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, LMSW
Carrie Wasterlain, LMSW is a licensed master social worker. She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, and exercise addiction and has spent the past three years working in 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 of the dynamic interplay between underling 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 serves as the Assistant Admissions Director at BALANCE eating disorder treatment center and is 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.
Rebecca Brown, LCSW
Rebecca Brown, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating, body image concerns, sexual issues, LGBTQ related topics, and trauma. In addition, Rebecca also treats mood disorders including depression and anxiety, relationship issues, and life transitions such as career changes, family transitions, and coping with illness.
Our relationship with food and our bodies is at the core of how we navigate the world around us. When these relationships are filled with conflict, it can affect many different areas of our lives, including our relationships with others, our mood, our sense of self-worth, our sexuality, and our ability to feel content and at peace with ourselves. Rebecca views the therapy process as an opportunity to help her clients regain a sense of control and empowerment in their lives, building on their strengths and fostering resiliency so that they can move forward with accomplishing their goals.
Rebecca utilizes an integrative and holistic approach to treatment. She draws from her training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), internal family systems (IFS), solution focused therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, feminist relational theory, mindfulness meditation, and creative/expressive art therapy to create a unique customized treatment plan for each client. She is passionate about guiding clients in reconnecting with their bodies, often using the process of “embodiment,” a multilayered awareness of your body and how you connect to or relate to the world around you. Rebecca aims to create a safe and nurturing environment to explore the underlying issues that may give rise to symptoms, as well as provide practical tools to alleviate symptoms.
Rebecca joined Alexis Conason, Psy.D., in 2019 after working as a psychotherapist in a Brooklyn based group practice where she helped clients with a range of issues from depression, anxiety, marital concerns, body consciousness and host of other areas. In the past Rebecca has worked with students and families navigating the school systems, supporting with youth development (including socialization and behavior management), providing parenting workshops both in English and Spanish, connecting families to resources both within and beyond the school setting and advocating for the rights of students and their families. Rebecca also worked in a Manhattan based outpatient detoxification facility treating clients living with substance related problems. A strong believer in social justice, Rebecca is a proud graduate of the New York University Silver School of Social Work seeking to empower others. She is also currently in her last year in the Women’s Therapy Center Institute, a psychoanalytic training center dedicated to feminist thought and social advocacy.
