ABOUT US
THERAPISTS
DIETICIANS
OPERATIONS
Erin Patterson | MC, LPCC, CEDS-C
Erin Patterson, MC, LPCC, CEDS-C, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of California and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Consultant (CEDS-C). She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University (2008), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics and Management from the University of Arizona (2002).
In addition to her training and expertise in the treatment of eating disorders, Erin specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) given her completion of a two-year post-master’s residency program in DBT, as well as her ongoing training and study. In addition to her DBT work with clients, she provides trainings to other professionals on this therapeutic approach. Erin has extensive training in Radically Open DBT, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Interpersonal Process. Additionally, Erin is knowledgeable about the trait of high sensitivity and is skilled in working with Highly Sensitive People (HSP).
Throughout her career, Erin has worked in various treatment settings/levels of care, and she opened Livity’s doors in 2013. She is passionate about her individual and group work with both adolescents and adults. Erin is particularly effective in treating those who struggle with eating disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, impulse-control disorders, and Borderline Personality Disorder.
Erin believes strongly in the importance of the therapeutic connection. Her style is compassionate and validating and she is known as authentic, consistent, humorous, and kind. Without a doubt, she will show up to meet clients where they are in their process and challenge individuals to start living the life they are meant to live.
Also, it is true that you may find Erin standing on her head while singing! When not in the office, you are likely to find Erin on her yoga mat, creating something that involves a spreadsheet, or hiking with her husband and puppy Willow.
Erin can be reached directly at [email protected] or 916.426.6009 ext 700.
Sarah Schumacher | MA, LMFT
Sarah Schumacher, MA, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Sarah is passionate and dedicated to helping adolescents and adults get unstuck, find solutions, reach their goals, and create positive change for growth. Sarah blends a variety of interventions and theories to adapt to the specific need of each patient. She uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to teach skills in distress tolerance, interpersonal relationships, mindfulness, and emotion regulation. She also incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help patients become aware of unhelpful thought patterns and to create new cognitions and behaviors.
Sarah works with the following issues: anxiety, depression, self-esteem/confidence, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, trauma, behavioral challenges, academic pressures, stress-management, parental stress, relationship issues, spirituality, substance use, self-harm/suicide, life transitions, abuse, grief, divorce, and personal development.
Her approach to therapy is collaborative where she comes alongside each patient to help them overcome personal challenges, gain clarity, get unstuck, and improve overall wellbeing. Her goal is to empower and provide tools and skills to help individuals thrive and live happier lives.
Sarah can be reached directly at [email protected] or 925-549-4207.
Shelly Starrett | MS, MSHN, RD
Shelly Starrett-Mangan, MS, MSHN, RD started her career as a dietitian in 2002. She has experience working in various treatment environments including hospitals, eating disorder treatment centers, functional medicine clinics, and private practice.
Shelly became a holistic dietitian earlier on in her career and is currently a certified GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) Practitioner. She has extensive experience in nutrition therapy for multiple disease states and varying degrees of disordered eating and feeding issues. Her passion is assisting others in increasing health and restoring peaceful, natural eating cues using a mind-body approach; thereby, creating a more balanced relationship with food and overall well-being.
Shelly can be reached directly at [email protected] or 916-337-8090.
Gwen Poggi | MA, LMFT
Gwen Poggi, MA, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. She specializes in couples and family therapy, however, also provides individual and group therapy for individuals (ranging from preschool age through adults). Gwen has extensive experience with both Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has spent the last decade developing training workshops for other clinicians as well as for family and support members, so that these therapies can be even more effective for the individuals seeking them. Her style is energetic and quirky, while also being direct, and she finds value in relating concepts to everyday life and interpersonal situations.
Since beginning her career, Gwen has worked in various treatment settings ranging from outpatient to partial hospitalization and currently provides direct therapy, as well as training and consultation, at several different organizations.
Gwen believes strongly that with the right support, guidance and understanding, individuals have the ability to increase their skills and make choices to improve their lives and the lives of those who matter to them. She believes in the importance of identifying what you want your life to look like and then taking steps to get there, because we all deserve to live the life that matters to us.
Gwen can be reached directly to schedule a seat in her next workshop at [email protected] or 916-529-1286.
Meredith Tait | MC, LPCC
Meredith Tait, MC, LPCC is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of California who focuses on individual therapy for adults, including young adults transitioning to independence. She is a client-centered therapist who incorporates a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
Over the past 10 years, Meredith has provided care at the residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of care and has extensive experience working with individuals and families dealing with life transitions, family/relationship conflict, stress and anxiety, eating and body image issues, and substance use disorders.
Meredith is particularly interested in working with individuals who are feeling stuck amid the current obstacles in their lives and are ready to break through in order to move towards the life they want. She believes, whole-heartedly, in the transformative power of therapy and works as a collaborator for change from the standpoint that each individual is the expert in his/her/their own process.
Meredith can be reached directly at [email protected] or 916-312-2247.
Arielle Mize | BS, RD
Arielle Mize, BS, RD became a Registered Dietitian in 2017 and has been working with eating disorders and disordered eating since 2019, both at the outpatient and partial hospitalization levels. Arielle is passionate about helping all people heal their relationship with food and their bodies and believes that intuitive eating is available to everyone.
Arielle has been known to be someone that makes people feel comfortable and seen by meeting them where they are and wants to help you free yourself from the “life thief” of dieting and disordered eating so that you can live a life in line with your values.
Arielle can be reached directly at [email protected] or 916-749-9268.
Joshua Ball
Joshua Ball, Director of Operations oversees communication and functional activities. As a former software engineer and manager, Josh’s background in technical scrutiny, leadership, and project/workload planning provides a strong foundation for his role at Livity.
He is passionate about constant process improvement and effective communication techniques to keep things running as smoothly as possible. Analyzing details and creating the most logical path forward is not just a welcomed challenge, but a way-of-life for Josh.
When you see this guy at Livity, get your high-five ready!
Linda Patterson | New Client Coordinator
Linda Patterson, New Client Coordinator When you reach out to Livity for the first time it is likely that you will speak with Linda. Linda is a retired educator of thirty-five years. At Livity, Linda is often the first point of contact for individuals, families, or other professionals who are new to our treatment environment.