, Jasmine completed an internship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, gaining invaluable clinical experience in pediatric and adolescent medicine, and participated in an interdisciplinary feeding team for children with feeding difficulties. 

She also completed a fellowship at California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CA-LEND), where she honed her skills to provide family-centered care and developmentally appropriate care for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. 

Jasmine firmly believes that all bodies are good bodies and seeks to improve and enrich lives by helping patients heal and create a healthy relationship with the way they eat, move and view their bodies. She utilizes the frameworks of Intuitive Eating, Health at Every Size® and an All Foods Fit philosophy.

Camila Arce

Camila is the facility and milieu manager at Center for Discovery’s Del Mar residential treatment center. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She has worked in the field of mental health for several years in San Diego County. Camila began her career at Center for Discovery as a full-time counselor before being promoted to her current position. Camila prides herself on her strong work ethic, her desire to be of help to others through kindness and compassion, and her passion for making the Del Mar treatment center a wonderful place for patients to recover and employees to work. 

Born overseas in Chile to a multicultural family with a passion for seeking out new opportunities, she has lived and explored many different places, and is grateful for the knowledge and insight which this upbringing has provided her.

Patricia Pascoe

Patricia has a strong passion to support individuals through the healing process toward recovery. She works to help patients discover their potential and focus on addressing barriers through empowerment. Patricia enthusiastically ascribes to the values of the social work profession to maintain the dignity and worth of all people, advocate for social justice, serve with competence and integrity, and promote the importance of healthy interpersonal relationships.

The primary focus for Patricia is to assist adolescents with improving their self-esteem, healing from disordered eating patterns, maintaining safety, decreasing behavioral concerns, and continuing to build and maintain healthy relationships. She also supports the development of skills to improve academic concentration, anxiety management, emotional regulation and socialization. 

Patricia utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help further an understanding of the connection between thoughts, feelings and behavior to address various forms of depression, anxiety and compulsions. Additionally, she practices dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to teach skills to assist in emotional regulation, distress management, mindfulness, and relationship and communication effectiveness.

Janny Cho, RD

Janny is a registered dietitian nutritionist who graduated from University of Maryland College Park with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and biology. She completed her dietetic internship with Virginia/Maryland WIC Dietetic Internship Program. Janny has a wide-range of experiences working with pregnant and postpartum women, infants, teens and children in the WIC program and the adult populations in the long-term care, assisted living and hospice care settings. While working for the WIC Program, she obtained a certified lactation certification (CLC) to provide additional support to breastfeeding mothers. She is an advocate and supporter for women who want to give their babies a healthy start at infancy. Janny is passionate about helping individuals using patient-centered nutritional counseling. She helps patients to develop a positive relationship with food and encourages others to follow the All Foods Fit philosophy. Janny is excited to be part of the Center for Discovery Alexandria outpatient center. 

Ilana Cohen, ASW

Ilana is an associate clinical social worker registered through the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Ilana graduated with her B.A. in sociology and marketing from the University of Denver and received her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California. During her graduate studies, Ilana worked at a grief support center running groups for young adults grieving a parent and conducted clinical intakes for those interested in joining specific grief groups. 

The following year, Ilana worked as a therapist at the Actors Fund, a national human services organization that caters to the needs of the entertainment community. At Actors Fund, Ilana provided individual and group therapy to patients ranging from 18-60 years old. During this time, Ilana also assessed and administered financial grants provided by the fund to patients who met eligibility criteria. Ilana is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers.