Eden Treatment Team

Home » Eden Treatment Team

• 
  Mendi Baron, LCSW Chief Executive Officer

  Mendi is the founder and CEO of Eden Treatment Center. His vision was to create a sanctuary to provide hope and healing to women struggling with eating disorders and related mental health issues. As such, he developed a residential treatment program that combined individual, group, family, and expressive therapies. He recruited topnotch clinical professionals who shared his passion and dedication.

  Mendi has worked extensively as a therapist in individual, group and family therapy at various treatment centers such as the Chesapeake Center for Youth Development, the Carol County Youth Services Bureau, and Chabad Crisis Centers. He founded several adolescent residential and outpatient treatment centers in Las Angeles. He also serves as the CEO of Ignite Teen Treatment, hope street and Elemental treatment.

  Mendi received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and social work from the University of Maryland. He went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

• 
  Alan J. Bond Chief Financial Officer

  Alan has developed a unique financial management perspective through leadership positions in the corporate, consulting, and financial market worlds, including a financial management position at a major Health Maintenance Organization, where he also served as their representative in a national industry group in Washington, D.C. He has specialized in creating and developing sophisticated financial management processes and systems in diverse corporate environments, as well as leading financing efforts for corporations throughout his career. Most recently, Alan was the Chief Financial Officer at Avalon by the Sea, a high-end adult treatment center and held a similar position at Evolve Treatment Centers, a large adolescent behavioral health-care treatment corporation. Alan holds an A.B. degree with Honors in Economics from the School of Arts & Sciences at Cornell University, where he became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, as well as an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

• 
  Jennifer Gorman, MC Director of Operations, Eating Disorders RTC

  Jennifer Gorman is nationally recognized as a leader in the eating disorders field, where she has served for over 25 years as a clinician, supervisor, and operations leader. Her most recent role was as the Director of Operations at Center for Discovery, where she was fortunate to work for 16 years, leading the company’s highly respected eating disorder division. She has served as Vice President of the Residential Eating Disorder Consortium (REDC), working with leaders in the field to assure that eating disorders treatment meets the highest standard of care and ethical practice. She is the current Board Chair of The Body Positive, and organization that is committed to the prevention of eating disorders.

  During her tenure in the eating disorders field, Jen has invested heavily in the training and development of her team members and in building positive company cultures. She is passionate about growing leadership from within and in investing in the future of the field by training and mentorship. She constantly strives to improve the quality of treatment that is delivered and to teach people become informed and passionate advocates for clients, assuring that they have access to appropriate and effective treatment.

  Jen’s passion for contributing to the field of eating disorders treatment and prevention is informed by her personal struggle with anorexia and bulimia, during the 1980s, a time when there were very few treatment resources available. She is a living example of the importance of authenticity, vulnerability and perseverance in recovery. Jen currently lives in Southern California with her husband and 15-year-old son.

• 
  Joanna O’Neill, LMFT Executive Clinical Director

  Joanna directs, supervises, and coordinates the overall clinical and business operations for Eden. She is involved in program development as well as the administration of policies on clinical and business operations. She is responsible for overseeing and developing the Clinical department including hiring, supervision, evaluation and scheduling.

  Joanna has been in eating disorder treatment for more than 14 years. She has worked in every level of care: inpatient treatment, residential care, partial hospitalization and private practice. She has held several important and varied positions; these include primary therapist, assessment and referral counselor, utilization review, professional relations representative, chief clinical officer, and executive clinical officer.

  Joanna received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and sociology from Pepperdine University. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University.

• 
  Dr. Sid Khurana Medical Director

  Dr. Khurana is board certified from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult Psychiatry and board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Virginia where he served as Chief Fellow for the division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He believes his training in Child and Family Psychiatry helped him understand the developmental contexts enabling him to understand, relate to and effectively treat children, youth and adults.

