EDCASA Team

Our Team

Teamwork and communication are the cornerstones of the treatment provided at the Eating Disorder Center at San Antonio (EDCASA). Our team has been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and is committed to providing leading edge treatment through evidence based care and to listen carefully and fully to the unique needs of each client. EDCASA believes that the journey to wellness is best facilitated through the integration of psychological, medical, nutritional, and spiritual approaches. Our diverse team represents all of these disciplines. We have psychotherapists, a physician, dieticians, and pastoral counselors here to design a program especially for you.

Co-Clinical Directors

Kay C. Watt, MAPC, LPC
Kay Clemons Watt, co-clinical director of EDCASA, is a graduate of The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, TX. She holds a combination degree in theology and counseling and has been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She has sought post-licensure supervision in both cognitive behavioral therapy and in classic psychodynamic therapy and did an additional un-paid two year internship with women awaiting trial in solitary confinement at the Bexar County Detention Center. Before founding EDCASA with her colleague, Susan Mengden, Ph.D., she served as a counselor for the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health. Following her service there, she held a thriving private practice in San Antonio, TX. Kay is a licensed supervisor for L.P.C. candidates and a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the San Antonio Psychoanalytic Society. Kay speaks on the local and national level at conferences and to university, school, church, and civic audiences on such topics as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Parenting, and Spiritual Development.

Susan C. Mengden, Ph.D.
Dr. Susan C. Mengden is a licensed psychologist who has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1988. While obtaining her Masters and Ph.D. at Boston College, she began her education and experience in the Eating Disorder’s Program at Westwood Lodge Psychiatric Hospital. Over six years, her eating disorder experience included conducting research on eating disorders and sexual abuse, leading seven in-patient groups weekly, working as a mental health counselor on the adolescent unit, performing intake evaluations, and being a member on the eating disorder Cognitive Behavior Therapy treatment team. Moving back to her home state, she became the Director and Founder of the Eating Disorder Program at Brooke Army Medical Center. She led the first Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Treatment Team for Eating Disorders from 1997 to 2001. In that year, she moved into private practice where she ran an outpatient treatment team, coordinated eating disorder education for area clinicians, and supervised post-doctoral psychology residents at The University of Texas at San Antonio. During this time she was also appointed adjunct faculty at Our Lady of the Lake University for her supervision of doctoral practicum students. Dr. Mengden lectures across the country and in San Antonio on treatment issues related to eating disorders. She has written articles for San Antonio Medicine and Pediatric News. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders, the Austin Area Eating Disorders Specialists, the American Psychological Association, San Antonio Group Psychotherapy Assn., and the National Eating Disorders Assn.

In-House Physician

Staff

Elizabeth Bright
Elizabeth Bright, LPC, holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. She has been a Staff Counselor for EDCASA since its opening in November 2007. Elizabeth works with individuals, families, couples and groups at EDCASA. She began her work with eating disorders co-leading an outpatient group in November 2006. Elizabeth is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders. In addition, she has been trained intensively in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Pam Curtis
Pam Curtis, M.S., L.P.C. has been a staff therapist at EDCASA since it's opening in November, 2007. After receiving her graduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, she spent 30 years in the counseling field working with children and adolescents. Pam has been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders. Pam's responsibilities include leading DBT groups, individual and family therapy, and heading the EDCASA art therapy program.

Janet Funari
Janet Funari earned Journalism and Masters of Business Administration degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. She held corporate marketing positions for a Fortune 500 company and had a sales and general management career in a family business. She serves as Marketing Coordinator for EDCASA.

Vicki P. Georges
Vicki P. Georges is a Licensed Vocational Nurse with an AA in Psychology and an AS in Health. She provides assistance to the clinicians, physician, and clients within the center. Vicki performs daily vitals and weights, assists with therapeutic meals, and performs receptionist duties.

Lori Jones
Lori Jones, Registered Dietician, is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. With degrees in Dietetics and Family Consumer Science, she has been educating the public on nutrition and health for over 25 years. She has specialized in women and children’s health issues spanning work in the hospital, clinic, classroom and grocery aisle. Her wealth of food knowledge began before diet foods were available, with good home cooking. Helping families find their way in the confusing world of food and the diet industry is her goal as she works with EDCASA clients.

Cindy Pritchard
Cindy Pritchard comes to EDCASA with 28 years of experience in the insurance field. At EDCASA she serves as a client advocate and is responsible for insurance negotiation, client relations, and client billing.

Maria Terea Rivera
Maria Teresa Rivera, R.D., F.A.E.D., Nutritionist, obtained her degree with Honorable Mention at the Iberoamericana University in Mexico City and has worked for 10 years in the eating disorder field. She is a Fellow of the Academy For Eating Disorders since May 2007 and Co-chair of the Scientific Program of the International Conference on Eating Disorders, Seattle 2008. She has published recent papers related to the importance of nutrition therapy in the treatment of eating disorders and the risk of osteoporosis in Anorexia Nervosa.

Willy Tarkington
Willy Tarkington comes to EDCASA with years of experience working in office management. Her job consists of accounting duties, daily administrative duties, purchasing, and clinical support.

Katie Welsh
Katie Welsh, LPC-i holds a Master of Arts degree in Health Psychology from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. She began her work with eating disorders in 2008 as a practicum student at EDCASA. In addition she has experience working with obese children and adolescents with Wellspring Camps. Katie is trained and experienced in cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy in both individual and group settings, and is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders. At EDCASA she serves as an individual therapists for adolescents, adults, families, groups and is a group leader for the Maudsley program.