About
Alexis Conason PSY.D.
Dr. Alexis Conason is a licensed psychologist in private practice in New York City. Her office is conveniently located on the border between the Upper East Side and Midtown East neighborhoods of Manhattan. She specializes in the treatment of overeating disorders, body image, and psychological issues related to bariatric surgery. She also treats people struggling with sexual functioning, depression, anxiety, adjustment problems, relationship issues, and other psychological issues. Please contact her to see if she can help you with what you are struggling with.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Conason is also a Research Associate at the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center at Mt. Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital in affiliation with Columbia University. Her most recent research investigates substance use and psychopathology following bariatric weight loss surgery. In addition, she is currently working on research projects examining body image and sexual functioning following bariatric surgery, as well as investigating the effectiveness of a mindful eating intervention in the treatment of overeating behaviors. She has presented her research at a number of professional conferences and has been published/interviewed in scientific and mainstream media. She serves as the Research Chair for the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals- New York Chapter (IAEDP-NY), is on the editorial board of Frontiers in Eating Behavior, and serves as a peer reviewer for a number of medical and scientific journals including Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD) and Obesity Surgery.
Dr. Conason is the author of “Eating Mindfully,” a popular blog for Psychology Today. She also writes “The Anti-Diet” blog published on this website. She recently contributed a chapter to “Hedonic Eating,” an academic book targeted to professionals that will be published by Oxford University Press.
Currently, Dr. Conason is working on a book based on her Mindful Eating Group program. She hopes this book will help people develop a more peaceful relationship with food and their body by using techniques from mindful eating, enabling them to say farewell to dieting once and for all.
After earning her doctoral degree from Long Island University, C.W. Post (accredited by the American Psychological Association) and completing an APA approved internship at The Karen Horney Clinic, Dr. Conason completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in affiliation with Columbia University. Part of this training included working closely with the Center for Bariatric Surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital as part of the treatment team conducting pre-operative psychological evaluations, treatment plans, and leading their support groups. She did additional post-doctoral training to earn a certificate in eating disorders, addictions, and compulsions from the William Alanson White Institute and a certificate in psychodynamic psychotherapy from the American Institute of Psychoanalysis. Dr. Conason is trained in Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Therapy (MB-EAT), an empirically validated treatment for binge-eating and other overeating disorders. She also has training in sex therapy. Dr. Conason is licensed to practice psychology by New York State. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA), the American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), and American Association of Sexuality Educators Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), amongst other organizations.
Carrie Wasterlain, LCSW
Carrie Wasterlain, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker. She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, and exercise compulsivity and has held positions at residential, day treatment, and outpatient levels of care. Carrie’s passion for helping each client heal their relationship with food and their body stems from her belief that self–worth and contentment can only be built from within and should be separated from body size or eating habits. Her treatment philosophy is rooted in a weight-inclusive intuitive eating model, in which all foods fit and health is attainable at every size. Having worked with many clients who have expressed shame, guilt, or confusion about their relationship with food, Carrie is passionate about normalizing what her clients are going through and fostering self-compassion. She invites her clients to deepen their understanding of themselves and the dynamic interplay between underlying issues and eating disorder behaviors while allowing for the space to begin the work of healing in a non–judgmental space.
Carrie joined Alexis Conason, PsyD in 2018 after spending several years at Monte Nido’s Day Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Program as an intake specialist, group, and individual therapist. In addition to her work as an Associate Therapist at Dr. Conason’s practice, Carrie currently works as a Senior Therapist and Supervisor of Eating Disorder Programming at The Dorm, a mental health treatment center for adolescents and young adults. She was formerly the Assistant Admissions Director at BALANCE eating disorder treatment center and a meal coach for Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists. Carrie holds a master’s degree from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work and a postgraduate certificate from NYU in Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well as specialized training in dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for trauma. She draws on her extensive training in these modalities to create a unique treatment plan for each client, and to utilize the most relevant tools to empower and guide her clients. Carrie has volunteered as a helpline advocate at the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and written for Monte Nido’s blog on topics related to maintaining eating disorder recovery in a diet-driven world.
Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, PsyD
Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, PsyD is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, body image dissatisfaction, and mood and anxiety disorders. Elizabeth believes firmly in each person’s potential to achieve full recovery. Her therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing from behavioral, relational, and psychodynamic modalities, and is ultimately tailored to fit every client’s unique needs and circumstances. Elizabeth’s work is guided by the belief that in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship, healing can occur. In addition, Elizabeth subscribes to a weight-inclusive intuitive eating model in which all foods fit, and health is not dependent on body size.
In addition to her work at Dr. Conason’s practice, Elizabeth is currently working as a therapist at Equip Health, which provides multidisciplinary treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders through a virtual platform. Elizabeth obtained her doctoral degree from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, and she also holds a master’s degree from Harvard University in Human Development and Psychology as well as a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University. Elizabeth has experience providing individual and group therapy for children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of settings, including outpatient, day treatment, inpatient, and school-based settings.
