About Us
Treatment Philosophy
The treatment team at Bayberry begins with the belief that each client is unique and equipped with the skills and abilities to live a joyful and fulfilling life. As human beings, we are too often subjected to emotional injury, ruptured attachments, and overwhelming circumstances for we may not fully understand. For some, these life challenges can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors such as disordered eating, especially when we feel unsupported or alone in our discomfort. Combined with a trauma history and/or a co-occurring mood disorder, a diagnosable eating disorder can emerge. As with many behavioral and physical diagnoses, early intervention has been shown to improve long-term outcomes.
The Bayberry treatment philosophy is built upon an evidence-based platform using both cognitive interventions (e.g., Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Nutrition education) and experiential interventions (e.g., Internal Family Systems, Trauma-Informed Movement, and Expressive Arts techniques). Our integrated therapeutic approach aims to help those who struggle with shame and self-criticism, often resulting from early experiences of feeling alone in extremely unpleasant circumstances.
Our clients learn to experience self-compassion and other-oriented compassion, helping to regulate mood and generate feelings of safety, self-acceptance, and comfort. Coping strategies such as disordered eating are re-imagined as desperate attempts for self-protection that can be replaced with new strategies that support sustainable healing and recovery.
Bayberry is a behavioral health organization that approaches disordered eating and mood disorders through the lens of mental health. We are happy to work and coordinate your treatment program with your extended treatment team, including your medical provider, psychiatrist, and nutrition professional.
Is it Disordered Eating or an Eating Disorder?
Disordered eating is used to describe a range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are diagnosed according to specific and narrow criteria.
Many individuals with disordered eating symptoms are diagnosed with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). However, similar to AN or BN, OSFED has specific criteria that must be met for the person to receive this diagnosis. For example, people with OSFED share the common trait of having disordered thoughts and behaviors about food and eating.
Warning signs of OSFED include:
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Preoccupation with food and eating
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Low self-esteem, shame, and guilt (especially guilt attached to weight and appearance)
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Refusal to eat certain foods
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Preoccupation with body shape or weight, often leading to tracking weight and becoming upset over even minor fluctuations
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Disconnect between self-perception of one’s body and how it is seen by others
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Anxiety around food and meal times
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Foods labeled as “safe or unsafe”, “good or bad”
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Prioritizing exercise and dieting over social engagements
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What is a Mood Disorder?
A mood disorder may be indicated when your general emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent with your circumstances and interferes with your ability to function. You may be extremely sad, empty, or irritable (depressed), or you may have periods of depression alternating with being excessively happy (mania). Moderate or severe anxiety can also affect your mood and often occurs along with depression.
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Mood disorders and eating disorders are chronic and complex conditions that are often co-occurring (1). Persons with an eating disorder diagnosis are highly likely to have a co-occurring mood disorder, ranging from 42% - 71%. In addition, a person with an eating disorder will have a 48% - 81% likelihood of a co-occurring anxiety disorder, and a 23% - 37% likelihood of a co-occurring substance use disorder.
(1) Reference: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2011). Clients With Substance Use And Eating Disorders. Advisory, Volume 10, Issue 1.
Our Team
Tom McCann, PhD
Executive Director
Dr. McCann earned his PhD in Organizational Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and received adjunct training in Internal Family Systems and Nonviolent Communications. Dr. McCann is also trained in Co-Active Coaching and is a member of the American Psychological Association Society of Consulting Psychologists. Dr. McCann holds a MS degree in Human Resources Management from Troy University and a BS degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Prior to opening his practice at Bayberry, Dr. McCann was the co-founder and Executive Director of an eating disorders residential and outpatient treatment program for adults and adolescent females. It was in this setting that Dr. McCann envisioned the benefits of clinical interventions in a non-clinical population and the application of mind, body, behavioral, and somatic approaches to consulting and coaching. It is the integration of evidence-based psychological assessments and interventions for which informs his practice and approach to working with individuals and teams in all types of organizations. An important aspect of Dr. McCann’s practice is his extensive experience in business and leadership roles in multiple settings. His career began as an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Following his time in the service, Dr. McCann worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry in multiple roles, including executive sales leadership, training and development, business development, marketing, and consulting.
