Conason Psychological Services is a therapy practice based in New York City specialized in the treatment of binge eating disorder, disordered eating, and body image.
Our therapists are trauma-informed, which means we contextualize your symptoms within your unique history, recognize the role that trauma plays in your current functioning, and understand that it is hard to be healthy within a system that is sick.
We strive to create a safe, non-judgmental space to explore vulnerable topics with trust, transparency, and collaboration.
The therapists at Conason Psychological Services are LGBTQ+ affirming, fat positive, and social justice oriented. We work to understand the ways that your identities have impacted your experience in the world and the current symptoms that you may be experiencing.
We take a weight-inclusive and holistic view of health focusing on mental wellbeing which is inextricably linked to our physical health. Our therapists value body diversity and are committed to helping you work towards your goals at any size. We recognize that many people seeking our services want to lose weight and/or feel unhappy with their body—that is totally okay!
In fact, it is pretty expected in a culture that teaches us that weight loss is the singular path to health, happiness, and all the good things in life. We will meet you where you are at and find a path forward together.
Meet Our Team
Alexis Conason PSY.D., CEDS-S — she/her
PSYCHOLOGIST & FOUNDER
Dr. Alexis Conason (she/her) is a licensed psychologist, certified eating disorder specialist-supervisor, and founder of Conason Psychological Services. She works with adults and specializes in the treatment of binge eating disorder, disordered eating (including diet-binge cycles), body image dissatisfaction, and bariatric surgery. Her therapeutic style integrates psychodynamic psychotherapy with mindfulness-based interventions (including a focus on mindful eating, acceptance, and compassion), relational approaches, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Dr. Conason is the creator of The Anti-Diet Plan, a virtual mindful eating program to help people escape the diet-binge-self-hatred cycle. She is also the author of The Diet-Free Revolution: 10 Steps to Free Yourself from the Diet Cycle with Mindful Eating and Radical Self-Acceptance (North Atlantic Books, 2021).
Dr. Conason earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Long Island University–Post and did post-doctoral training at The Karen Horney Clinic and The New York Nutrition and Obesity Research Center in affiliation with Columbia University.
Dr. Conason has been featured widely in the popular press, and her research has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals including the Journal of the American Medical Association’s JAMA Surgery.
Dr. Conason offers both in-person services at our NYC office and virtual services for clients in New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Florida.
Areas of specialization:
Binge eating disorder
Disordered eating
Diet-binge cycles
Body image
Bariatric Surgery
Mindful eating
Sexual issues
Relationship issues
Career Issues
Life transitions
Depression
Anxiety
Elizabeth Gordon Psy.D. — She/her
PSYCHOLOGIST & ASSOCIATE THERAPIST
Dr. Elizabeth Gordon is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, body image dissatisfaction, depression, and anxiety.
Dr. Gordon works with children, adolescents, and adults using an integrative therapeutic approach drawing from behavioral, relational, and psychodynamic modalities. Her work is guided by the belief that in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship, healing can occur. She subscribes to a weight-inclusive intuitive eating model in which all foods fit, and health is not dependent on body size (HAES).
Dr. Gordon is available for virtual sessions only. She is a member of PsyPact, allowing her to work with clients in all participating states, in addition to New York. As of January 2022, that included the following states: AL, AZ, CO, DE, DC, GA, IL, KY, ME, MD, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NV, NH, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI. If your state is not listed here, please check the PsyPact website for the most up-to-date information.
Dr. Gordon obtained her doctoral degree from Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, and she also holds a master’s degree from Harvard University in Human Development and Psychology as well as a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gordon has experience providing individual and group therapy for children, adolescents, and adults struggling with eating disorders and other psychological issues. She has experience providing care across a variety of settings, including outpatient, day treatment, inpatient, and school-based settings. Dr. Gordon was previously a therapist at Equip Health, where she provided multidisciplinary treatment (including Family Based Therapy, FBT) for children and adolescents with eating disorders through a virtual platform. She is an Adjunct Clinical Supervisor at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.
Areas of specialization:
Anorexia nervosa
Binge eating disorder
Bulimia nervosa
Other specified feeding and eating disorders
Disordered eating
Body image
Bariatric surgery
Depression
Anxiety
Emerging adulthood
Life transitions
Singles issues
Fatema Jivanjee-Shakir LMSW — She/her
SOCIAL WORKER & ASSOCIATE THERAPIST
Fatema Jivanjee-Shakir is a social worker specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns, as well as depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship problems.
Fatema works with adolescents and adults, and utilizes a warm, collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally-aware approach to therapy that blends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and psychodynamic approaches. Fatema’s goal is to build a supportive therapeutic relationship with clients to help them explore what keeps them stuck in their unhelpful patterns, while also supporting them to grow and live more fulfilling lives. Her work is strongly informed by the Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective. Fatema has a special interest in working with BIPOC clients, especially those of South Asian and Muslim backgrounds.
