Mirasol's Eating Disorder Professionals

Jeanne Rust, PhD, LPC: CEO and Founder
Jeanne specializes in eating disorders and is an expert in the treatment of adult trauma. She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Saybrook Graduate School, a Master's Degree in Counseling, and a Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. Jeanne is certified by the State of Arizona as a Professional Counselor. She has received comprehensive training in Gestalt and other expressive therapies, as well as Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and she is a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner. Jeanne was a therapist in private practice for many years before founding Mirasol. She has worked with the University of Arizona athletic department to meet the therapeutic needs of athletes with eating disorders, has taught courses at the university level, and provides training and education for health care professionals in her areas of expertise.

David Romero, MC, LPC, MBA: Executive Director
David is Mirasol's new Executive Director and brings to the position more than 20 years of supervisory experience in managed care. He is also a State of Arizona Licensed Professional Counselor with specific expertise in addiction and sexual abuse treatment, education and clinical management. His educational background includes a Master's in Counseling from Arizona State University and graduate research at Harvard University. He also holds an MBA from the University of Arizona's Eller School of Management. He was a member of the Senior Management Team at America West Airlines as the Director of Employee Assistance Program. He has a personal and professional interest in the field of integrative medicine and its ability to transform people's lives. David is a fourth generation Arizonan and proud grandfather of two.

Shoshana Wallenmeyer, MSW, LCSW: Clinical Director
Shoshana has been a clinical therapist since 1995 and has extensive experience in the treatment of eating disorders, addiction and trauma. Shoshana uses a combination of art, action, ceremony and process to help others discover the power of allowing the mind, body, heart and spirit to recover from the pain of trauma, addictions and eating disorders.

Katharine Dean, MC, NCC, LPC: Clinical Director
Katharine is an Arizona State Certified Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona and a Master's degree in Community Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Her expertise is focused on teen girls and the area of trauma. Her experience includes being the past Program Director for Project Safe Place, a program for girls ages 8-18 who have histories of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, as well as Program Director for The Tucson Coalition on Girls and Violence. Katharine is Level II Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (E.M.D.R.) trained and certified in Trauma Model Therapy.

Dr. Dawn Bantel, NMD: Medical Director and Staff Physician
Dr. Bantel is a licensed Naturopathic Physician. She obtained her degree at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, with a special emphasis in the treatment of women and children. She is a local community lecturer, presenting talks on natural medicine, menopausal options, detoxification, chronic fatigue, and digestion. Dr. Bantel is also a professor at the Asian Institute of Medical Studies, in which she teaches students the western models of disease and treatment in the subject areas of cardiology, pulmonolgy, dermatology, and urology. She also instructs students in physiology at the Providence Institute for Massage and Shiatsu.

William Eck, M.D.: Neurofeedback
Bill has a B.A. in Biology from Indiana University and an MD from the Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic. Bill started his career working as a Physician's Assistant in the Federal Prison System. He has worked with teens in various capacities since 1994, starting with developmentally disabled boys and moving on to juvenile delinquents. More recently he has been involved with a more "normal" population, leading a church youth group. Bill became seriously interested in neurofeedback after his own successful treatment experience. He now directs EEG biofeedback training at Mirasol's teen residence.

Diane Ryan: Primary Therapist
Diane Ryan received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her Master's in Counseling and Psychology with a specialty certification in Adventure-Based Psychotherapy. She is trained in experiential methods including psychodrama, expressive arts and challenge course activities, and is passionate about accessing the power of outdoor and wilderness experiences as healing modalities. She currently serves as a member of an international consortium evaluating current research on exercise and eating disorders. She also continues to explore the impact of wilderness interventions as measured by changes in brain wave patterns.

Jill Sprecher, MA: Primary Therapist
Jill Sprecher received her undergraduate degree in Recreation Therapy at the University of Tennessee. She was an All-American swimmer in high school and college. Being an athlete in recovery for an eating disorder, Jill decided to help other young women in athletics. Jill worked at Sierra Tucson for four years as a Recreation Therapist and a Fitness Instructor. During this time, she obtained her personal trainer certificate and her certificate to teach water aerobics. Jill now has a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Prescott College. Jill's specialty is counseling women with compulsive exercise tendencies.

Antonietta Estrada: Primary Therapist
Antonietta is an Arizona State licensed community and substance abuse counselor. She has worked with adolescent girls with a history of trauma and abuse and women with substance abuse and trauma issues. Antonietta enjoys using a combination of intensive therapeutic approaches in group and individual therapy along with humor. Antonietta is also trained in EMDR Level II. She uses a very individualized approach with her clients and has developed a unique style in working with girls and music therapy. Antonietta enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Lynne MacNeil, MA, LMSW: Primary Therapist
Lynne obtained her MA from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA, and her MSW from Arizona State University in Tucson. Lynne has experience as a counselor in private practice in Copenhagen, Denmark and in residential treatment in Tucson. Integrating mindfulness practices, process work, nonviolent communication, creative expressive arts, guided imagery, and positive psychology, Lynne is committed to supporting others on their journey of healing toward wholeness, helping them to discover resources of power and wisdom.

