About Us – Columbia River Eating Disorder Network

Students move, stretch, and dance in an inclusive dance class. The class includes people who are plus size or fat, people of color, and people with visible disabilities using mobility aids.

CREDN is a non-profit organization composed of a diverse community of professionals, dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

We support a bio-psycho-social conceptualization of eating disorders that recognizes both biological and environmental variables and risk factors, such as genetics, temperament, sociocultural ideals, systemic oppression, trauma and dieting.

We understand that eating disorders are complex, brain-based illnesses, and that nutrition rehabilitation is essential for recovery.

We also recognize that eating disorders impact people of all genders, races, sizes, socioeconomic statuses, religions, ethnicities, abilities and ages.

We are dedicated to the growth of eating disorder treatment to best support the communities that have previously been left behind by working to increase equity and by actively supporting an anti-diet, weight-inclusive, intersectional approach to eating disorder treatment.

We provide education opportunities to our members and the community because we believe it is the responsibility of all providers to continually learn and grow as current research and best practices evolve, and we believe that education can lead to early intervention in eating disorder recovery.

We promote community awareness regarding eating and body-image concerns, and work to offer referral information for those seeking treatment by maintaining a list of local providers who are committed to upholding this mission.

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The CREDN Board

Dana Free (she/her)

Co-President

Dana's Bio

As a Clinical Outreach Specialist with Newport Healthcare, my area of focus is helping families and young people (ages 12-28) navigate the mental health landscape. My focus is Portland and also includes Western, Central, and Southern Oregon. I bring a deep understanding of the behavioral health industry with over ten years combined professional experience in business development, admissions, clinical consultative roles and non-profit work.

I began my role with CREDN at the beginning of 2021and am honored to serve on the Board as Co-President with Suzanne Sanchez. Since 2015, I have enjoyed my time on the board of Community Living Above (CLA), a community collaboration supporting drug-free youth which serves also to bring awareness to teenage drug and alcohol use and abuse and the inherent dangers of underage use. CLA works to provide resources that address prevention as well as treatment.

Empathy for the folks I support and a passion to help those in need drive my approach to life. My goal is to put heart is at the core of everything I do, personally and professionally.

Suzanne Sanchez (she/her)

Co-President

Suzanne's Bio

Suzanne is a cisgender therapist of mixed race who started her counseling career working in nonprofits that served youth in schools and in residential substance use programs. Her experience in substance use disorders helped her easily transition into working with eating disorders. She sees how diet culture infiltrates society and culture, and she enjoys the social justice aspect of the treatment of eating disorders. Cultural identity is another area Suzanne specializes in, as well as working with teens, parents, and anxiety. She likes to strategize with clients and professionals to find the most effective treatment options for people which is why she volunteers on boards and offers a variety of groups and classes.

Suzanne is a mom of two kids and loves spending time with them and supporting them in their interests. In her free time, she loves catching up on Netflix, scary movies, Zumba, and road trips with the family.

Carrie Norman (she/her)

Secretary

Carrie's Bio

In my role as Senior Regional Outreach Manager with Monte Nido & Affiliates, I connect professionals and clients with resources that create opportunities for healing. My coverage areas in Oregon include Portland, Salem, Central and Eastern Oregon, Alaska, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. I partner with my outreach colleague Tanya Hall to support professionals in Oregon while Tanya also provides outreach support for Washington and Idaho.

With fifteen years of experience in behavioral health in various capacities including admissions, clinical outreach, non-profit work, community engagement and partnership development, my mission is to provide caring and collaborative support to clients and professionals seeking mental or behavioral health treatment or support.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, a good cup of coffee and a book, enjoying nature, gardening, yoga, paddling, and cooking.

It is an honor to join the CREDN Board serving as Secretary, and I look forward to connecting with members in the days ahead.