  He specializes in the treatment of bipolar disorder, PTSD and ADHD. He has an extensive background and experience in working with clients with a history of complex trauma, depression, anxiety and eating disorders. His research interests include autism spectrum disorders, tourette’s disorder, and ADHD. He is affiliated with Tourro University for Medical education, as well as actively involved in teaching and supervision of UNLV Psychiatry residents and Child Psychiatry fellows. Dr. Khurana practices using the bio-psychosocial model of psychiatric disorders and applies elements of the cognitive behavioral approach during his medication management visits.

• 
  Doree Dow Director of Nursing
• 
  Kayla Jefferson Director of Licensing and Development
• 
  Alexandra Reynolds Director of Admissions

  Alex is the critical and all-important link between the public and Eden. She guides clients and their families through the admissions process from the initial call to walking into the facility. She provides compassion, understanding, information, and overall emotional support to those in need.

  Alex has worked in the mental health field, specifically eating disorders, for more than five years. She has served as resident advisor, house manager, program director, administrator, and relational ambassador at the residential treatment level.

  Alex received her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the California State University, Channel Islands.

• 
  Dr. Timothy Jeider, MD Medical Director

  Dr. Jeider is involved in team leadership in directing the overall treatment of patients. He conducts weekly rounds for medication management, which is implemented in tandem with integrated therapy.

  Dr. Jeider has a great deal of experience in the mental health field, practicing psychiatry in outpatient, residential and the partial hospitalization level of care. He has also worked in Juvenile Justice Services, the Foster Care system and Acute Inpatient Care.

  Dr. Jeider has a bachelor of science degree in biology from Walla Walla University and a Medical Doctorate from Loma Linda University School of Medicine . He is American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology: Board Certified in General Psychiatry and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Board Certified in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Nevada Psychiatric Association (NPA).

• 
  Megan Coenen, LPN Assistant Director of Nursing

  Megan collaborates with the Clinical Team to develop and maintain the client’s treatment plan. She participates in center organizational planning, goal setting, standard development and interpretation to the nursing staff.

  Prior to joining Eden, Megan worked as the teen treatment - assistant director of nursing at Ignite Teen Treatment. She was the nurse manager at Nevada Pediatric Specialists and a charge nurse at Care Meridian 4 Kids.

  Megan received her Associates of Practical Nursing from Brightwood College and is a member of the Nevada Nurses Association (NNA).

• 
  Rabbi Levi And Mrs. Nechama Harlig Jewish Family Services

  Rabbi Levi And Mrs. Nechama Harlig are part of Chabad of Southern Nevada and provide supportive spiritual and educational services for the clients in the Ignite Jewish Rehab Track. In addition to our fully kosher facility, the Harlig family provides education, guidance, family support, Shabbat goodies, a local synagogue, and general Jewish warmth for our clients.

• 
  Yocheved Bitton, LCSW Clinical Community Liaison

  Yocheved Bitton is an LCSW and our Clinical Community Liaison here at Eden. With over a decade of experience as a social worker, she is highly capable and adept at communicating with at-risk youth and troubled families. Her experience as a social worker, program director, and court advocate makes her a much-appreciated addition to our team.

  Yocheved has geared her career towards social work and helping her community from the very beginning, and comes to us with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College and a Master of Social Work from Adelphi University.

  She has been working with at-risk teens from Jewish orthodox families for over a decade, and began her work as the Program Director at The Chill where she still dedicates her free time. Not only does she have extensive experience with building rapport and counseling at-risk teens, but she has also opened up her home for weekends and short term living so that these teens have a safe place to stay until more permanent aid can be decided.

  Her career in social work has taken her to work at Ocean Partnership for Children, Lakewood Community Services Corporation, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate of Ocean County, and as a clinical social worker at CHEMED.

  She has conducted community outreach programs to spread the word about the organizations she has worked for, enabling at-risk community members to find the help that they need. She has also worked on the other end of the spectrum in these roles and worked directly with clients to provide high-end treatment services to those with a variety of complex psychosocial needs.

  Yocheved has worked in many areas of social work, even in courtrooms, and she has organized events and marketing strategies, directly with children and families, to advocate for childrens’ needs. She has worked with clients in inpatient and outpatient setting and has expanded her skillset to allow her to help youth with a variety of psychosocial needs and trauma histories.