Monica Nicholas, RD: Registered Dietitian
Monica received her BS in Nutritional Science and Dietetics from the University of Arizona in 2002 and completed her Dietetic Internship though Queens College, New York, in 2003. Previous to working at Mirasol, Monica was the Outpatient Nutrition Coordinator at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York. Monica specializes in women's health and has experience working with whole foods nutrition and holistic health. Monica is dedicated to helping others empower themselves and live a fulfilling, joyful life.

Emily Mason, RD: Registered Dietitian
Emily received a BS in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Arizona in 1983, then completed a graduate level internship at University Medical Center to become a registered dietitian. She has worked as a dietitian for over 20 years in residential treatment centers, acute care hospitals and outpatient clinics in Tucson, Denver and Northern California. She has also taught nutrition in several community colleges. Her expertise is in using nutrition to treat and heal bodies from long-term illnesses such as heart disease, gastrointestinal problems and diabetes. After nine years away from Tucson, she is happy to return to its beautiful desert and warm sunshine.

Ann Twilley, MA, LAC: Continuing Care Coordinator
Ann completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Arizona and her MA in Counseling. Ann is passionate about her work with eating disorder relapse prevention and re-entry. Having recovered from an eating disorder herself, she is compassionate and understands the complexity of this illness. She sets up the Mirasol client's entire aftercare plan and supports the clients after they leave treatment.

Leah Evans, MEd, NCC, LPC: Continuing Care Coordinator
Leah is an Arizona State Certified Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Arizona in 1995 to attend the University of Arizona. After completing her BA in Psychology, she went on to earn a Masters of Education at Northern Arizona University. Over the past six years, Leah has worked as an individual therapist with teens at various agencies in the Tucson area. She began her work with Mirasol as a counseling assistant at the adult unit. She now sets up aftercare plans and supports our teen clients after they leave treatment. Leah is happy to be working with teens since they were the focus of her education.

Nan Greer, LPN: Nan has been a Licensed Nurse since 1982. She graduated from the Health Occupations Program at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Her experience includes working with the geriatric population, private nursing duties, and now with eating disorders. Nan loves travel, community service and animals. She is bilingual and represented Mirasol in a national Spanish-language televised program on the medical complications of eating disorders. Nan has years of experience working with adolescents and enjoys helping shape and nurture young lives.

Careen Furstenberg, LPN, PhT, CiHom, CCH, FES, Aromatherapist/Nurse
As a nurse, Careen strongly believes there needs to be a balanced integration of Eastern and Western medicine. The whole person should be treated and not just the "dis-ease". Careen has over 18 years of experience in both Western and Eastern medicine. Before moving to Arizona in 2004, Careen had her own private holistic health practice in Solana Beach, CA, where she worked alongside Doctor of Internal Medicine. She also taught a variety of homeopathic, flower essences and aromatherapy classes to various professionals in the medical field. She is currently working towards her Master's in Oriental Medicine.

Sheri Herrington
Sheri Herrington is an Arizona Licensed Practical Nurse who has worked in the emergency room of a local hospital and also as a pediatric nurse. Sheri enjoys being able to help people heal both physically and emotionally, and teaching about appropriate physical fitness. Sheri likes to spend time with her family and her two horses.

Ann Mitchell: Adult Family Program Facilitator
Ann's experience encompasses supervisory work with internationally known child psychiatrist, Dr. Foster W. Cline. She draws on 19 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy as a private practitioner, author, educator, and international workshop facilitator. She has helped bring healing and connection to individuals, families, and communities. She was the founder and executive director of Children First, Inc., a nonprofit healing center for children and families on the Tohono O'odham Nation, which combined Western and Native American healing practices. Ann's extensive professional education includes training in psychodrama and experiential therapy from Onsite Workshops, founded by Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse. Ann earned a Master's degree in marriage and family counseling with an emphasis on addictive disorders. She also holds a degree in law.

Jerry Harmon, LISAC: Adolescent Family Program Facilitator
Jerry Harmon is an Independent Substance Abuse Counselor licensed by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health and certified by the Arizona Board for Certification of Addiction Counselors. He is also certified by the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC). He has worked in addictions and family systems for the past 15 years in both in-patient and out-patient settings. Jerry specializes in experiential therapies including adventure-based activities and use of low-element and portable challenge courses and indoor climbing walls. Jerry is also an international workshop facilitator and has worked extensively with native and aboriginal populations in the U.S. and Canada.