Pam Pomeroy, MA
Director, Experiential Therapy
Pam Pomeroy, M.A. earned a Master’s in Clinical and Holistic Counseling and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Creative and Expressive Arts from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Pam is a passionate holistic counselor, coach, mentor, and teacher and supports finding solutions, goal setting, skill building, and self-esteem recovery. She includes the extended practices of Reiki, Yoga, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction techniques in her counseling. Pam is a member of the American Counseling Association and The Rhode Island Psychological Association. Pam has training and experience in offering a variety of treatment modalities, including bringing Trauma-informed Yoga into mental health clinical practices, and comprehensive training in Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy. Her counseling techniques integrate creative and expressive arts, and frequently Yoga with Reiki where appropriate, and reflect her holistic perspective of caring for the whole being - Mind, Body, and Spirit. Experience Pam has over 20 years of experience working as a teacher, coach, and trainer, and providing individual and group psychotherapy as a mental health counselor to her clients. She has employed many healing modalities including the evidence-based practices of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) combined with mindfulness training, yoga, and creative arts therapy to facilitate healing and wellness. Pam is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Health Coach; Certified Personal Trainer; and Certified Senior Fitness Specialist. Pam integrates Yoga and Reiki as a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach and is a graduate of the College of Purna Yoga at the 200-hour level; a graduate of Frog Pond Yoga Centre at the 200-hour Level; and registered at the 200-hour level with The Yoga Alliance. As a Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master Teacher and Shamballa Reiki Multidimensional Level 4 Teacher, Pam shines the Light and Love of the universe from her heart and shares this unique perspective with her clients and students. Interests Pam is a life-long learner and enjoys reading to help elevate her practice as well as for pleasure. She frequently writes, sketches, and creates works of art and prose, practicing what she preaches in the way of creative and expressive arts. Pam enjoys keeping her body and mind in motion, especially walking and talking with her family.
Lenni Marcus, LCSW
Mental Health Therapist
Lenni is a graduate of the Smith College School for Social Work. Since entering the field, she has practiced across a variety of clinical settings, with eating disorders as the focus or adjacent to the presenting concern. Lenni recently served as the Assistant Coordinator of Eating and Body Image Concerns (EBIC) at Temple University's counseling center, where she provided assessment, individual, and group counseling to students. Prior to this role, Lenni completed a postgraduate fellowship at The Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas, where there was an emphasis on the treatment of attachment related disorders and co-occurring substance use and/or eating disorders. Lenni is currently participating in an advanced training program on relational psychoanalysis through the Institute for Relational Psychoanalysis of Philadelphia. In Lenni's own words: I aim to create a warm environment that allows the support, courage, and self-compassion necessary for you to grow. Through this process, we’ll uncover and address the reasons you may feel stuck, unhappy, preoccupied, worried, or anxious. We are often impacted by our past experiences in invisible and unspoken ways, and these experiences hold a powerful influence over how we see ourselves and relationships with others. I am especially interested in how you’ve been impacted by your historical or childhood experiences, any trauma or adverse life events you may have experienced, your attachment and relationship history, systemic oppression, and your overall social culture. My primary approach is a relational psychodynamic lens, which means that I pay close attention to how the therapeutic relationship can illuminate dynamics in your life outside of therapy, while providing corrective emotional experiences whenever possible. I provide individual, family, and couples therapy. I am especially interested in the relationship between parent and child, including adult children with their parents and families of origin. In working with a diverse range of family and couples systems, I am invested in harnessing the creativity, resources, and already existing solutions each family needs in order to grow. While I work with a variety of folks and areas of concern, I have particular experience working with trauma, young adults, sexual and gender identity, and other LGBTQ+ related concerns. I also enjoy working with those struggling with eating disorders and body image concerns. I use she/her pronouns.
Alexa Siminsky, RD
Registered Dietitian
Alexa is a Registered Dietitian who has been working in the nutrition field for the past 8 years. Alexa graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2015. She later completed her dietetic internship with Priority Nutrition Care, practicing at various hospitals and facilities through out New England. Alexa has spent the past few years working as a pediatric dietitian at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She worked on the Adolescent Medicine eating disorder team and spent time both in the inpatient and outpatient setting. She also works for a private practice, New England Nutrition Advisors, LLC where she counsels adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. Alexa enjoys helping her patients learn how to properly nourish their bodies and to improve their relationship with food. Alexa is extremely excited to share her nutrition knowledge with her new patients at Bayberry!
Mary "Meg" Gilbar, RD
Registered Dietitian
Welcome! My name is Meg and I am a Registered Dietitian that specializes in eating disorders and co-occurring mental disorders. My approach is HAES inspired, inclusive, trauma informed and individualized. Disordered eating, unfortunately, can manifest in many ways and runs rampant in the media and in the social/cultural constructs that we live in. My favorite thing in the world is helping others to heal their relationship with food and their bodies, unlearn diet culture and begin to free the mind from the confinement of their eating disorder! I can't wait to meet you and be a part of this journey with you!
