Dr. Wood's responsibilities as medical director include complete patient medical evaluations and on-going management, diagnostic interviews and collaborative patient care throughout a patient’s interaction with EDC-D.Wood provides compassionate and supportive care for eating disorder patients using the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model combined with a firm foundation in the psycho-pharmacological management of patients. Dr. Wood brings more than 25 years of professional experience as a psychiatrist to EDC-D. She previously worked as the staff psychiatrist for EDC-D. Before coming to EDC-D, Wood served as the medical director of outpatient behavioral health services at Boulder Community Hospital and has treated eating disorder patients in her own practice. Dr. Wood is a licensed psychologist in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Colorado. She is also a current adjunct faculty member at the University of Arizona in the Integrative Medicine Program.

Anita Walker, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

Anita Walker has been a healthcare executive for more than 23 years. Her background is exclusively in the healthcare industry working in executive positions within hospitals and PHO organizations, and as an Administrator of single and multi-specialty group practices. Anita became the CFO at Eating Disorder Center of Denver in early 2008. She brings strong healthcare finance and operational background to the field of eating disorder treatment. Anita received her undergraduate degree in Finance/Business Management from Florida Southern College and completed a fifth year of Accounting required for the Florida CPA exam at Florida Southern College. She became a licensed CPA in 1994.

J. Verne Singleton
Chief Executive Officer

Verne Singleton has been a Healthcare Executive for more than 30 years. Most of these years were in senior positions at several academic medical centers. Verne became the CEO at Eating Disorder Center of Denver in early 2008. He brings extensive knowledge from complex healthcare environments to the field of eating disorder treatment. Verne received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Minnesota and his master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Jennifer Hasbrook, PHR
Human Resources; Administrative Services

Jennifer Hasbrook is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) and specializes in human resources in the healthcare field. Prior to joining Eating Disorder Center of Denver, she worked at a behavioral health treatment center as well as at a top Denver-based medical center. Due to her extensive work in the healthcare industry, Jennifer understands the unique benefits and challenges of Eating Disorder Center of Denver clinicians. She strongly believes that the center’s individual employees create the solid framework that enables the center’s and patients’ success. Jennifer is experienced in the areas of recruitment, benefits and compensation, employment services and employee relations. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Colorado at Denver.

Tamara Pryor, PhD
Clinical Director

As a therapist, Dr. Pryor challenges patients to dare to be true to themselves. To do this, she works with each patient to identify and express his or her authentic wants, feelings and needs. Dr. Pryor has more than 25 years of experience working in the eating disorder field. She spent 15 years as an Asociate Professor and Clinical Director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, four years as Business Manager and Co-Director of the Path Eating Disorders Clinic, and three years at Wichita Psychiatric Consultants as the Director of eating disorder services before coming to Eating Disorder Center of Denver. Dr. Pryor has authored and co-authored articles from research conducted examining personality features, substance abuse, multi-impulsive behaviors and the sexuality of the eating disordered individual. She has conducted workshops and presented research both nationally and internationally. She also developed a prevention program for middle school students and co-authored a prevention curriculum and textbook. Dr. Pryor is a member of the Eating Disorders Research Society, The Academy of Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. She has a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University, a master’s in rehabilitation and a master’s and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Southern-Illinois University. She also completed a yearlong fellowship in eating disorders at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry.

Therese Ida, MS, RD
Clinical Nutrition Services Manager

Therese believes in providing culinary “hands-on” opportunities for eating disorder patients in order to assist them in developing healthier eating habits and solid nutritional menu planning, which will nurture and sustain them in recovery and for life. Therese is a registered dietitian with 30 years of clinical nutrition experience. She is very interested in the biochemistry of eating disorders and how it affects patients’ dietary needs. Therese has extensive experience in outpatient counseling, acute, chronic and community nutrition, college-level teaching and most recently, 12 years of nutrition research with National Institutes of Health (NIH). Therese graduated with majors in dietetics and community nutrition from Iowa State University and received a master’s degree in preventative medicine from the University of Iowa.

Trish O’Donnell, ATR-BC, LPC
Program Director

Stemming from years of providing art therapy, Trish values the experiential component in treatment for patients. She feels positive change can take place when patients take action, whether it is in the creative process or by discovering new ways to be in the world. Trish has been a part of Eating Disorder Center of Denver’s mission to effectively treat eating disorders for more than six years, initially as the program's Art Therapist and now as Program Director. Trish has been practicing art therapy for more than 20 years. She has provided art therapy services to a variety of populations and settings, including a community support program, a rural mental health center and several psychiatric hospitals. She spent six years as the Director of Expressive Therapies at a national program for the treatment of trauma and dissociation for adults, adolescents and children. She has conducted workshops and presented papers both nationally and internationally. Trish holds a Bachelor of Arts in art and psychology from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s in art therapy from The George Washington University. She is a registered and board certified Art Therapist with the American Art Therapy Association.