Diane M. Notarianni Ph.D. L.Ac Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM).: Acupuncturist
For over a decade Diane worked as an anthropologist, professor and researcher with Native Americans, especially Arizona's Hopi Indians. In 2001 she was inspired to study Traditional Chinese Medicine, a vast system of healing both indigenous in nature and scientific in application. Today, as Mirasol's staff acupuncturist, she applies her knowledge of both anthropology and oriental medicine to the treatment of women with eating disorders. "Practitioners of Oriental Medicine believe that everything about the way we live and the way we have lived since childhood has an influence on our health," says Notarianni. "We don't just look at the symptoms, we look at the whole person, including her way of conducting herself in the world and her relationships with the other people."

Duncan Eidse: Maintenance ManagerAfter studying facility management on the East Coast, Duncan arrived in sunny Arizona in October, 2005, and has been with us ever since. Born in Manitoba, Canada, Duncan lived outside of Philadelphia for 20 years, honing his handyman skills while aquiring his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University. He is an avid golfer and sports fan, and he really enjoys working the clients and staff at Mirasol to make it a safe and enjoyable place to be.

E.J. Kerwin: Yoga Teacher
E.J. Kerwin has studied with some of the international masters of Viniyoga, focusing on therapeutic applications of Yoga. E.J. became certified as a Hatha Yoga teacher through the Providence Institute in 2003. His Hatha Yoga classes are gentle and flowing, and he encourages awareness of the ongoing relationship between body, breath and mind. He uses skillful, compassionate language to help students go deeper inside their Yoga experience. E.J. studies with Robert Birnberg as well as Kausthub Desikachar, in the lineage of some of the greatest Yoga teachers, including Kausthub's father, T.K.V. Desikachar, and grandfather T. Krishnamacharya.

Chuck Gross: Chef
Chuck came to Mirasol in 2001. As Kitchen Manager and Chef, he oversees the operation of the adult residence kitchen and maintains the inventory of supplies for our busy household. Before joining Mirasol, Chuck enjoyed many years in the food and beverage industry as well as the music business. A self-taught chef and avid student of the craft, he also sings and plays guitar, worships his grandson, and aspires to cook his best meal ever every time he sets foot in the kitchen.

Karen Patch: Chef
After retiring from a 24-year career with the US Air Force, Karen attended Scottsdale Culinary School, and worked in the banquest department at Westward Look Resort for six years. Karen joined Mirasol in October, 2005, and is working on a degree as a Dietetic Technician through Central Arizona College. Karen loves cooking, camping, and helping women in recovery learn how to have a healthier and more enjoyable relationship with food and cooking.

Amy Langley: Chef
Amy Langley enjoys over 15 years of experience working in professional kitchens. Her past work in restaurants, location catering on film and commercial sets, and private caterings from Europe, Montana and currently Arizona have provided her with a variety of knowledge in both food and culture. Amy is enthusiastic about food and flavors and eagerly encourages the girls at Mirasol to learn to appreciate the pleasure of food. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with a nurturing and loving staff who support her in bringing humor and warmth to the kitchen at Mirasol.

Sarah Ronhovde, EEG Technician
Sara attended Seattle Pacific University where she received her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. Her journey at Mirasol began as a counseling assistant and office supervisor. In 2007, Sara finished her Master's degree in Psychology and began working as a neurofeedback practitioner. She currently conducts QEEGs (brain maps) and Brainmaster and Roshi sessions for the women at Mirasol. Sarah enjoys working on rebalancing brain waves to alleviate psychological and physical symptoms.

Maxine Mathews: Counselor Assistant Supervisor
Maxine Mathews started working at Mirasol November of 2005. Maxine worked with gifted trouble teenagers in the Upward Bound Program at the University of Las Vegas before graduating from Northern Arizona University in 2000. Her duties at Mirasol include supervising the Counselor Assistants at the adult unit, spending time with clients, joining them for meals and outings and being available for all clients' needs. Maxine is also a trained belly dancer and teaches workshops at the adult unit. Maxine feels very blessed and happy to work for Mirasol and is planning to continue her education in the mental behavioral health field.

Lori Key: Counselor Assistant Supervisor
The bulk of Lori's experience has been a combination of administrative and medical support positions. She worked at Remuda Ranch in Wickenburg Arizona as a Mental Health Technician in the year 2000 until 2002 dealing with teen girls and women with eating disorders. Lori's main responsibilities included taking orthostatic vitals, EKGs, charting medical behaviors, accompany patients to therapy programs, and monitoring eating behavior disorders. She moved to Tucson in 2002 and worked for Intermountain Centers for Human Development as a Psych, Technician, dealing with adolescent boys and girls who were emotionally and physiologically disabled. A number of different things led her to working at Mirasol. Lori loves her job and the people she works with.