Meet Our Clinical Team
Amy Pershing LMSW, ACSW, CCTP-II
Founder, Bodywise
Amy is the Founder of Bodywise and President of the Board of the Center for Eating Disorders in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is the co-founder of Pershing Consulting, LLC, which offers training to clinicians treating BED and trauma worldwide. Amy is also the creator of “Attune™,” an online program for ending chronic dieting and weight cycling.
Amy is an internationally known leader in the development of treatment paradigms for BED, and one of the first clinicians to specialize in BED treatment. Based on 35 years of clinical experience, Amy has pioneered an approach to BED recovery that is strengths-based and trauma informed, incorporating Internal Family Systems (IFS) and body-based techniques to heal the deeper issues that drive binge behaviors. Her approach integrates a non-diet body empowerment philosophy, helping clients create lasting change with food and body image.
Amy lectures and teaches internationally on the treatment of BED for professional and lay communities; she has been featured on radio, podcast, and television programs around the world, speaking about BED treatment and recovery, relapse prevention, weight stigma, and a non-diet approach for eating and movement. She offers a number of full and half day training opportunities and conference presentations through PESI for clinical professionals. Amy is the Past Chair of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and the winner of BEDA’s Pioneer in Clinical Advocacy award. She is the author of the book Binge Eating Disorder: The Journey to Recovery and Beyond (Taylor and Francis) and Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Bingeing And Body Image: A Trauma-Informed Workbook ", with co-authors Judith Matz and Christy Harrison (PESI Publishing, 2023).
Judith Banker, MA, LLP, FAED
Founder and President, The Center for Eating Disorders
Judith founded the Center for Eating Disorders (CED) in 1983 and has served as Executive Director since that time. With nearly 35 years of experience in the field, Judith has a background in outpatient treatment program development and implementation, professional supervision and training, individual and group psychotherapy with children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders, family treatment and education, and the development of community outreach and prevention services. Currently serving as Immediate Past President of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), Judith lectures internationally on a wide range of topics related to eating, weight, and body image treatment and prevention. Judith has also served as Chair of the AED’s Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Special Interest Group for the past decade. She has published on the psychotherapeutic treatment of eating disorders, the service users’ experience of treatments and services, and on bridging the research-practice gap in the field of eating disorders.
Suzanne Dooley-Hash, M.D.
Director of Research, The Center for Eating Disorders
Suzanne received her medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago and completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan. Throughout her career Suzanne has been interested in the impact of mental health, particularly eating and mood disorders and substance abuse, on her patients’ overall well-being.
She joined the Center for Eating Disorders’ staff in 2011. Suzanne is also active in eating disorder advocacy and education efforts as past member of the Board of Directors for the Binge Eating Disorder Association and as a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED) and the AED Medical Care Special Interest Group. Dr. Dooley-Hash was elected to the 2018 AED Class of Fellows.
Her current research interests include early identification of eating disorders through improved screening, the comorbidity of eating disorders with both psychiatric and medical conditions, and methods for improving education about eating disorders for healthcare providers.
Sarah Vinka, LMSW, Clinical Specialist
Sarah earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan in 2008 and joined the staff at CED in 2016. She has clinical expertise in the treatment of all eating disorders - with an emphasis on Binge Eating Disorder (BED), anxiety disorders, trauma and complex trauma - as well as a strong interest in the clinical application of Internal Family Systems (IFS). Sarah’s professional background includes inpatient psychiatric care for UMHS, research on Social Anxiety Disorder and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors at the UM School of Social Work, Consultant for the Huron Oaks Eating Disorder Recovery Partial Hospitalization Program, St. Joseph Mercy-Ann Arbor, and therapist in the outpatient setting.
Sarah works to treat and raise awareness for Binge Eating Disorder and weight stigma-related issues. In her practice, she takes the whole person into account when forming individualized treatment plans with clients, and works from a "health at every size" paradigm and weight-neutral perspective. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and a former member of Binge Eating Disorders Association (BEDA).
Joy Mulrath, LMSW, Clinical Staff, Clinical Specialist
Joy earned her Master’s Degree of Clinical Social Work in 2005 from Eastern Michigan University. She has worked for nearly 20 years in multiple psychiatric treatment settings and levels of care, developing a broad scope and depth of clinical skills to address a range of primary and co-occurring psychological disorders and treatment demands. In her work at CED, Joy’s area of focus is the treatment of those struggling with body image and relationship with food issues, – in particular those with BED (Binge Eating Disorder) - and trauma histories (CPTSD, PTSD). She applies the principles of Intuitive Eating and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to the treatment of individuals experiencing a lack of connection with self, including a disconnection from appetite, and emotional awareness and expression.
