l to r: Tresa, Lynne, Jennifer, Bryan, Lauren and Val
The staff are well trained and have the experience to deal with eating disorders. The principal staff are:
Bryan Gusdal, MA
Bryan is the program's founder and director, with over 26 years of clinical experience gained while employed as a clinical psychologist in a mental health facility. He has been seeing people with eating disorders for over 20 years. He has experience with both adult and adolescent clients.
Michelle Reichert, RD
Michelle is a registered dietitian with the College of Dietitian's of Manitoba. She has experience working with clients with eating disorders as well as many other nutritional issues.
Valarie Bittner, MA, PACCC
Valarie has her Master's Degree in Counselling and is a certified member of the Professional Association of Canadian Christian Counsellors. Along side her clinical experience, Valarie also teaches in the counselling department at Assiniboine Community College. She offers a Christian approach to counselling for those interested in incorporating spirituality into their recovery process.
Tresa Clemmensen, MSc, CCC
Tresa has her Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Jennifer Friesen, MA
Jennifer is also a Christian counsellor, and received her Master's in Counselling from Providence Theological Seminary.
Kerri Podruski, RPN
Lynne Miller
Lynne, a graduate of the Applied Counselling Skills and Rural Development programs at Assiniboine Community College, is our Outreach Coordinator. She does the intake interviews with each person intending to come to the centre and is the person you will likely speak to first when you call for information to schedule your entrance into the program. Her experience with eating disorders includes her own struggle which she is now free of.
We do not have medical staff on site and we will only accept medically stable clients. Medical attention is available, when necessary, through the local medical clinics, and patients are seen on a walk-in basis. Psychiatric consultation may also be available via local practicioners.