Eating Disorder Treatment Programs

The spirit of aloha...

The staff at Nova Luna Center is what makes our multi-disciplinary,
team approach to the treatment of eating disorders possible.

Learn more about our staff:

Clinical Director

Michelle Villanti, L.C.S.W., B.C.D., C.S.A.C. the owner and Director of the Nova Luna Center for Eating Disorders has successfully led and piloted an Intensive Outpatient Program for the past ten years. From her creativity and expertise, she developed three eating disorder programs for intensive outpatient, day treatment and residential treatment. She is the president of the board for the new residential treatment program opening in early 2013.

These new programs are dynamic, experiential and research based, offering the most up to date therapies in the field of eating disorders. Ms. Villanti has 20 years of experience in eating disorders and was the first therapist in Hawaii to bring equine assisted therapy to the treatment of eating disorders. For the past 9 years, she has given lectures and consulted widely with physicians, schools, mental health professionals and community agencies on eating disorders. She maintains a full private practice in Makawao treating eating disorders, trauma, addictions, adolescents and families. She is trained in EMDR and Non-Violent Communication (also known as Compassionate Communication). Ms. Villanti is known for her expertise and successful treatment of eating disorders as well as a dynamic, compassionate and skilled clinician.

Supervising Psychologist

Dr. Giulietta Swenson, Psy.D., .... Dr. Giulietta Swenson earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology in 2004 from Argosy University, Hawaii Campus. A licensed psychologist in the state of Hawaii, Dr. Swenson’s background is diverse and has been primarily focused in the areas of child abuse, trauma, domestic violence, psychological assessment, divorce and separation, and community mental health. She has held various positions in a supervisory role both as an administrator and in a clinical capacity in a variety of social service agencies as well as consulted/collaborated with various entities on Maui including Family Court. Giulietta Swenson provides group supervision for Nova Luna clinical staff, where staff can bring clinical and process questions regarding the needs of Nova Luna clientele. Dr. Swenson adds an additional component of supervision that assists staff in generating multiple hypotheses about client needs, and broadening the clinicians’ understanding of client experience, as well as considering client safety, and ethical concerns. Nova Luna provides both individual and group supervision for their clinicians.

Primary Therapists

Jackie Kapua Tyler, LMT, MSW,
JackieKapua Tyler is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Master’s in Social Work. She has experience working with adolescents and families for individual counseling in a variety of settings including: foster children; medical/inpatient facilities; hospice (grief and loss issues). She has developed an expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and associated trauma. Jackie utilizes somatic experiential therapy methods to address underlying trauma and facilitate body awareness to make connections between body sensation feelings. Jackie Kapua Tyler is an avid learner. Last year she became a hypnotherapist and currently Jackie is involved in the trauma specialty program for Somatic Experiencing. Jackie believes in the unlimited healing potential of each individual and works with the mind, body and spirit.

 

 

 

Wendy Frashure Tresidder, MSW, LCSW,
Wendy Tresidder earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Wendy’s main area of professional focus has been in the treatment of eating disorders since 2001 and she has worked extensively with women and adolescents in a variety of areas including trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addiction and behavioral disorders. Wendy’s greatest passion lies in utilizing the expressive arts as a tool in recovery from eating disorders as a way to discover creative ways of communicating previously unsafe feelings and discovering unconscious truths in the journey towards self-awareness, empowerment and leading an authentic life. Wendy Frashure Tresidder is also a certified SoulCollage® facilitator, a creative process that assists in valuing and integrating all aspects of our inner selves.

 

 

 

Counselors

 

Christine Cannon, is a licensed acupuncturist

Nutritionist

Gina Ryan, CN is a licensed Certified Nutritionist. She conducts individual nutrition sessions for the Nova Luna Clients. Gina also maintains a private Mindful Wellness practice on Maui and the mainland educating clients on the impact of awareness and health. Prior to moving to Maui in 2005 Gina was the Nutritionist and Wellness Counselor at the Mirbeau Spa. She also was the owner of New Health, 2 health food stores in NY, for 12 years where she provided public education on topics such as woman’s health, herbal home remedies, cancer prevention and mindful eating.

Equine Program Director

Victoria Martocci, E.A.P. Specialist, has extensive and varied experience in education, management, group leadership and psychology. Victoria’s background in horse training, riding instruction and team coaching speaks for itself, having won every major award available and being nominated for the Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame for her contributions to the industry. Through 15 years of experience on Maui, as a SCUBA Instructor and Marine Educator, she has been responsible for creating a fun & educational environment for her clients, and most importantly for maintaining their physical safety at all times. This unique type of experience has helped Ms. Martocci develop and master core skill sets necessary in the field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, such as: global awareness, physical safety awareness, emotional safety awareness, human body language & non-verbal communication skills, as well as vital public speaking skills. For the past nine years, Ms. Martocci has been nationally certified as an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Facilitator, and has offered E.A.P. services to individuals, couples and Maui families.

 

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