Joy’s approach to treatment is grounded in her passion for working collaboratively with clients to help them develop curiosity and understanding about their own internal emotional/psychological systems, including the origins of these systems and the mechanisms that perpetuate them; and to help them identify external systems and societal pressures that impact their growth and well-being. Her approach is strength-based, helping clients to identify and implement their own natural skills and resilience to move forward and achieve their goals. This empowerment paradigm allows her clients to safely explore options, experiment with new patterns and strategies, and to speak difficult truths in a way that promotes growth and change.
Melanie Garzonio, MA LPC, Clinical Specialist
Melanie earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Cornell University and continued her education at Boston University School of Medicine, where she received her Masters in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine. She strongly believes positive change is possible for every individual and focuses on providing a caring strengths-based environment for emotional and behavioral change to flourish. She is an advocate for Health at Every Size and body positivity. She has specialized in working with clients struggling with eating disorders and eating-related issues in outpatient, inpatient, and partial hospitalization settings, with a special interest in working with college students and young adults. She has worked extensively with clients experiencing a variety of substance abuse and mental health issues, including eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Melanie was involved in clinical research for several years prior to beginning her clinical work and has a strong interest in the integration of behavioral medicine and counseling. Melanie is a member of the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Southern New Hampshire University.
Amanda Harris, MA, LLP, Clinical Specialist
Amanda earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Kalamazoo College in 2003 and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006. Following graduation, she joined the Center for Eating Disorders (CED) as a post-graduate intern. She currently provides individual psychotherapy at CED and serves a CED Clinical Consultant to the Eating Disorder Partial Hospitalization Program at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. Amanda has extensive training and expertise in helping adolescents, college students, and adults with all types of eating disorders and body image concerns. Her treatment approach is collaborative and tailored to meet the unique needs and treatment goals of each of her clients. Amanda’s professional background also includes academic publication and presenting nationally and internationally on identity and self-esteem in the development and maintenance of eating disorders, body image, athletes and eating disorders, and eating disorder recovery. Amanda served as CED Support Group Facilitator from 2008-2014. She is an active member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and past member of the Binge Eating Disorder Association.
Meret Flessenkämper, MA Psychology, Intuitive Eating Counselor, RYT-200
Meret Flessenkamper received her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Meret served a clinical internship with the Center for Eating Disorders, and two research internships (The University of Michigan and Wayne State University). She is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders.
Meret offers mindful movement, psychoeducation, and emotional/behavioral meal and nutrition support, as well as other individualized types of recovery support clients may need as an adjunct or wraparound to regular outpatient psychotherapeutic and dietetic treatment.
Meret approaches her work with clients with a non-judgmental attitude and curiosity, using a resource-oriented stance that aims to help people see the potential that naturally exists within them. Her focus is on providing a caring and kind space in which clients can befriend their body and heal their relationship with food and movement. She employs the principles of Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size as a roadmap to recovery for her clients.
KRISTINA TATE, MPH, RDN, Dietetics and Nutrition Specialist
Kristina (Krissy) Tate is a weight-inclusive Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor at the Center for Eating Disorders, specializing in eating disorder care. She earned a Master of Public Health in Nutritional Sciences with a Dietetics Concentration, and an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship, from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. To supplement her degree, she received the Professional Development DEI Certificate from the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School. Krissy holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
In her experience providing nutritional counseling, Krissy has led group and individual sessions in the following settings for all ages: intensive outpatient programming (IOP), outpatient, inpatient, and community. Krissy honors principles of Health at Every Size, cultural humility, and interdisciplinary teamwork to nurture authentic living. Her specialties include cultivating a supportive environment to help heal one’s relationship with food and body, sharing the benefits of intuitive eating to work through dysfunctional eating and movement behaviors, and practicing motivational interviewing to nurture eating disorder recovery. Krissy has experience in treating anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and OSFED.
Krissy whole-heartedly promotes community, healing, and advocacy in her practice. She believes that cohesion in treatment among health professionals makes recovery possible. Krissy is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians, the Southeastern Michigan Dietetic Association.
AMANDA VILLESCAS, RD, Dietetics and Nutrition Specialist
Amanda is a weight-inclusive, identity-affirming dietitian dedicated to dismantling diet culture and confronting the harms of weight stigma within our healthcare system and beyond. Her nutrition counseling approach is warm, curious, compassionate, is Health At Every Size® (HAES) informed, and is rooted in respect for all bodies.
Amanda believes that healing one's personal relationship with food is important as all human beings are worthy to safely take up space in this world. She considers her working relationships with clients to be a partnership, striving to provide gentle guidance and support that enables folks to experience improved overall health & well-being, as well as a deeper sense of autonomy, embodiment, and self-trust on their food & body journeys.
When she's not channeling her energy into body liberation work, you might find Amanda reading, traveling/making travel plans, or spending time outdoors, preferably in the sunshine. She also enjoys cooking, especially when tapping into her Sicilian roots.
Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Madonna University and completed her dietetic internship at Harper University Hospital in coordination with the Detroit Medical Center. She's been practicing as an RD for over 15 years, with extensive experience in both clinical and wellness work.