Ann Misel, LCSW, LSCSW
Primary Clinician

Ann approaches her work with clients by helping them connect to the deeper and larger imagination within, which provides resources for solutions in recovery. Ann works with eating disorder clients using cognitive behavioral and self-relations therapy, along with mindfulness processes. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Ann has 10 years of experience working with adults with eating disorders, depression, anxiety and relationship issues. Prior to joining Eating Disorder Center of Denver, she worked as both a Psychotherapist in private practice and as a Clinical Social Worker for a major medical center. Ann holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas. She is also a certified Imago Relationship Therapist and a Reiki II Practitioner.

Beth Martin, MSW, LSW
Admissions Assessment Clinician

Beth understands that the journey to recovery is both challenging and rewarding. She provides compassionate guidance and support to individuals, as well as their family and loved ones, as they take the first steps on this journey. Beth has worked for more than 15 years promoting and protecting women’s health and human rights locally and globally. Her own journey has led to work in a variety of settings, including community mental health, crisis intervention, university women’s resources and international humanitarian aid and development. She has experience working with survivors of sexual and domestic violence, as well as individuals struggling with eating disorders, trauma, addiction and mental illness. Beth received a Master of Social Work from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine and a Bachelor of Arts in art, culture and society from Eugene Lang College at the New School University in New York, NY. She is a Licensed Social Worker in Colorado and is currently working towards her clinical licensure, as well as a master’s in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health.

Carmen Cool, MA, LPC
Outpatient Therapist

Carmen’s approach to health and well-being is weight-neutral. She works within a feminist-relational model that incorporates mindfulness and body-centered approaches. Carmen has more than seven years of experience working with eating disorders in a variety of outpatient settings, both individually and in groups. Her areas of expertise include working with binge eating, emotional eating and weight-related concerns. With a commitment to community activism and outreach, she also writes and lectures frequently. She is the founder and director of the Boulder Youth Body Alliance, a peer education program that empowers teens to create social change around the ideas, beliefs and messages that lead to eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. Carmen holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Ohio State University and received her master’s degree in transpersonal psychology from Naropa University. She is a certified Hakomi therapist and is a licensed professional counselor. She is also a member of the Association for Size Diversity and Health and Binge Eating Disorder Association, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Hakomi Institute.

Christina Bokenkamp, MA, LPC
Manager of Professional Outreach/
Outpatient Therapist

As a clinician, Christina believes that it is important to help an individual develop a greater sense of acceptance regarding their life experience and to provide the space that allows them to “move forward.” She also believes that in order to live a truly fulfilling life, one has to be willing to take risks and practice new behaviors. Christina has seven years of experience working with children/adolescents, adults and families in outpatient clinical settings. She has worked with a variety of psychiatric illnesses, including eating disorders, depression, chemical addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder. Christina has a keen interest for issues relating to women, such as sense of self, identity, eating disorders, relationships and family. Christina holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and criminal justice from Michigan State University and a master’s in Clinical Psychology from Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Darcy Ferrentino, LCSW, AAT
Primary Clinician

Darcy believes that the integration of animals in therapy, specifically equine and canine, significantly aid clients in developing a comfort level in treatment. Darcy has introduced pet therapy at Eating Disorder Center of Denver and often includes one of her three dogs that participate in both individual and group therapy. She believes in encouraging and building a client’s sense of self and increasing the ability to hear and speak to his or her own voice. She empowers clients to use this newly found sense of self to manage challenging issues and make decisions for affecting positive lifetime change. Darcy has shared the benefits of the human-animal bond with clients since writing her graduate thesis on animal-assisted therapy in 1998. She relocated to Denver from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where she ran an intensive outpatient program for adolescents. She has more than 12 years of experience working with children, adolescents and their families, and has significant experience dealing with the challenges of eating disorders, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and relationship issues. Darcy received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1993 and 1994, respectively, and earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Vermont. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as a certified Animal Assisted Therapist.

