Our Eating Disorder Therapists
Our counselling services are integrative and collaborative. Our counsellors draw upon a variety of approaches that are effective in eating disorder recovery and work collaboratively with each client to develop a personal recovery program that aligns with their values, perspectives, and strengths. We believe that our clients are the experts of their own experiences and possess immense wisdom and capability. We aim to guide, support, and empower our clients to reach their recovery goals.
Fee Change
The Alberta Wellness Center for Eating Disorders (AWCED) will be implementing a fee change, recommended by the Psychology Association of Alberta, as of January 1, 2025.
The new fees will be:
- Registered Psychologists: $235/hour
- Registered Provisional Psychologists: $205/hour
- Practicum Students: $75/hour
We invite you to call us with any questions or concerns you may have with this change, and thank you for choosing us as your service provider.
Dr. Amanda Stillar (She/Her)
Registered Psychologist
Dr. Stillar specializes in working with eating disorders across the lifespan. She aims to help clients achieve life long recovery through addressing the underlying issues of their symptoms while also helping them gain insight into their struggles and develop alternative healthy coping strategies.
Dr. Stillar works from a client centred perspective, which means that she values that her client’s are the experts of their own lives. She works collaboratively with clients to find a treatment approach that fits for them. She often uses Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), EMDR, Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Compassion-Focused Therapy.
Dr. Stillar recognizes the benefits of taking a family approach to treatment, as parents and caregivers can be tremendous supports when a loved one is struggling with a mental health concern. She often works with caregivers using Emotion-Focused Family Therapy to help parents and caregivers learn key skills to support their loved one’s recovery.
Dr. Michelle Emmerling (She/Her)
Registered Psychologist
Dr. Emmerling’s professional training and experience includes working with individuals (adults and adolescents), couples, and families struggling with eating disorders, body image concerns, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and more.
She also has a passion for working with caregivers who are supporting their loved one’s recovery. Dr. Emmerling is also an Emotion Focused Skills Training clinician, trainer, and provides workshops for caregivers.
Among other techniques, Dr. Emmerling utilizes Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Emotion-Focused Skills Training (EFST), and Somatic Experiencing and Body-based Skills.
Tamara Stuart
Registered Psychologist
Tamara works with a variety of mental health concerns and specializes in working with individuals experiencing eating disorders and poor relationships with their body. She aims to understand her clients’ experience with food and their bodies so she can work together with them to find solutions that fit best for each unique client.
Her approach is very collaborative and goal-oriented, as she strives to focus on helping individuals develop the skills they need to change their life in a way that works for them. In her therapeutic approach, she utilizes CBT, EFT, narrative, mindfulness and exposure techniques to help individuals gain a balance between learning how to control their thoughts and get reconnected with their body.
Her therapeutic style is very jovial, as she likes to use humor and creative approaches to help individuals break out of their shell and become the best version of themselves.
Email Tamara: [email protected]
Monica Arnold (She/Her)
Registered Psychologist
Monica specializes in working with adolescents and adults struggling with eating disorders, body image concerns, self-esteem, and the underlying shame that is often associated with these experiences. She also has a special interest in working with caregivers who are supporting their loved ones through recovery.
Monica believes that knowledge can be incredibly freeing in the recovery process. The more you come to understand the various experiences that have contributed to your eating disorder, and how these symptoms are currently working as a way to cope with painful emotions, the more empowered you become.
Monica primarily uses Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR in the treatment of eating disorders, however is integrative with other modalities to tailor treatment to each individual client. She is passionate about the application of the Emotion Focused Skills Training model in her work with parents and caregivers, recognizing the healing power of their involvement.
Email Monica: [email protected]
Savannah Howatt (She/Her)
Registered Psychologist
Savannah enjoys working with all different age ranges from children to adults and families as they navigate their own mental health journey and recovery. Having worked within the field of eating disorders for two years in a medical setting, she has had the honour to walk alongside many of those who wrestled with their own self-worth, body image, and recovery process.
Savannah works from a client-centered perspective, believing that every individual is an expert in their own experience, and holds within them the capability to make big changes. She utilizes an integrated approach of cognitive behavioural therapies, ACT, DBT, emotion-focused therapies, and somatic experiencing.
