Meet our Clinical Staff
 Mia S. Elwood, MSW, LCSW,
founder and clinical director of Healthy Futures, is a state Licensed Clinical
Social Worker with 14 years of direct private practice experience. Specializing in eating disorders, Mia worked six years at an inpatient and
partial hospitalization eating disorder program. When the clinic closed in 2003,
this led the way to the creation of Healthy Futures. She treats anorexia,
bulimia and overeating in males and females, age 6 to 60. Ms. Elwood
also has a specialization in childhood and family obesity. She is a
certified Pediatric Obesity Specialist and is licensed to provide the Shapedown®
program. Mia also has a great deal of experience with gastric bypass surgery for
adults and is a consultant with a local hospital. She also leads a
multidisciplinary team at Healthy Futures to provide pre- and post-surgery
counseling, nutrition and exercise consultation.
Her overall goal for clients with eating and weight problems is to help them
have happier and healthier futures where weight becomes exactly what is should
be - simply a number on the scale.
In addition to eating disorders, Mia
helps clients fight depression and anxiety, as well as helps individuals and couples overcome
relationship problems. She does a great deal of
teaching in her therapy and uses dialectical behavioral therapy skills training
as one model. Mia is trained in EMDR®, a trauma technique,
and is currently in the process of learning the trauma healing technique of
Somatic Experiencing®. Mia teaches clients to re-parent and
safely reconnect with themselves, creating a nurturing home inside.
She greatly believes in using an
individual or family’s strengths to help them overcome their current problems.
Because of her background in social work, Mia emphasizes the systems impacting
the person and their family. She especially enjoys working with people and their
families and witnessing change and growth within the family system.
Originally from Nebraska, Mia obtained her master's degree
in Social Work, with an emphasis in marital and family therapy from the
University of Nebraska at Omaha. She lives with her husband and their two young,
happy boys.
Karen Thiel, MC, is the Intake Clinician at Healthy Futures and has
worked in the mental health field since 2004.
She earned her Masters in Counseling degree from Arizona
State University. Karen has always held a passion for helping people, and has
had enthusiasm in the field of psychology and treating mental health issues
since she opened her first textbook.
Karen has worked with adults and adolescents at Healthy
Futures since 2006. In addition to providing clinical intakes, Karen works with
patients in individual therapy and holds a particular enthusiasm in young adult
and women’s issues. Karen is an advocate for the education of mental illness to
decrease stigmas and discrimination.
Often individuals enter counseling due to feeling “stuck”
in some pattern of living which is disruptive, debilitating, or simply
uncomfortable. Karen uses her relationship with clients and the goal of becoming
“un-stuck” through a journey of self-discovery in behavior patterns,
relationship styles, and ways of thinking. She incorporates
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills training
to increase awareness, the ability to regulate emotions and to help the client
practice living more intentionally. In addition, Karen is enthusiastic about the
creative arts, and often encourages clients to use artistic talents and
interests in their treatment.
 Kristin
Day Hardwig, Psy.D., - Dr. Day Hardwig is licensed as a psychologist in the
state of Arizona. She received her masters degree in counseling from Boston
University and earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from
Argosy University/Phoenix. She completed her APA-approved internship at the
University of Massachusetts/Amherst Counseling Center and her post-doctoral
fellowship in neuropsychology at the North Shore Medical Center in Salem,
Massachusetts.
Additionally, Kristin has experience in a variety of therapeutic
settings involving the treatment of addictions, mood disorders, and the
resolution of psychological trauma. Specializing in eating disorders, Kristin
has worked in a variety of settings and has provided treatment for individuals
with anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating. She has also worked with
individuals preparing to undergo gastric bypass surgery.
Kristin is especially
interested in assisting her clients resolve and work through emotional issues
from the past so they can no longer predict the present. She works with
enthusiasm and strives to build a safe therapeutic relationship and environment
for her clients so they can truly discover, create and express their identity
and find empowerment while healing. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys spending
time in Phoenix with her husband and two dogs.
Kim Lipsman, LPC, MEd,
CHt, SEP is passionate about helping people find their
strength and wholeness from within. Her background in education gives
awareness to the needs of children and adolescents. Family dynamics,
marriage and parent-child relationships are her specialties. Her integrated
approach to therapy uses spirituality with psychology honoring each
individual’s emotions, traumas, family work, past and goals for the future.
