Posts Tagged ‘Ohio’

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Jill Fondriest (she/her), and I am the Office Manager at The Emily Program’s Columbus, Ohio outpatient site. I have a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Urbana University College of Business. I started at The Center for Balanced Living in July 2016, and we became The Emily Program in March 2020., So, I have been with the company for a little over two years and working for clients with eating disorders for almost six years. Initially, I worked with The Emily Program admissions team (an AMAZING team—I adore and miss you all!) before starting in my current role as Office Manager in May 2021.

We are pleased to share that The Emily Program’s adolescent residential program in Columbus, Ohio has opened its doors! At the 16-bed licensed facility, children and adolescents ages 10–18 can access highly structured, intensive eating disorder treatment in a safe, supportive, and comfortable setting. 

By expanding residential programming in the region, we further our commitment to increasing access to personalized and multidisciplinary eating disorder treatment. The new program completes our continuum of care options for children and adolescents of all genders in central Ohio. It comes at a time when the need for specialty treatment has never been greater.

“We’re very excited to bring this residential program to Columbus, especially with the increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders among children and adolescents we’ve seen throughout the pandemic,” said Dr. Jillian Lampert, The Emily Program’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Eating disorders are serious illnesses, but we also know they are highly treatable. Access to effective care at the appropriate level is critical. Residential treatment isn’t widely available in the region, so we’re pleased to be able to meet that need.”

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! I am Karli Alger and I work as the PHP program dietitian at the Columbus site. I have been working as an eating disorder dietitian for almost five years and have been with The Emily Program for the past year. 

Describe the educational and career path that led you to The Emily Program.

I graduated with my BS from Ohio State University in 2013 and received my RD, LD shortly after. I worked in outpatient settings for my first three years with a focus on general health and nutrition. The more I counseled clients though, I started to see that there was a deeper emotional and psychological component to people’s food choices. I wanted to help, but I needed guidance and training under the supervision of eating disorder clinicians. That led me to apply for a position as a dietitian at the Center for Balanced Living in Columbus, Ohio, where I began my first eating disorder work.

The floors have been filled. A new transformer is on site. Rooms are taking shape, and walls are getting paint.

Renovation is well underway at The Emily Program – Columbus, the location of a new residential program for adolescents opening next year. Currently an outpatient and day treatment site, the Ravines Edge building will soon house adolescent residential programs as well, bringing together a full continuum of care in one convenient spot. In addition to supporting continuity of care for clients transitioning between treatment levels, the location will expand treatment access for the estimated 1,029,001 Ohioans struggling with these illnesses.

This expansion project comes as we continue to witness the deep impact of the pandemic on people with eating disorders. Triggers exacerbated by social isolation, disrupted routines, and intensified stressors and anxiety have contributed to an ever-growing demand for eating disorder services—a need we’re committed to addressing in our local communities.

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! I’m Annie Root, the Site Director at The Emily Program’s Cleveland outpatient location. I started with TEP in 2018 as a program coordinator for the adult DBT program. Additionally, I’ve worked as an outpatient DBT therapist, intake clinician, and clinical manager before becoming the site director in April 2021.

Describe the path that led you to The Emily Program.

In 2013, I graduated with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University. Following graduation, I spent the summer at Penn State as an academic advisor, and then as an individual and family therapist at a teen crisis shelter for a few years. Seeking a new challenge, I came to work for The Emily Program in the adult DBT program in 2018!

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Caitlyn Starcher, but everyone calls me Cait. I have been at The Emily Program’s Columbus location for almost three years and have been involved in pretty much every one of our programs at one point. My current position is half outpatient therapist and half intake clinician. Since our location is growing, my position will be changing soon and I will become half outpatient therapist and half outpatient FBT (family-based treatment) therapist. I received my Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University.