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About Us Our Team

A treatment community that meets and exceeds your needs.

Collaborative. Committed. Creative.

Our team is hand-picked by our founder, Dr. Joanna Bronfman. We’re specialists in eating disorder treatment: educated, experienced, approachable, and one hundred percent dedicated to your success. We’re available to you – our patients and families – twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. For our team, commitment means service, and service means meeting the highest standards.

Dr. Joanna Bronfman, MS, LCSW, Psy.D.

Founder & Exec. Clinical Director
Dr. Natalie Richton, Ph.D.

Clinical Supervisor
Julia Simmons, LCSW

Program Director
Dr. Lindsay Moskowitz, M.D.

Medical Director
Molly Gerster, RD

Registered Dietitian
Lori Nevins, LCSW

Lead Support Counselor
Leslie Epstein, LCSW

Family Therapist
Melissa Liebre, BS

Culinary and Meal Support Director
Sasha Beatty, APRN

Registered Nurse
Paola Cerruto, LPC

Primary Therapist
Erica Adler, LMSW

Primary Therapist
Arta Cakaj, ATR, LCAT

Art Therapist
Sarena Kabakoff, BFA

Support Counselor

Always Listening

Communication is the foundation of healing relationships, which makes communication the hallmark of the Backcountry Wellness approach to treatment.

When you need us, we’re here.

We’re Ready to Connect. Call Now.

Call (203) 992-1700

Dr. Joanna Bronfman, MS, LCSW, Psy.D.

Founder & Exec. Clinical Director

Dr. Joanna Bronfman is a thought leader in the field of eating disorder treatment. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology (Psy.D), a master’s degree in social work (MSW) and a master’s degree in education (MS). As a pioneer in the field of eating disorders, Dr. Bronfman lectures at major academic institutions such as Yale University and the University of Connecticut. She’s also a sought-after guest speaker, having accepted invitations to share her knowledge at The Nantucket Project and school districts nationally. Dr. Bronfman’s clinical work has focused on private clinical practice in conjunction with New York Presbyterian Hospital / Cornell Medical Center and the Pleasantville Public School District. Dr. Bronfman was formerly the Clinical Supervisor at the Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders of Greenwich, Connecticut. She earned her Psychology Doctorate from California Southern University, her Master’s in Social Work from New York University, her Master’s in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

Under Dr. Bronfman’s leadership (“Dr. B”), Backcountry Wellness offers the premier eating disorder treatment program in New England. She upholds an environment filled with acceptance and compassion, rather than stigma and judgment. Dr. B understands the distress children, adolescents, and adults go through when they struggle with an eating disorder. The Greenwich community trusts Dr. B to provide treatment that’s set apart from the antiseptic, boilerplate model. She empowers patients to recognize the support they need and adapt to their own unique set of circumstances. Our program is built around the fundamental principles of acceptance, compassion, and empowerment – and it shows.

Dr. B is committed to changing the paradigm in eating disorder treatment. Her life’s work – and her passion – is to create an open, inclusive, and inviting environment where everyone who needs help will seek help, and where everyone who seeks help will learn to heal themselves in the way that works best for them. The right way.

Dr. Natalie Richton, Ph.D.

Clinical Supervisor

Dr. Richton holds her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is a published author in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. Dr. Richton has extensive training in outpatient and residential treatment, working with children, adolescents and adults. She uses her strong background in evidence-based treatment to provide her patients with optimal care. She is an empathic clinician and supervisor, who uses her clinical training and compassion to promote motivation, hard work and change. Dr. Richton earned her Ph.D. from Farleigh Dickinson University and her B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Julia Simmons, LCSW

Program Director

Julia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a strong desire to help others. Prior to working at Backcountry Wellness, she worked in a school setting, where she provided individual and group therapy. She has used those skills, along with her organization and dedication to her patients, to provide the utmost support to those with whom she works. She is an active listener and offers tremendous support to all of her patients and their families. Julia earned her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University and a B.A. in Education Studies from Brown University.

Dr. Lindsay Moskowitz, M.D.