In addition to her work at Conason Psychological Services, Fatema previously worked at The Renfrew Center for the treatment of eating disorders. Fatema obtained her Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Educational Studies from Swarthmore College. She has extensive experience working with adults and adolescents struggling with eating disorders and other psychological issues in individual, group, and family therapy at the residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient levels of care.
Areas of specialization:
Anorexia nervosa
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Binge eating disorder
Bulimia nervosa
Other specified feeding and eating disorders
Disordered eating
Body image
Bariatric surgery
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma
Relationship issues
Borderline Personality Disorder
BIPOC mental health
Sheba Antony LMHC, NCC — she/her
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR & ASSOCIATE THERAPIST
Sheba Antony is a mental health counselor with a background in the treatment of eating disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. She has experience in working with interdisciplinary teams in intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), and other higher levels of care treating children, adolescents, and adults. Sheba has experience providing individual, group, and family therapy. She has an interest in working with BIPOC individuals.
Sheba obtained her Masters in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine. Her therapy approach is informed by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), person-centered therapy, and Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective while also connecting to clients’ intersectionality and individualized health needs. Sheba’s goal is empowering clients to utilize their strengths, skills, and supports to achieve their own goals and fulfillment.
Sheba Antony is available for in-person sessions at our NYC office and for virtual sessions with clients in New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and Florida.
Areas of specialization:
Anorexia nervosa
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Binge eating disorder
Bulimia nervosa
Other specified feeding and eating disorders
Disordered eating
Body image
Bariatric Surgery
Depression
Anxiety
Emerging adulthood
Culture and Identity
BIPOC mental health
Meredith Bergman LMSW — She/her
SOCIAL WORKER & ASSOCIATE THERAPIST
Meredith Bergman is a licensed social worker whose area of concentration is eating disorders, disordered eating, compulsive exercise, and body image. She also works with depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She has a special interest in working with competitive athletes.
Meredith knows that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. She supports individuals to heal their relationships with food, exercise, and their bodies through the integration of both acceptance and change.
Meredith’s practice is strengths-based and collaborative, and she uses trauma-informed, Health At Every Size, anti-diet, and anti-oppressive approaches. She relies most heavily on modalities including cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.
She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work and completed her clinical placement at New York State Psychiatric Institute / Columbia Center for Eating Disorders. Meredith received her Bachelor’s Degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. At Carleton, she was a four-year varsity swimmer.
In addition to her work at Conason Psychological Services, Meredith works at Equip Health, a virtual eating disorder treatment center.
Meredith offers virtual sessions throughout the state of New York.
Areas of Interest:
Anorexia nervosa
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Bulimia nervosa
Binge eating disorder
Disordered eating
Body image
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Depression
Anxiety
Compulsive exercise
Competitive athletes
Lauren Reddington LMSW — she/her
SOCIAL WORKER & ASSOCIATE THERAPIST
Lauren Reddington is a social worker specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, body image concerns, and trauma. She has a special interest in the intersection of eating disorders and trauma, including how trauma can impact eating disorder symptoms and helping her clients find a sense of safety within themselves and in relationships with others.
Lauren works with adults, adolescents, and families using an integrative therapeutic approach centered on collaboration. She tailors each treatment to the unique needs of each client, taking a client-centered approach. She believes that trust is earned–not expected–and she seeks to earn her client’s trust over time by co-creating a safe therapeutic environment in which healing and change can occur.
Her work is strongly informed by Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS), a therapeutic modality focused on helping clients connect with the different parts of themselves by creating space for each part to be heard, honored, and healed so they can come together in an integrated and balanced way. IFS can be transformative, especially for clients struggling with deep feelings of shame. Lauren is also trauma-informed, Health At Every Size (HAES) aligned, and social justice oriented. Lauren identifies as queer and is passionate about working with folks in the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to her work specializing in eating disorders, Lauren also has specialized training in working with people struggling with problematic substance use as well as those who have experienced domestic violence.
Lauren earned her Masters in Social Work (MSW) degree from Rutgers University and Bachelors of Arts (BA) degree from the University of Delaware with a dual major in Gender Studies and Psychology and a minor in Domestic Violence Prevention and Services. In addition to her work at Conason Psychological Services, Lauren also works as a primary therapist at Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center and has experience working in outpatient and partial hospitalization (PHP) levels of eating disorder treatment.
Lauren Reddington is available for in-person sessions at our NYC office and for virtual sessions with clients across New York State and Vermont.
Areas of specialization:
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders
Disordered eating
Body image concerns
Trauma
Substance abuse
Domestic violence
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy
LGBTQIA+