J. Gerald Celebre, EdD, LP
Outpatient Therapist

Dr. Celebre practices a holistic model with an emphasis on empowerment and the healing of attachment and relational issues. Dr. Celebre has more than 20 years of experience in the mental health field, providing clinical services to adolescents, adults, couples and families. He has also taught and supervised graduate students in both clinical and counseling psychology. During his post-graduate training in family therapy, he developed an interest in eating disorders and went on to work in both outpatient and inpatient treatment services at the Renfrew Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Celebre also sub-specializes in the field of trauma and has worked with law enforcement, providing therapy to victims of violent crimes, including domestic and childhood abuse. Dr. Celebre completed an externship in family therapy through the Child Guidance Clinic of Philadelphia. He is trained as a Level II EMDR clinician and in critical incident stress debriefing for law enforcement personnel, as well as high school-aged children. Dr. Celebre holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and a doctoral degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology from Temple University. He is a Licensed Psychologist.

Janice Van Anrooy, MA, LPC
Outpatient Therapist

Janice believes healing happens in an environment of interpersonal connection and compassion. Janice has more than 20 years of experience in the field of women’s health and eating disorders. Her personal story of struggling with an eating disorder and her journey to recovery is often shared with patients. Patients have reported that the sharing of her journey helped them establish a therapeutic attachment more easily and trust the recovery process much more quickly. During the 1980s, she was a volunteer leader for Young Life, a wilderness guide for a Christian-based youth program, and a facilitator for an executive team-building program called Peak Performance. From 1996 to 2004, Janice founded and directed OmniHealth Services, PC, an outpatient treatment center for eating disorders and a residential transitional home called the OmniHouse in downtown Colorado Springs. Today, she maintains her outpatient practice in Colorado Springs and at Eating Disorder Center of Denver. Janice graduated from Michigan State University in 1981, majoring in outdoor education. She received a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Lesley College Graduate School in Boston, Mass. in 1992.

Jessica Larson, MEd, LPC
Primary Therapist, Family Therapist & Lead Milieu Therapist

Jessica strives to connect to an individual’s authentic self to help empower lasting and systemic change in their recovery and life. Jessica has experience working in both outpatient and residential clinical settings. She worked as a milieu therapist at a residential eating disorder facility in Oregon before joining the clinical staff at Eating Disorder Center of Denver. She has also worked as a marriage, family and individual therapist in a public agency, as well as in a hospital setting collaborating with attending physicians. Her specialties include couples therapy, postpartum depression and eating disorders. Jessica earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Carroll College in Helena, Mont. She holds a Masters of Education in family and human services, specializing in marriage and family therapy from the University of Oregon. Jessica is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and a Licensed Professional Counselor.  Jessica works as a Primary Therapist in the Evening Intensive Outpatient Program, as well as a Family Therapist and Lead Milieu Therapist in the Partial Hospitalization Program.

Kamie Ober. MA
Milieu Therapist

Laura Peroutka, MA, ATR, LPC
Art Therapist & Lead Milieu Therapist

Laura sees the healing potential of art space to act as a “playground” for a new, more mindful way of being. Laura enjoys assisting individuals in using art to explore new possibilities and develop a visual language for emotional expression and regulation. She feels that through creative action, individuals learn to trust themselves to take risks, face challenges, identify choices, make decisions and “create without judgment.” Laura guides patients to reconnect with their self-awareness and authentic values in order to attain the internal strength needed for a lifetime of recovery. Laura has experience working with a variety of psychiatric, developmental and behavioral disorders, along with issues such as domestic violence, trauma and eating disorders. Her work experience also includes teaching art to groups of children and adolescents. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and art history from Bradley University and a master’s in art therapy counseling from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is a member of the American Art Therapy Association, Colorado Art Therapy Association and is a registered Art Therapist. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Lori has a passion for helping those struggling with eating disorders forge their path through recovery to a life of healing and peace.  She knows first hand how difficult that struggle is, but also how rewarding life without an eating disorder can be.  Lori received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Arizona State University and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego.  Prior to moving to Colorado in July of 2009, Lori had been working as an Intake Coordinator and Therapist at Healthy Futures, an Intensive Outpatient Program in Scottsdale, Arizona.  She also has experience working as a Primary Therapist at an inpatient treatment center for eating disorders.  Lori is currently pursuing her clinical licensure (LPC) in the state of Colorado. 