Kim has her Master’s in Counseling from Argosy University/Phoenix and a
Master’s in Education from Chapman University. She is also a certified
Hypnotherapist graduating from the Atwood Institute for Research and
Education. Kim is an active member of the American Society of Clinical
Hypnosis and the American Psychological Society - Division 30 – Society of
Psychological Hypnosis. Her training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Somatic©Experiencing for trauma
healing is useful when working with clients experiencing all trauma, eating
disorders, depression, anxiety, fears and other syndromes.
Recently, Kim has increased her education by completing
two specialized areas of psychological training. As an Advanced
Somatic©Experiencing student, Kim works with the world renowned Dr. Peter
Levine’s method for healing body trauma. The trauma work is some of Kim’s
most rewarding therapy work in its gentle format and the relief to an
individual’s suffering. Another important piece to Kim’s expertise is
Childhood Obesity. Through two programs, Shapedown© and Kidshape©, Kim is
helpful in creating positive results for many children. She is certified at
the highest level and works currently with many children and their families
in the area of Childhood Obesity. Her expertise helps her guide children to
empower themselves towards a balanced life. These children and their
families are allowed to increase their choices for healthy living through
emotional and behavioral changes.
Currently, Kim Lipsman has entered a doctoral program
in clinical psychology. Her studies increase the awareness and knowledge of
her professional therapy skills.
Kim believes that with therapy work, transformations
from emotional pain and life’s problems leads individuals to healing,
wellness and more fulfillment. Everyone can improve their life…do you have
the courage to take the healing journey?
For more about Kim Lipsman, please visit her website at
www.KimLipsman.com
 Melyssa
Roderick, LMSW - Melyssa earned her Master of Social Work degree from
Arizona State University. Specializing in treating trauma-related issues, Melyssa believes that addressing trauma does not have to entail re-living
the trauma. In fact, trauma is best resolved gently and without
experiencing the intense fear and other emotions that accompanied the
original overwhelming incident. Melyssa currently is completing advanced
level training in Somatic Experiencing, a mind/body approach to treating
trauma that is different from most traditional talk-therapy approaches. Melyssa also
is trained in EMDR.
In individual therapy, Melyssa frequently
incorporates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills training to
increase awareness, the ability to regulate emotions and to live more
intentionally. The totality of Melyssa’s skills and experience have allowed
her to assist others in healing from depression, anxiety, eating disorders,
sexual abuse, family relational dysfunction and other concerns.
In addition to
enjoying her career, Melyssa loves to rollerblade, cook and host dinner
parties, and dream of what type of dog to own next. Vacations frequently are spent
traveling out of state to visit her nieces and nephew, or
to any destination that even remotely resembles a beach.
 Kim
Feinstein, MC, LAC, has been active in the field of psychology for the last 12
years. She is a licensed associate counselor, has completed her Masters in Counseling degree in Community Counseling
from the University of Phoenix and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Argosy
University’s Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program. Kim is also a specialist in
Gestalt therapy and is in the second year of a two-year training program at the
Gestalt Institute of Phoenix. Furthermore, Kim is educated and skilled in EMDR
(Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing - a proven trauma resolution
technique), as well as qualified to facilitate DBT (Dialectical Behavioral
Therapy) Skills Training Groups. She specializes in eating disorders,
depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and life adjustment problems.
Kim offers her clients the benefits of professional
experience combined with personal recovery. She provides support and
understanding within a safe environment to explore and experience personal
growth. Kim combines her education and experience with compassion, warmth, and
enthusiasm. Clients will acquire new tools and skills that can help them create
a greater sense of freedom, to live the lives they choose, and make decisions
according to what is right for them.
 Tina Garby, Psy.D - Dr. Garby is licensed as a psychologist in the
state of Arizona. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from West
Virginia University, Master's of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from West
Chester University, and Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy
university/Phoenix campus.
Tina has worked in the mental health
field since 1991. She has worked with male and female adolescents and adults
diagnosed with various eating disorders, mental illnesses and personality
disorders. She has experience in individual, family, couples and group therapy.
 Laurie
Geraghty, LCSW, DTR, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a
Nutritionist at Healthy Futures.
Laurie has more than
15 years of professional experience in the field of eating disorders. She
earned her Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University and
has eight years of experience as a Social Worker.
Laurie has
experience as a Social Worker in an inpatient Psychiatric facility as well
as a Medical Hospital. Laurie has been working with individuals with eating
issues since 1997. Her experience includes working with individuals with
anorexia, bulimia, and overeating disorders as well as childhood feeding
problems.
Laurie also has
experience working with childhood obesity and utilizes the Shapedown
concept. Being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as a Certified
Nutrition Professional, Laurie is able to use both areas of expertise to
assist individuals.
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