PACIFIC PLACE RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PROGRAM

Evan Sahn, AMFT

Evan has a master’s in counseling from Palo Alto University. He has served in clinical and leadership roles in residential and outpatient settings. He has specialties in domestic violence and substance abuse. Evan has received training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) which he is integrating into Downey’s program through program development, staff training and direct treatment of his patients. He believes in a values-based approach and utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) techniques with his patients. Evan also believes that supporting parents through skills training and education gives children their best opportunity to thrive.

Lisa Arndt, LMFT

Lisa Arndt earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to earn her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University.  In addition, Lisa has been involved in creative ventures, including recording CDs and playing live music as well as writing and directing small theater projects. Lisa has previously worked at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute, St. John’s Hospital and the Eating Disorder Center of California.  Then, following her work as an eating disorder counselor at Rader Programs for 3 years, Lisa began working at Center for Discovery in 1999, as a part of the initial treatment team hired to establish Center for Discovery’s Eating Disorder Program. Lisa has worked as a lead counselor, group therapist and as a primary therapist at Discovery (working at the Lakewood, Downey and Whittier facilities).  Lisa also authored and operated a popular website, providing the public with education regarding eating disorders for nine years. Lisa has been dedicated to helping adolescents and their families find a happier, healthier life at Discovery for over a decade as a loyal and passionate employee. Lisa has also helped trained other staff members, and has spoken at schools and professional meetings. Lisa was a part of a People Magazine article regarding eating disorders, and was also featured on Dateline NBC regarding her work.  In addition, Lisa has appeared on the television program Extra, on the Maureen O’Boyle Show, on the John Bradshaw show, and twice on the Leeza Gibbons Show. Lisa was given an award for her dedication to troubled youth in 2002. For the last few years, Lisa has been working at Discovery’s Pacific Place facility with the Co-Occurring program (substance abuse and mental health). Lisa earned her license in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2009 and became a Clinical Supervisor in 2012, and now also supervises therapy interns at Discovery.  Lisa is passionate and dedicated to helping troubled youth, and thoroughly enjoys working with the treatment team and the clients at Discovery Mood and Anxiety Program.

Elizabeth Capps, RD

Elizabeth Capps has been working with Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program since 2019. Currently, she is the executive dietitian working in direct patient care as the primary dietitian for two facilities: Chino Hills and Pacific Place. As the executive dietitian, Elizabeth provides training on dietary protocols for all new facilities, creates and implements educational materials for patients and staff and assists the leadership team in various projects. Elizabeth graduated from California State Polytechnic University Pomona with a bachelor’s in foods and nutrition: dietetics and minor in physiology. She completed her dietetic internship at Cal Poly Pomona as well. Since becoming a registered dietitian, Elizabeth has dedicated her career to working in the mental health field focused on disordered eating and substance abuse. Elizabeth is a Health at Every Size ® informed practitioner, utilizes the 10 principles of Intuitive Eating and focuses on partnering with her clients to help restore their relationship with food: mentally, physically and emotionally. Elizabeth believes that everyone can recover and live a fully satisfied life. She loves to spend time with her family and dog, read, hike and go to the beach.

Christopher Myrick

Chris has been with Discovery since 2021 and has a wide variety of professional experience that led him to thrive here. Over the past two years he has been working on his clinical hours to become a licensed marriage, family and child therapist. Much of his work has been focused on alcohol and drug rehabilitation, including a six-bed residential facility for youths with substance use and mental health disorders. He has also worked with probationary children with DMHS and the California Probation Department. Chris earned his Master of Science degree in counseling from The University of Phoenix in 2017 and previously completed his bachelor’s in English at the University of Los Angeles, Verne. This degree was beneficial when building a strong rapport while teaching students in the Los Angeles and Pasadena unified school districts. Working with adolescents to improve their grammar skills prepared Chris to be attentive, listen effectively and clearly communicate as a therapist. It is his hope to provide patients with insight that is forthright and genuine. He would like to create a culture of acceptance that allows patients a space to experience what they need to heal. His motto is a quote by Alfred Adler: “We are not determined by our experiences, but are self-determined by the meaning we give to them.”

DeNia Nelson

DeNia is an education liaison for the Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program. She works directly with parents and schools on roadmaps towards academic objectives for patients during treatment. DeNia received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in African American studies from California State University, Fullerton. She is currently continuing her education at Pepperdine University, where she is working towards a master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. Before working at Discovery, she worked as a behavioral therapist with children on the spectrum. She understands that many patients enter our program with academic struggles that can be very triggering. Having someone to motivate the children throughout the treatment process is an integral part of their healing process. It brings her so much joy seeing children making progress throughout treatment. Even what may seem like a minor accomplishment amounts to so much more in the end. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family and roller skating at the beach in her free time.

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Elizabeth Smith

Elizabeth began working with Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program in March of 2020. She has worked in mental health for almost five years with her primary focus being mood disorders in adolescents.

Elizabeth began her education getting licensed as an emergency medical technician and then transferred to California State University, Sacramento. She completed her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in both child development and counseling. Elizabeth achieved an additional associate’s degree in 2020 for social work and in spring of 2021 completed an associate’s in drug studies and a certificate in human services.

As an undergraduate, Elizabeth worked as a facility manager for adolescents with foster youth or probation backgrounds. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she returned to Los Angeles and began working with DMAP at Downey as a counselor. During her recent studies, Elizabeth also interned at DMAP’s Pacific Place and Atlantic locations to train in substance use disorders co-occurring with mental health disorders. Elizabeth additionally has completed continuing education in post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, trauma-informed care and sex trafficking and exploitation.

Elizabeth has a passion for working with adolescents struggling with mental health and is dedicated to helping them grow and discover themselves. Her goal is to go back to school to obtain a master’s in social work and continue to support various roles and patients within DMAP throughout her career.