Meet Our 2017 HEAL Conference Speakers
Heidi Andersen, MS, LPC, CEDS is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, with special interests in Body Image. During her career, she has worked as a therapist in residential treatments centers with both middle school girls and women suffering from eating disorders. She currently maintains an outpatient private practice and offers psychotherapy groups and workshops for women and girls struggling with body image. Heidi is the author of the Reclaiming Beauty Journal and Wisdom Deck. This resource was created to engage women in the process of healing body image and self-image through the use of imagery and experiential exercises. With a strong belief in the Body-Mind-Soul connection and the importance of spirituality in the healing process, Heidi holds the vision that all people will learn to see the beauty in themselves and those around them.
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Dr. Gail Gnade, Ph.D. is the Senior Clinical Director of Focus Treatment Centers. She has been a Clinical Psychologist in the state of Tennessee since 1993. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, the largest multi-denominational Seminary in the world. Dr. Gnade’s specialties include: Eating Disorders of all types, Substance Use Disorders, Depression and other Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Personality Disorders, and other addictions including gambling, sex, pornography, and gaming.
In addition to her wealth of clinical knowledge, Dr. Gnade also draws upon her 30 years of recovery from an eating disorder and her personal experiences while swimming competitively for 16 years. She brings a great deal of passion, wisdom, and clinical expertise to our program and is currently implementing aspects of her own model of recovery that includes the essential components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Shame Resiliency, Compassion and Gratitude; Life Skills including 12 step programs; Spirituality and Soul based living; and Cognitive Remediation Therapy (Rewiring for Recovery). |
Dr. Amy Sosa, Psy.D. is the Clinical Director of Clementine Adolescent Treatment Program. Dr. Sosa received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology where she also received her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Throughout her career, Dr. Sosa received comprehensive training in play, couples, family, individual, and group therapy. Currently, Dr. Sosa specializes in providing empirically-validated treatment to adolescent girls diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and/or exercise addiction. She has a passion for treating issues impacting girls and women with a focus on enhancing body image. Moreover, she has experience treating complex trauma internationally and completed her dissertation research on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Secondary Traumatic Stress within Rwandese healthcare providers. Additionally, she is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Further, she is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA) and Division 52 (International Psychology Division) of the American Psychological Association. Lastly, she is co-chair of the Education Committee for the Miami Chapter of the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP).
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Beth Riley, MSW, LISW-CP, CEDS is the founder and Executive Director of Eating Recovery Center, the Carolinas. Beth graduated with distinction from Stanford University. She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. She has been practicing for 20 years and has developed a local, regional and national reputation as a leader in clinical excellence and innovation in the field of eating disorders. She frequently lectures at regional hospitals and healthcare providers.
Beth is a CEDS (Certified Eating Disorder Specialist) and a CEDS supervisor through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. She is an MSW field placement supervisor for the University of South Carolina School of Social Work. Beth is a member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP), National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED), the South Carolina Society for Clinical Social Workers (SCSCSW), the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a founding member of the Upstate Behavioral Health Alliance. |
Susan Connolly Nelson, MSW, LISW-CP, CEDS holds a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. She has worked in the field of eating disorders for over twenty years and is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. Sue has a passion for training other professionals on the topic of treatment and prevention of eating disorders. Sue was instrumental in the development of the USC Counseling and Human Development protocol and treatment of eating disorders on their campus. Sue founded the South Carolina Eating Disorders Association (SCEDA), a parent/professional group dedicated to advocacy and support for those suffering with eating disorders and their significant others. Sue also developed an internship program that focused on eating disorder training for students in the counseling fields.
Sue is often asked to consult on difficult cases and provides supervision to other professionals. She is a member of the International Association of Eating Disorder (IAEDP) and National Association of Social Workers (NASW). |