Katie Rogers (she/her)

Membership Chair

Katie's Bio

Katie is a non-diet registered dietitian specializing in helping clients heal their relationship with food and body. She works with a variety of clients including: eating disorders and disordered eating, chronic dieting, body image and weight concerns, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, lipid disorders, sports nutrition and more. While she practices with an individualized approach, Katie's foundational philosophy of instilling trust, honor, and flexibility with food stands true for all. Her private practice is currently accepting new clients. She is licensed in both Oregon and Washington.

Julie Allen (she/her)

Conference Co-Chair

Julie's Bio

Julie Allen, an author and sustainability awareness activist, is the CEO of Mary Rose Boutique and founder of the Mary Rose Foundation. Julie started Mary Rose Boutique because she recognized the need for a clothing shop that focused on body acceptance, self-love, and helping all bodies feel beautiful and confident in their clothes. The three pillars of her boutique include sustainability, inclusion, and social justice. Julie's message is simply one of strength, courage, self-compassion, and most of all, hope.

In her downtime, she enjoys lifting weights, going for walks, unplugging, and focusing on her family.

Kathryn Smith (she/her)

Conference Co-Chair

Kathryn's Bio

Kathryn Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor working in private practice in Medford, Oregon. Kathryn graduated with a master’s degree in Professional Clinical Counseling with a minor in addictions counseling from LaSalle University. She specializes in eating disorders, trauma, and anxiety disorders. She loves working with adolescents/ teens (12+) and adults. She is a 200hr certified yoga teacher and hopes to incorporate trauma informed yoga for all bodies into her practice to increase mind- body connection.

Her counseling style is collaborative, warm, and down to earth. She uses humor to build connection and ease anxiety. Her primary goal is to create a space where you feel heard, validated, and supported Kathryn is passionate about helping others heal their relationship with their bodies and food in order to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

In her free time, Kathryn enjoys reading, spending time with her two dogs (aka “Co-therapists”), Hershey and Riley, doing puzzles, and participating in advocacy activities for various causes.

Alyssa Gremban (she/her)

Marketing & Outreach Coordinator

Alyssa's Bio

An occupational therapist by trade, Dr. Alyssa Gremban (The Yogi OT℠) pursued her yoga certification training in order to increase yoga’s accessibility for every personality, experience, and ability. Her vision is to utilize yoga as a therapeutic supplement to assist all individuals in their process towards mental health recovery.

Dr. Gremban specializes in private and group-based therapy sessions for mental health disorders, including: eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. Through her expert combination of occupational therapy and mindfulness-based practices, Dr. Gremban hopes to deepen her clients’ understanding of their bodies’ unique needs to create balance in their daily lives and heal stubborn thought patterns that have been inaccessible through conventional medicine and therapy.

Meghan Smith (she/her)

Resources Chair

Meghan's Bio

Meghan is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a certification in eating disorder treatment from Lewis and Clark College. She is worked at PHP and IOP levels of care and decided to create new level of care outpatient+, which offers group therapy to people trying to recover on an outpatient basis. The goal of her practice, Meghan's Place, is to provide community and peer support to adults struggling with eating disorders in the community. Meghan offers meal groups, process groups and many other groups and works from a HAES model. Meghan is personally passionate about eating disorders and is also very interested in how psilocybin treatment can be applied to individuals struggling with eating disorders.

In her spare time, Meghan likes to spend time with her 14-year old cat, watch comedies and try new restaurants.

Shira Evans (she/her)

Continuing Education Chair

Shira's Bio

Hello! My name is Shira, and I am thrilled to offer virtual nutrition services to children and adults who are looking to improve their relationship with food, body image, and movement. I have worked in all higher levels of care for eating disorder treatment, and worked in Division I settings as a leader for performance nutrition and disordered eating care among athletes. I use a non-diet approach, and am aligned with a HAES framework. I am a former athlete and maintain a second board certification as a Certified Specialist in Sport Dietetics. Additionally, I have several years of experience in working with clients who are impacted by the co-occurrence of type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder.