Our Team
Our multidisciplinary treatment team works closely together to develop individualized treatment plan. An individual therapist, a dietitian, and psychiatrist compose the foundation of the team. Involvement of other specialists can be arranged when deemed necessary. The team can collaborate with a patient’s current providers.
The psychiatrist meets regularly with the patient to monitor the patient’s response to medication. The therapist, who designs the individual treatment plan with the patient, provides initial assessments and evaluations. The therapist will also conduct individual therapy sessions. Family therapy is also strongly recommended.
The dietitian will determine a healthy weight range for the patient and prescribe a meal plan that will enable the patient to reach or maintain a normal weight. The dietitian educates patients about healthy eating and nutrition.
Theresa Fassihi, Ph.D., Clinical Director and Founder
Dr. Fassihi is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience in treating eating disorders in in-patient and out-patient settings. She worked in the Menninger Clinic’s eating disorder program from 2005 through 2008. She was an assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine and continues to serve on voluntary faculty. She also worked for the National Health Service in the United Kingdom in an outpatient clinic for eating disorder patients. She received her BA from Stanford University, Stanford, California and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma. She completed her internship at the Houston Veteran Administration Medical Center.
At the Menninger Clinic, Dr. Fassihi developed a treatment protocol for body dissatisfaction and provided cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and positive psychology interventions to patients. Dr. Fassihi has given several lectures on body image disturbance, evidence-based treatment for eating disorders, positive psychology and mentalizing treatment. As co-chair of the advocacy and communication committee for the Academy for Eating Disorders, she is active in promoting better understanding of eating disorders, and advocating for equitable and sufficient access to treatment.
Dr. Ovidio Bermudez, Senior Advisor and Consultant
Ovidio Bermudez, MD, is the Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Services at Eating Recovery Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds academic appointments as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He is Board certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Dr. Bermudez is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders, the Society for Adolescent Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is Past Chairman and current member of the Board of Directors of the National Eating Disorders Association, Co-Founder of the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee (EDCT) and Co-founder of the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association (OEDA). He co-chairs the Medical Care Special Interest Group and the Hispano-Latino-American Chapter of the Academy for Eating Disorders. He is a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist.
Dr. Bermudez has lectured nationally and internationally on eating disorders, childhood obesity and other topics related to pediatric and adult healthcare, and has been recognized for his dedication and advocacy in the field of eating disorders.
Additional Staff
Brandi Powell, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition Director
Brandi is a registered and licensed dietitian. She received her master’s degree in nutrition from Texas Women’s University in Houston. Previous eating disorder experience includes The Menninger Clinic, Rice University, and her private practice. Professional affiliations include membership in the American Dietetic Association, Houston Eating Disorder Specialists, and serving on the board of the Houston Area Dietetic Association. She is passionate about eating disorder prevention and promoting healthy body image among women.
Jill Seschi, MS, RD, LD
I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nutritional science from Texas A&M University. I also obtained a Master of Science degree in nutrition and food management from The University of Central Oklahoma. I have extensive training in wellness coaching and have been a Registered and Licensed Dietitian since 1996.
I have gained experience in most areas of Medical Nutrition Therapy, and have worked at various hospitals as a clinical dietitian. My primary focus the last 8 years has been disordered eating, eating disorders, and weight management. For 7 years, I worked at The Methodist Hospital's Weight Management Center facilitating groups and providing individual nutrition therapy. Additionally, I worked with eating disorder clients providing nutrition therapy, meal support, and facilitating the weekly eating disorders support group at The Healthy Weigh.
Eliisa Alatalo, Recovery Coach
Eliisa received her Bachelor of Science in clinical psychology and counseling from Averett University in Virginia. She started as a Recovery Coach at Houston Eating Disorders Center in May 2010 and feels passionate about helping individuals struggling with eating disorders. She is planning to pursue a doctorate in psychology and become a clinician specializing in eating disorders treatment. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and Houston Eating Disorders Specialists.
Brett Needham, Ph.D., LCSW
Brett is a psychotherapist and educator currently in private practice in the Galleria area. During his career, Brett has worked with populations ranging from children to geriatric. He spent the past six years working for Baylor College of Medicine where he continues to hold the rank of Clinical Assistant Professor on voluntary faculty. During that time he provided individual, group, couples and family psychotherapy to clients of the Harris County Hospital District. He also provided standard Dialectical Behavior Therapy to clients struggling with emotional and interpersonal issues. His clinical interests include evidence based treatments for borderline personality disorder, PTSD, and substance addiction.
Michael Mann, LCSW
Michael received his Bachelors of Music Therapy from Loyola University, New Orleans and his Master of Social Work from the University of Houston. His experience includes inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy, and providing psychiatric evaluations for physicians in Emergency Rooms/Medical Hospitals . He specializes in eating disorder treatment for adolescents and adults, and psychotherapy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) clients and their families. He also provides continuing education and training for agencies who work with LGBT clients and their families. His research interests include male eating disorders and treatment, the impact of social policy on LGBT mental health, and the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy with families.
Dr. Nichole Tomjanovich MD, PA, Psychiatrist
Dr. Tomjanovich is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is licensed to practice medicine in the state of Texas. She started her private practice in 2006 after completing her residency in psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. During her residency, she worked at The Menninger Clinic’s Eating Disorder Program, in addition to The Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, Ben Taub General Hospital, and The Houston Veteran Administration Medical Center. She has experience working with patients who have eating disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She has focused on treating patients with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders in her private practice. Dr. Tomjanovich utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches, tailored to each client's needs, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and supportive psychotherapy. She is passionate about both helping patients recover from eating disorders and raising awareness about eating disorders. She is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders, Houston Eating Disorder Society, and the Texas Medical Society.
Elizabeth Garrison, Meditation Specialist
Elizabeth Garrison is a Meditation Specialist with over 25 years of experience and specializes in providing stress relief and meditation classes for clients suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder. Her experience also afforded her to partner with area physicians for patient stress reduction. Other clients include those suffering from cancer, traumatic accidents, terminal illness, PTSD and more.
Elizabeth practices what she preaches and meditating for over 25 years helped her come up with her own unique stress-relief program involving Guided Imagery and Autogenic Training. This special program has helped countless individuals reduce or stop the stress response so they could balance their immune system, continue healing and find a sense of peace and clarity while they are many times experiencing tumultuous life events.
Elizabeth has a Guided Meditation CD on iTunes that allow stress relief on-the-go for anyone. Her Album is called Elizabeth Garrison's Zen2Go.