Collaborating with clients to create a safe space is important to Savannah. Utilizing trauma-informed measures is one way in which she believes this is possible. Recognizing the unique journey of each client is also part of this collaboration.
Savannah has a desire to see others find hope in recovery and passion in their day-to-day lives. Your life is worth living.
Email Savannah: [email protected]
Shannon Foster (She/Her)
Registered Psychologist
Shannon is passionate about working with individuals and their families suffering with eating related struggles and eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Rumination Disorder and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
Shannon has over 15 years of experience supporting individuals of all ages whether it be tweens, teens, adults, and seniors in their healing and eating disorder recovery. She enjoys working with families who find themselves wondering how to support their loved one as they grapple with their illness.
Shannon’s work is grounded in a trauma informed, attachment-based lens and utilizes several types of therapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Shannon values working collaboratively with her clients and their families as they bravely journey towards recovery. Shannon offers in person services in Calgary and virtual services across Alberta.
Email Shannon: [email protected]
Norah Ayee (She/Her)
Registered Psychologist
Norah’s experience and passion over the last decade, has been working with individuals, age 10 and over, experiencing a wide range of mental health challenges. She has a special affinity for individuals challenged by eating disorders and disordered eating, having worked with many in her practice. She has had the highlight of supporting individuals struggling with their bodies and eating to improve their relationship with food, enhance their body image and self esteem, and improve their quality of life. She works in person in Calgary and virtually across AB.
She has specialized experience supporting individuals who electively choose to undergo metabolic surgery. For every client, Norah arrives with them where they are, ready to help them along their own unique healing journey.
Norah has worked with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, domestic violence, relationship problems, grief and loss, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder and more. Norah works from a trauma focused lens, utilizing a variety of modalities including Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, EMDR, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Family Therapy, client focused approaches and more.
Norah loves to inspire hope, agency, and encouragement for individuals to look beyond what is, to what can be. Norah enjoys working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. She believes empowering individuals; their caregivers and support people is key to recovery and healing.
Email Norah: [email protected]
Jessica Johansson (She/Her)
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Jessica works with children, adolescents and adults struggling with body image, self-esteem, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders using a collaborative, person-centered approach. She understands that everyone has a unique and personal perspective of their life and experiences, which can play a key role in healing and recovery.
Jessica incorporates clients’ self-knowledge and their distinctive perspectives along with her training, experience, and knowledge, to collaboratively work with client’s to achieve their goals.
She has training in and experience with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Jessica understands and appreciates that everyone holds diverse worldviews and has personal preferences and beliefs about health and well-being. She strives to keep this at the forefront of her work to help provide each client with a therapeutic experience of feeling heard, understood, supported, and empowered to reach their therapeutic goals.
Email Jess: [email protected]
Lenore Schrader (She/Her)
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Lenore comes with over 25 years experience working with children in schools, and 7 years as a mental health practitioner with kids ages 10+ and families.
Lenore is a highly experienced therapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. In addition, she has over 25 years of expertise helping individuals of all ages navigate the challenges of recovery and healing in all areas of mental health. Her deep understanding of eating disorders is complemented by her ability to address co-occurring issues such as anxiety, depression, and complex family dynamics, providing a comprehensive and compassionate approach to eating disorder care.
Lenore’s approach to eating disorder treatment is grounded in attachment, emotion and relational dynamics and she incorporates evidence-based practices such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), mindfulness-based approaches, and somatic therapies. Her ability to connect with clients of all ages, and foster a safe, empowering environment has made her a trusted ally in the journey toward recovery and growth.
Compassionate and dedicated, Lenore is passionate about helping clients overcome eating disorders and rediscover their inner strength, leading to more fulfilling and rewarding lives.
Email Lenore: [email protected]
Kassie Magyar (She/Her)
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Kassie specializes in working with children, adolescents, couples, and adults who may be struggling with a variety of mental health concerns. Kassie has experience supporting individuals struggling with interpersonal/relational conflict, self-esteem, body image, and eating disorders.
Kassie is passionate about working together to navigate her client’s presenting concerns and to support them in their journey. Kassie works to brainstorm with her client’s the skills that may support their current struggles in a way that works for their particular situation, as she believes that everyone’s experience is different and not one approach works for everyone. She utilizes an integrative approach with techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFBT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT).