Mariah Peterson
Milieu Therapist, MA, LCSW

Nancie Ziemke, PhD, LP
Psychologist

Through connection with the patient, Dr. Ziemke is a “fellow traveler” in the recovery and wellness process by helping the patient move toward “acceptance of what is and one's self" from a holistic perspective. Dr. Ziemke works with individuals who struggle with all forms of eating disorders. She believes that recovery and healing encompass the whole person and can be more complex when patients have co-existing problems, including depression, bipolar disorder, many forms of anxiety and a history of trauma. Dr. Ziemke uses a relational-centered approach and a variety of modalities, including self-understanding and temperament, mindfulness and acceptance, and dialectical behavioral skills training. In addition, she completes psychological evaluations for bariatric surgery candidates by providing recommendations to optimize their success following surgery and during weight maintenance. Dr. Ziemke also works with these candidates and post-surgical patients to address problems with eating. In addition, she facilitates an outpatient psycho-educational process group called "Minding The Body” for individuals who struggle with emotional, compulsive and binge eating disorders. Dr. Ziemke has more than 20 years of professional experience working with individuals, families and couples in a variety of treatment settings. She has had an interest in eating disorders since graduate school where she completed research on shame and its relationship to bulimia. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, a master’s in guidance and counseling from the University of Wisconsin Stout-Menomonie, and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of North Dakota Grand Forks. She also completed a three-year professional training experience in marriage and family therapy from North Dakota State University and is a licensed psychologist. Prior to working as a licensed psychologist, she was a registered dietitian. She is also an active member of the American Psychological Association.

Pam Hurley, MSW, LCSW
Family Therapist

Pam facilitates empathic and growth-fostering connections between family members. She invites family members to respectfully “get real” with one another and to experience the empowerment and zest that often follows. Pam is dedicated to helping family members increase their closeness with one another, while at the same time appreciating the unique differences between them. She has been a licensed clinical social worker for more than 20 years and is also an EMDR Level II therapist. Pam has applied her psychotherapy skills in a variety of settings, including private practice, a traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis recovery center, child and family protective services, Mercy Hospital’s hospice and home health services, a critical incident stress management team, Red Cross and equine assisted therapy. Pam received her bachelor‘s degree from Colorado State University and her master’s degree from University of Denver. She attended post-graduate summer training at Wellesley College (at the Stone Center), where she learned the cultural-relational model and its application to various treatment issues, including eating disorders. She has also been an adjunct faculty member and clinical supervisor for both Colorado State University and University of Denver Graduate Schools of Social Work.

Pam Sjoerdsma, MA, ,LPC
Family Therapist

As part of her family focus, Pam strives to assist clients in reconnecting with family and friends in a healthy way as an early step toward change and recovery. Pam approaches her work with a deep respect and sense of caring. She understands that the path to healing is difficult, and she feels privileged to accompany clients on a piece of their journey. In her clinical practice, Pam has worked primarily with young adults, couples and families, with a focus on depression, anxiety, eating disorders and relationship issues. Pam has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and a master’s in counseling psychology and counselor education from the University of Colorado at Denver. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Stephanie Jordan, MSW, LCSW
Outpatient Therapist

Stephanie is committed to supporting her clients through the active process of recovery and believes each individual can access their strength and skills through empowerment and awareness. Stephanie has been with Eating Disorder Center of Denver since its inception in 2001. She has more than 15 years of experience treating adults, adolescents, couples and families in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Stephanie specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, mood disorders and trauma using an empowerment-based cognitive behavioral approach. Prior to joining Eating Disorder Center of Denver, she worked in the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) unit at the Veteran's Administration of Puget Sound and as an adolescent therapist for an alternative high school in Denver. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State College and a master’s degree from the University of Washington. She has been a featured speaker at several regional eating disorder conferences and is a licensed clinical social worker.

Susan M. Woodmansee, MS, OTR, TEP, CAC I
Psychodramatist

Through her work as a psychodramatist and experiential therapist, Susan offers a safe stage wherein patients can practice being in the present and learn to accept themselves. Susan has been a therapist in behavioral health for more than 40 years. She has specialized in occupational therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy and psychodrama in the treatment of eating disorders, trauma and chemical dependency. Susan believes that psychodrama creates an opportunity to examine present and past roles, express unspoken feelings and develop the spontaneity necessary to create a healthy life. She has presented many workshops on the use of humor and play in healing, team building and mindfulness-based stress reduction, and DBT skills training. Susan holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychiatric occupational therapy from Colorado State University. She recently completed intensive training in dialectical behavior therapy. She is trained in EMDR and therapeutic touch, is a certified addictions counselor, and is a nationally certified trainer, educator and practitioner of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy.