  A loving mother of four children, her compassion and tender touch have been driving factors towards her career and her success with working with a variety of emotional and behavioral concerns in teens. Her background as a social worker and her talents as a community liaison and event organizer make her the ideal addition to our team.

  Her work here at Eden helps those in our community find our services and helps us receive the essential feedback we need to improve our services and grow as a whole. Organized, dedicated, and always a joy to work with, Yocheved is an essential member of our team here at Eden.

• 
  Yasmine Shahar Clinical Coordinator

  As the clinical coordinator, Yasmine organizes, facilitates, and orients new clients and clinical personnel to the facility. She assists with organizing the client charts, and helps with implementing protocols and procedures. Yasmine also creates the programming schedule, and supports the staff and clients to ascertain what type of extra support they may need to help with their mental health or treatment.

  Yasmine has worked as a Kindergarten teacher as well as a PBS: Production Staff and Screenwriter. Prior to her current position, Yasmine served as a translator and clinical assistant at Eden. She is still involved as a Friends at Home coordinator and Young Adult programming facilitator for Friendship Circle. She is also a dance fitness Instructor.

  Yasmine earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature with minors in Criminal Justice and Film Studies from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

• 
  Tammie S. Roitman, BD.S, CCHT Hypnotherapist

  Tammie guides clients to make changes within themselves to create a more positive and meaningful life. She helps women remove obstacles that have hindered and limited them in the past.

  Tammie worked as a school psychologist for 16 years. Her wide-ranging experiences led her to discover the value of clinical hypnotherapy. She became certified and opened a private practice to help individuals and groups and now helps the women at Eden.

  Tammie earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She received her BD.S,CCHT from the school with an emphasis in Emotional Disturbance. She is a certified master, certified clinical and advanced clinical hypnotherapist.

  Tammie is a member of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Nevada Association of School Psychologist (NVSSP), and the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (A.C.H.E.).

• 
  Brittany Venci Registered Dietitian (Residential)
• 
  Chelsea Clarke, MS, RDN, LD Registered Dietitian

  Chelsea's approach to nutrition is to guide clients forward step by step, and address obstacles and barriers to change as they come. Together, she works with women to challenge food beliefs, build a well-rounded nutritional knowledge base, and identify long-lasting motivations to foster recovery and develop a healthy relationship with food and the body.

  Prior to joining Eden, Chelsea worked as a Registered Dietitian at an eating disorder treatment center and Seven Hills Behavioral Health Hospital.

  Chelsea received her bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science and International Agriculture from Cornell University. She completed her Master's degree in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She received her didactic program in dietetics certificate from Simmons University.

  Chelsea is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is a certified personal trainer from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASP).

• 
  Angela Amoia, PhD, CLC, E-RYT 500 Mind Body Wellness Lead

  Through the practices and techniques of yoga movement (asana), meditation, and self-inquiry, Angela creates programs to help clients step out of their minds (concept) and into the physical world that exists within them and around them (reality). These programs focus on body awareness, self-empowerment, emotional and action intelligence, the power of choice, creating life purpose, and removing the blocks, obstacles and limiting beliefs that thwart progress.

  Angela served as a Professor at both the Oregon Institute of Technology and St. John Fisher College. She is the Founding Director of yoga & programs, TruFusion. She is also a mentor & curriculum developer for the Africa Yoga Project.

  Angela received a bachelor of science degree in Biochemistry from Nazareth College. She earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of Arizona. She has an E-RYT 500 from the Yoga Alliance.

  Angela is a member of the Baptiste Institute, the Africa Yoga Project and the Life Purpose Institute.

• Dr. Sarah Schoniant, PhD, LMFT Lead Therapist

  Dr. Sarah treats clients in individual and group settings using a holistic approach that focuses on treating the whole person and not just the symptoms of a disorder.

