At Center for Eating Disorders we have a caring and experienced staff.

Professional Staff:
• Anita Johnston, Ph.D., Senior Expert and Weekly Consultant to Program
  Graduated from the California School of Professional Psychology, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Co-founder and Director, Anorexia and Bulimia Center of Hawaii, author of several publications including, "Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food through Myths, Metaphors, and Storytelling". Anita contributes to the master treatment plan of every patient, facilitating weekly treatment team meetings to ensure every patients unique needs are being met.
• Mark Peterson, MD, Medical Director
  Graduated from Northwestern University Medical School. Member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Board Certified in Psychiatry.
• Dr. Gary Gesualdi, MD, Associate Medical Director
  Graduated from The Chicago Medical School. Member of the American Association Mental Retardation, Member of Tennessee Association of Family Practice.

• Becky Johnson, Executive Director
  Becky´s work in healthcare has primarily been as President of medical societies whose mission are improving the health of the local community. Becky served as Project Coordinator responsible for opening the Center for Eating Disorders. Areas of expertise include strategic planning, policies, criteria, training, website coordination, marketing, budget development and facility renovation.
• Noelle Schwantes, LPC-MHSP, NCC, Program Director
  Noelle is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, with M.Ed in Human Development and Counseling. She is currently a PhD candidate in Somatic Psychology at Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.  Specialty training includes Rapid Trauma Resolution and experiential techniques to help patients get past their intellectual barriers and into their feelings. Noelle comes to Focus with Clinical Director experience from Cumberland Heights, as well as private practice and community liaison work. Noelle has strength and experience with operational and strategic goals and objectives, developing curriculums, supervising, and training.
• Blake DeFoor, Director of Admissions
  Graduate from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, BS Sociology. Blake has been instrumental in developing new admissions standards and procedures; as well as ensuring patients receive the best customer service.
• Susan Kerr, Nurse Executive, BSN, UTC
  Graduate of Erlanger School of Nursing. Susan has 20 years of successful progressive experience in inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment and psychiatric services.
• Melissa Rogers, RN, BSN, Director of Marketing
  Graduated from Southern Adventist University with A.S. in Nursing and from Columbia Union College with a BSN. Melissa has over 10 years experience in Nursing as well as 15 years experience in Marketing for Home Care and Hospice Agencies. She has experience in developing new marketing avenues.

Counselors/Therapists:
• Corey L. Emerick, MS, Primary Counselor, Eating Disorder Unit
  Corey L. Emerick holds a Master´s Degree in Professional Counseling from Argosy University in Nashville, TN. She provides individual, group and family therapy to patients at Focus. Corey comes to us from Cumberland Heights in Nashville, TN, where she focused on helping women develop positive relationships with their bodies through Yoga and Body Image Groups. Previously, her work at The Ranch in Nunnelly, TN, concentrated primarily on women who struggle with eating disorders as well as chemical dependency and/or other psychiatric issues. In both places, she facilitated family/support system work as she has a deep belief that healing happens with more efficiency and longevity when loved ones are involved. She is an associate practitioner in Rapid Trauma Resolution and is completing full Dialectal Behavior Therapy training. Corey spent 11 years in Brazil and is fluent in Portuguese, speaks advanced Spanish and intermediate French
• Sheila Thomas, MS, LMFT, Eating Disorder Therapist, Family Programming
  Graduate of Southern Mississippi with a Master of Science, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Clinical Director of Pine Grove Women´s Center from 2005-2008. In addition to the leadership and experience Sheila brings to our treatment team, she has additional training in: EMDR, Sexual Addiction, Trauma Training, and Eating Disorders.
• Laura Brake, RN, BSN, PRN Counselor
  Graduated from Belmont University.  Laura has over 15 years experience in nursing working in a variety of settings such as medical hospitals, public health facilities and psychiatric facilities.  Laura recently graduated with her Masters in Professional Counseling.
• Jenny Mazdin, MS, RD, CDE, LDN, Registered Dietician
  Graduated University of Tennessee, Chattanooga with BS in Human Ecology, Food and Nutrition. Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. Certified Diabetes Educator and Basic Nutrition Instructor at Chattanooga State College.
• Lilan Laishley, PhD. Counselor, Teacher, Life Coach, Strategist
  Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh with an emphasis on comparative religion, symbolism, and ritual studies. Dr. Laishley has a holistic approach with orientation to body, mind, spirit and emotion. Her passion is women´s wellness and strategic planning for life transitions.
• Michael Meriweather, MA in Counseling, BA, Psychology, Primary Counselor
  National Certified Counselor. Michael has 20 years of counseling experience. He has served as Clinical Director for Southwest Key Programs and Camelot Care, Inc. and provides daily motivational exercises with patients to help start the day off right.
• Diane Monteleone, MAMFT, Primary Counselor
  Graduated from Psychological Studies Institutes, Master of Arts, Marriage and Family Studies, Specialization Coaching and Leadership. Diane has worked as a life and business coach. She is passionate about family and the issue of domestic violence and was asked to do a series for a television/radio network.

As a Center of Excellence, all our primary therapists are seasoned, experienced, and hold masters in their field.