Tamara Pryor, PhD
Clinical Director

As a therapist, Dr. Pryor challenges patients to dare to be true to themselves. To do this, she works with each patient to identify and express his or her authentic wants, feelings and needs. Dr. Pryor has more than 25 years of experience working in the eating disorder field. She spent 15 years as an associate professor and clinical director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, four years as business manager and co-director of the Path Eating Disorders Clinic, and three years at Wichita Psychiatric Consultants as the director of eating disorder services before coming to Eating Disorder Center of Denver. Dr. Pryor has authored and co-authored articles from research conducted examining personality features, substance abuse, multi-impulsive behaviors and the sexuality of the eating disordered individual. She has conducted workshops and presented research both nationally and internationally. She also developed a prevention program for middle school students and co-authored a prevention curriculum and textbook. Dr. Pryor is a member of the Eating Disorders Research Society, The Academy of Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. She has a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University, a master’s in rehabilitation and a master’s and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Southern-Illinois University. She also completed a yearlong fellowship in eating disorders at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry.

Trish O’Donnell, MA, ATR-BC, LPC
Program Director

Stemming from years of providing art therapy, Trish values the experiential component in treatment for patients. She feels positive change can take place when patients take action, whether it is in the creative process or by discovering new ways to be in the world. Trish has been a part of Eating Disorder Center of Denver’s mission to effectively treat eating disorders for more than six years, initially as the program art therapist and now as program director. Trish has been practicing art therapy for more than 20 years. She has provided art therapy services to a variety of populations and settings, including a community support program, a rural mental health center and several psychiatric hospitals. She spent six years as the director of expressive therapies at a national program for the treatment of trauma and dissociation for adults, adolescents and children. She has conducted workshops and presented papers both nationally and internationally. Trish holds a Bachelor of Arts in art and psychology from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s in art therapy from The George Washington University. She is a registered and board certified art therapist with the American Art Therapy Association.

Andrea Pruett
Chef

Andrea’s goals with eating disorder patients are to continually focus on the behavioral restructuring of ideas and thoughts about food through nutritional education and hands-on cooking groups. Prior to joining Eating Disorder Center of Denver team, Andrea was the executive chef and general manager of the High Street Grill in Oxford, Ohio, where she continued to refine her skills and love for the marriage of culture and cuisine. In providing the food services for Eating Disorder Center of Denver patients, she includes the preparation of fresh and healthy meals and snacks with an emphasis on sustainability and seasonality. Andrea has a bachelor’s in dietetics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she decided to pursue continuing education in culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.

Janelle Hunt, MS
Registered Dietitian

Janelle helps each individual see food as nourishment and enjoyment. She encourages the expansion of food repertoire and the understanding of how to plan realistic meals. Janelle has worked with eating disorder patients for five years. She has also utilized her skills as a registered dietitian to work with patients with various nutritional concerns, including diabetes, coronary heart disease and weight management. She is passionate about her work and values the opportunity to help patients meet their goals of peace and living a balanced lifestyle. Janelle received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s in nutrition with an emphasis in exercise science from Colorado State University.

Therese Ida, MS, RD
Manager of Clinical Nutrition Services

Therese believes in providing culinary “hands-on” opportunities for eating disorder patients in order to assist them in developing healthier eating habits and solid nutritional menu planning, which will nurture and sustain them in recovery and for life. Therese is a Registered Dietitian with 30 years of clinical nutrition experience. She is very interested in the biochemistry of eating disorders and how it affects patients’ dietary needs. Therese has extensive experience in outpatient counseling, acute, chronic and community nutrition, college-level teaching and most recently, 12 years of nutrition research with National Institutes of Health (NIH). Therese graduated with majors in dietetics and community nutrition from Iowa State University and received a master’s degree in preventative medicine from the University of Iowa.

Eve A. Wood, MD
Medical Director

Dr. Wood's responsibilities as medical director include complete patient medical evaluations and on-going management, diagnostic interviews and collaborative patient care throughout a patient’s interaction with EDC-D.Wood provides compassionate and supportive care for eating disorder patients using the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model combined with a firm foundation in the psycho-pharmacological management of patients. Dr. Wood brings more than 25 years of professional experience as a psychiatrist to EDC-D. She previously worked as the staff psychiatrist for EDC-D. Before coming to EDC-D, Wood served as the medical director of outpatient behavioral health services at Boulder Community Hospital and has treated eating disorder patients in her own practice. Dr. Wood is a licensed psychiatrist in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Colorado. She is also a current adjunct faculty member at the University of Arizona in the Integrative Medicine Program.