  Dr. Sarah has prodigious experience working with substance use disorders, process or behavioral addictions (e.g., eating disorders, self-harm, etc.), trauma, and other mental health diagnoses. She has taught classes and mentored students at the university level and been involved with several research teams, designing and implementing various research projects related to addiction and recovery. She has worked as a mental health professional in various settings, including residential treatment, inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient facilities, and private practice.

  Dr. Sarah received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology with double minors in biology and sociology from Columbia College. She went on to complete her Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She received her Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy in the department of Community, Family and Addiction Sciences at academic journey from Texas Tech University.

  Dr. Sarah belongs to the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT).

• 
  Yehonatan (Yoni) Banayan, LMFT Lead Therapist

  Yoni works with individuals, groups and families. He assists the clinical team by developing appropriate guidelines to ensure that therapists can provide support to their clients through education of program protocol or crisis interventions. He provides initial training to all therapists by providing knowledge regarding documentation process, insurance utilization, eating disorder and systemic education as well as ongoing case collaboration.

  Yoni’s experience in behavioral health is extensive, having worked as a therapist within the eating disorder community through residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment. He provided therapy at a drop-in site in Brooklyn, NY, which helped those with addiction, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, homelessness and often in the jail system. He also worked in the school system with elementary school kids and at a Bronx clinic that catered to an under-served population.

  Yoni received a Talmudic Degree from the Rabbinical Seminary of America. He earned a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family from Touro University Worldwide. He has additional training in Cognitive Processing Therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological first aid and somatic experiencing.

  Yoni is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) and a member of CPH & Associates.

• 
  Diane Polonsky Chef

  Chef Diane has been preparing meals for families for over 30 years, as well as gourmet catering for groups of 10 to 200 the Las Vegas valley. Originally from California, Chef Diane’s cuisine ranges from California continental, classic Jewish, Mexican, Italian, American, to Persian and Chinese. She loves using the freshest seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with embracing the flavors of international grains such as quinoa, multi-grain rice, couscous, and pasta. Being a part of the Jewish community, she prides herself on her Kosher lifestyle as well as her diversity in cultures which shows in her love for cooking, flavors, and foods.

• Robin L. Gordon, LCSW Psychotherapist

  Robin serves as both an individual and group psychotherapist. In the former, she sees clients, assists in assessment, treatment plan development as well as family therapy. In the latter, she provides psychoeducation regarding Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She also facilitates an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Trauma Therapy Group.

  Robin has worked as an elementary teacher, special education teacher, education consultant, mediator, human resources trainer and psychotherapist for the past 35 years.

  Robin received her bachelor of arts degree in early childhood education from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree in special education k-12 from Oakland University. She earned a master’s degree in social work from University of Michigan, majoring in clinical therapy and minoring in administration.

  Robin is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

• Dr. Audrey Shilander, DO Psychiatrist

  Dr. Audrey Shilander, DO is an ABPN board certified general psychiatrist with specialized training in women’s and veteran’s mental health as well as eating disorders. As such, she provides medication management and supportive psychotherapy to all patients within the Eden program. She has received numerous awards throughout her career for her commitment to community service and in her co-residents as the wellness coordinator.

  Dr. Shilander attended the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom for an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. After moving back to the US, she completed her pre-medical sciences as well as a second Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Washington State University. Dr. Shilander then graduated with a medical degree from Western University of Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California.

  Dr. Shilander is a member of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the Nevada Psychiatric Association (NPA) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

• Eva Maria Jenkins, MFT-Intern, CADC-intern Systems Therapist

  Eva works with the client and her family in the areas of culture, gender, geography or spirituality. They collaborate to define goals and look for solutions based on the presenting problems. The development of a treatment plan includes therapeutic groups, interventions, goals and objectives. They work together to determine progress and consider revisions to help achieve desired outcomes.

  Eva has experience with teenage adolescent pregnancies, sex-trafficking victims, incarcerated juveniles and adults, and those involved with foster care.

  Eva has a Bachelors in Christian Ministry and Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Lincoln Christian University.

  Eva is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMF), Business Network International (BNI) and Toastmasters in prison.