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Sara Wilton
Mental Health Therapist Intern
Sara Wilton graduated Magna Cum Laude with Distinguished Honors in Psychology from Loyola University. She became a Research Assistant at Johns Hopkins and then Brown University on multiple studies with a focus on child and adolescent neurocognition. In 2019, Sara began her role as a Pediatric Psychiatric Milieu Therapist on the Inpatient Medical-Psychiatric Unit at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. This role enhanced Sara’s clinical experience with disordered eating and trauma through leading group therapy and process groups which catalyzed her specialty focus on neuroplasticity and trauma. Sara is currently the Director of Clinical Outreach and Recruitment as well as the Lead Clinical Research Coordinator at Comprehensive Psychiatric Care. She was at the forefront of the creation of their Providence site in all aspects of development and has gained significant experience in the world of clinical practice start-up and business outreach. She is currently a nationally ranked top performer for patient recruitment and retention in her OCD, PTSD, and MDD clinical research trials. Sara feels exceptionally lucky to have found her passion in this field which involves utilizing a holistic treatment model. As a yoga teacher and integrative medicine student, she stives to implement mindfulness and holistic wellness practices when possible. Simultaneously, she leads neuroscience clinical research trials and has a deep appreciation for the scientific integrity of evidence-based practices. Sara’s clinical focus is to ensure that patients receive the best uniquely tailored combination of treatment models. She is in her second year as a full-time Clinical Mental Health Counseling Masters student at Rhode Island College and is absolutely elated to be a Practicum Intern at Bayberry Psychology and Consulting.
Bailey Irizarry
Mental Health Therapist Intern
Bailey graduated with honors from Furman University with her bachelors of psychology, and she is currently in her final year of Rhode Island College's clinical mental health counseling master's program. She has extensive experience working with eating disorders in both research and clinical settings. For the past four years, she has worked as a Senior Research Assistant and Clinical Research Interventionist at the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, an affiliate of the Brown Alpert Medical School. Specifically, she has worked on multiple studies examining the effects of emotional regulation on adolescent eating behaviors as well as the effects of various therapeutic interventions on disordered eating in adolescents and adults. Bailey completed her practicum placement at Gateway Healthcare, where she provided home-based individual and family therapy. She has experience working with eating disorders as well as depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, life transitions, and other mental health problems. She utilizes multiple evidence-based therapeutic approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), and Person-Centered Therapy. In working with eating disorders, Bailey strives to help her clients renourish their brain and their body and then do the deeper work of integrating their emotions and their thoughts with their behavior. Bailey feels that it is an honor and a privilege to walk alongside her clients and hear their stories, and she has genuine regard for her clients. She is excited to be working at Bayberry and is currently accepting new clients.
Corinne LaPorte-Cauley
Therapist/Intern & Outreach Coordinator
Corinne earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development, Family Studies, and Psychology from the University of Connecticut and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Creative and Expressive Arts from Salve Regina University, where she is currently completing her master’s degree in Holistic Clinical Mental Health. Corinne is an equanimous, empathic, and compassionate therapist with years of experience in client-centered and wellness-oriented positions. She has dedicated the last ten years to gaining a deep understanding of the human condition and connection through personal and professional experience in Yoga and Reiki, attaining an Advanced Degree in Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki System of Natural Healing and 200hr certification in Viniyoga, a therapeutic approach to yoga that adapts the various methods of practice to the unique condition and needs of each individual. Corinne is passionate about incorporating body awareness, mindfulness, and creativity into her group and individual sessions, believing that non-verbal and symbolic forms of communication are an essential pathway to understanding, growth, and the development of intuition and empathy. Corinne utilizes her knowledge and clinical intuition to meet you wherever you are in your healing journey. With Corinne, you can expect to be held in a safe space where you can explore your emotions and deepen self-awareness. Corinne takes a humanistic, integrative, and trauma-focused approach informed by Person-Centered Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Somatic Experiencing™, and Internal Family Systems.
Teri McCann, PhD, LP,
CEDS-S, CRC
Clinical Director
Dr. McCann earned a Doctor of Philosophy at Kansas State University and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Mississippi State University. Her doctoral research at Kansas State focused on children’s food cognitions, as well as infant attachment research while at Vanderbilt University. In addition, Dr. McCann has completed post-graduate studies in the unique needs and experiences of the gifted and talented population. Her research and studies have informed her more than 30 years of clinical practice serving a diverse group of clients. Dr. McCann is a member of the American Psychological Association, The Rhode Island Psychological Association, The Academy of Eating Disorders, and has earned the Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Supervisor (CEDS-S) designation from The International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. Dr. McCann has training in a variety of treatment modalities, including extensive training and certification in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. Her work with clients and as a consultant/supervisor are done through the lens of IFS, leveraging the model to treat eating disorders and complex trauma. Based on a need she saw in her community and the power of the Internal Family Systems model in treating eating disorders, Dr. McCann previously founded and operated a residential and outpatient treatment center for women with eating disorders. As Founder, she served as both Clinical Director and Chief Clinical Officer of the residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. In this capacity, and in her previous private practice setting, Dr. McCann focused on individual treatment planning and providing healing (rather than symptom control) for complex trauma and attachment trauma. Dr. McCann has devoted her professional career to bringing cognitive, behavioral, and experiential interventions to her clients that are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or have a history of trauma. She has specialized in working with clients for which those symptoms have manifested into disordered eating. Dr. McCann has also focused much of her professional attention on the gifted and talented population, recognizing the unique challenges and demands facing this group when they may feel out of synch with their peers or academic programs.