Kassie prioritizes creating a safe space for her clients to give them space to share their experiences in hopes to help clients reach their goals.
Email Kassie: [email protected]
Darien Zwicker (She/Her)
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Darien specializes in working with children, adolescents and adults struggling with eating disorders, body-image concerns, self-esteem, and body dysmorphia.
Darien specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults in navigating eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Avoidant/ Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, and Binge Eating Disorder, as well as those struggling with body image concerns, self- esteem challenges, and body dysmorphia. Darien is also passionate about working with parents and caregivers who are supporting their loved ones through recovery.
Darien understands the profound impact eating disorders can have on individuals and their families. She believes in the possibility of recovery and is passionate about empowering clients to restore balance and cultivate a positive relationship with food and their bodies.
Darien’s therapeutic approach is person-centered, recognizing clients as the experts of their own experiences. She understands the stigma and shame that can often accompany disordered eating and eating disorders, and is dedicated to fostering a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel supported in sharing their stories.
Darien is trained in and primarily uses Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and EMDR. She also has training in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and Emotion-Focused Skills Therapy (EFST) which she integrates into her work with parents and caregivers.
Email Darien: [email protected]
Jenna Donovan (She/Her)
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Jenna has an expertise in working with clients with eating disorders, body image struggles, self-esteem, as well as disordered behaviours around movement/exercise. Jenna also has extensive experience and training in working with clients who are wanting to change their relationship to movement/exercise. Specifically, she is highly experienced in supporting clients in finding the joy in movement and feeling more confident in their bodies.
Jenna uses a person-centered approach to understand the history and unique experiences of each client she works with. She works collaboratively with her clients and focuses on creating a safe and trusting environment to explore these topics and the emotions that come up alongside them.
Jenna utilizes CBT, EFT, and mindfulness to explore these issues as well as try to heal the mind/body connection. She recognizes that each client has different and unique needs, concerns and goals, and tailors her approach to meet each client where they are at.
Email Jenna: [email protected]
Kristie Bennett (She/Her)
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Kristie is passionate about working with adults, caregivers and families navigating eating disorders, disordered eating and body image concerns. Her primary focus is on mental health for those in mid-life.
Kristie draws upon her personal and professional wisdom to cultivate a nurturing and empowering therapeutic space. Through an attachment based, trauma-informed lens, she integrates various types of therapy into her practice such as emotionally focused therapy, somatic experiencing, compassion-focused therapies, positive psychology, and mindfulness.
Kristie is also certified in the Grief Recovery Method, which is an action-based, powerful, directed approach to healing from life’s deepest heartbreaks.
As a warm and compassionate helper, Kristie’s goal is to guide her clients towards reclaiming freedom, wholeness, and joy in their lives.
Email Kristie: [email protected]
Zita Dube-Lockhart (She/They)
Practicum Student in Counselling Psychology
(Starting Jan 2025)
Zita has a mission to help clients embrace embodiment as a powerful act of resilience, reclamation, and radical self-acceptance. She believes that dignity, body autonomy, and social belonging are inherent human rights that should be extended to all, regardless of their gender, sexuality, race, size, age, or physical/cognitive ability.
Heavily informed by her background in sociology and biological sciences, Zita operates from a weight-neutral, body-affirming lens and brings a deep commitment to fostering equity and justice in healthcare. A proudly Trans-Agender/Autistic-ADHD practitioner, Zita is particularly interested in the intersections of gender dysphoria and neurodivergence, and how these collide with our experiences of nourishment, embodiment, and self-identity.
She uses an integrative, trauma-responsive approach, relying heavily on narrative therapy (NT), emotion focused therapy (EFT), and somatic approaches to help clients build allyship with their bodies and reinforce their inner strength.
Zita is also extensively trained in multiple mind-body approaches including trauma-responsive exercise, yoga, meditation, and breathwork. She is a licensed Safe and Sound Protocol© and Focus System© provider and works with cutting-edge neuropsychological interventions such as heart rate variability training, sensory integration, and microcurrent point stimulation therapy (MPS).
Email Zita: [email protected]