Medical Director

Dr. Moskowitz has a passion for treating children and adolescents. Her warmth, empathy, genuineness, honesty, and gentle demeanor aid in establishing a good rapport with her patients. She has a unique skill set in treating patients with eating disorders based on her comprehensive background in nutrition in addition to her psychiatric training. Dr. Moskowitz served as the Psychiatric Director of the Eating Disorder Program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center at Long Island Jewish Hospital through Northwell Health for nearly 8 years and left in February 2020 to focus on her private practice. She is board certified in both Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She was recently an assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She earned her Medical Doctorate from SUNY Upstate Medical University and her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Studies from Cornell University.

Molly Gerster, RD

Registered Dietitian

Molly earned her Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She has a strong background in biology and uses her scientific knowledge to develop nutritionally appropriate meal plans for the whole body. She is attuned to the emotional role food plays for many people, and factors this in when creating a plan that works for both mind and body. Molly obtained her undergraduate degree in Biology from Bates College.

Lori Nevins, LCSW

Lead Support Counselor

As a clinical social worker for the past 18 years, Lori provides comprehensive assessment and treatment planning through a cognitive behavioral model of therapeutic interaction with patients across the age spectrum. Lori educates her patients on the role of family dynamics, lifestyle choices and personal accountability. She assists patients in creating new paths to success while enjoying a greater overall quality of life through reflection, connection and action. Lori earned her Master’s in Social Work from Yeshiva University and her B.A. from UCLA.

Leslie Epstein, LCSW

Family Therapist

Leslie is a passionate and dedicated family therapist. Prior to Backcountry Wellness, Leslie was the Director of Learning Resource Network at the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services. In her role there, she provided consultation to parents and families about their child’s development. Leslie ensures families are given the support they need and provides them with strategies to help their loves ones. Leslie earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University. She has also earned a Certificate in Family Therapy from The Ackerman Institute.

Melissa Liebre, BS

Culinary and Meal Support Director

Melissa is a talented culinary expert and is the backbone of Backcountry Wellness’ food and menu-based programming. Melissa has a culinary Arts Diploma from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She believes that healing begins through the changing of one’s relationship with food. Melissa is in the process of obtaining her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Cappella University and earned her B.S. from Iona College.

Sasha Beatty, APRN

Registered Nurse

Sasha is a trained and board certified Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse. Her over 10 years nursing career has afforded her the pleasure to work with many people and impact lives daily. She worked in Cardiac Telemetry for 7 years, Labor and Delivery for over 6 years and currently practices as a Nurse Practitioner in Pain Management in addition to working at Backcountry Wellness. Sasha has a passion for helping others and is a natural at her craft. Sasha earned her M.S. as a Family Nurse Practitioner and B.S. in Nursing from the Pace University Leinhard School of Nursing.

Paola Cerruto, LPC

Primary Therapist

Paola is a licensed professional counselor and has extensive experience working with eating disorders and disordered eating. Prior to working at Backcountry Wellness, she was a team leader at the Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders. She is a skilled clinician who leads groups and provides individual therapy. She approaches patients with a sense of uniqueness and relates to them individually. Paola achieved her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University and attended Boston University where she earned her B.A. in Psychology.

Erica Adler, LMSW

Primary Therapist

Erica has experience working in hospital, residential and outpatient settings. Erica values the use of a multi-disciplinary team, always making sure to stay connected with other treatment providers so that she is offering her patient’s comprehensive care. She provides individual therapy, group therapy and meal support therapy in a dynamic way. Erica’s engaging personality ensures that patients make change, while enjoying it too. Erica earned her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University and her B.A. from Skidmore College.

Arta Cakaj, ATR, LCAT

Art Therapist

Arta is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, leading art therapy groups for our patients. She uses art to encourage self-expression of thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to verbalize. Arta’s approach is to see each patient as a whole human being: Mind, Body and Spirit. Arta earned her MS in Art Therapy and Counseling from the College of New Rochelle.

Sarena Kabakoff, BFA

Support Counselor

Sarena is trained in healing through movement. She has received a two-hundred-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from Dana Hot Yoga, a sixty-hour training with Shiva Rea and an Advanced 75-hour Teacher Training with Alex Auder. Sarena is passionate about movement, creativity and connection and incorporates all of these components into her Mindful Movement group with our patients. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Temple University, earning her BFA in Dance.