The Clinical Team
Mia S. Elwood, MSW, LCSW, SEP
Founder & Clinical Director
Mia S. Elwood, founder and clinical director of Healthy Futures, is an Arizona Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. She has been in practice since 1996.
Specializing in eating disorders, Mia worked seven years at an inpatient and partial hospitalization eating disorder program. When the clinic closed in 2003, this led her to create an Intensive Outpatient Program for her new company, Healthy Futures. Since that time, Mia and her team of professionals have helped countless patients overcome their struggles with anorexia, bulimia and overeating, as well as anxiety disorders and depression.
After struggling in adolescence with eating, weight, and mood issues, her career has been focused on helping individuals recover fully from weight and eating issues. Her warm, down to earth, “been there” approach, along with her extensive experience and education in these areas help individuals and families feel safe and filled with hope. Her overall goal for clients with eating and weight problems is to help them have happier and healthier futures where weight becomes exactly what it should be – simply a number on the scale.
In addition to eating disorders, Mia helps clients fight depression and anxiety, as well as help individuals and couples overcome relationship problems. Mia does a great deal of teaching in her therapy and uses dialectical behavioral therapy skills training as one model. Another guiding force in her work is Somatic Experiencing®, a trauma healing technique that works with the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Mia teaches clients to re-parent and safely reconnect with themselves, creating a nurturing home inside.
She greatly believes in using an individual or family’s strengths to help them overcome their current problems. Because of her background in social work, Mia emphasizes the systems impacting the person and their family. She especially enjoys working with people and their families and witnessing change and growth within the family system.
Originally from Nebraska, Mia earned her master’s degree in social work (1995), with an emphasis in marital and family therapy from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She lives with her husband, Todd, (her high school sweetheart) in Fountain Hills, Arizona. They have two adult children, Tiger and Lucas, and a rescue dog named Teddy.
Chris Tatsumi, LCSW
Therapist
Chris earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and his Bachelors of Social Work from Arizona State University.
Prior to earning his master’s degree, Chris spent two years working with at-risk adolescents in the foster care system. During his master’s program, he specialized in providing care for people that struggled with addiction.
After working with people that struggled with eating disorders in the addiction and foster care settings, Chris decided that he wanted to specialize in working with people that struggle with eating disorders. Since then, Chris has treated people with eating disorders in the inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization program, and intensive outpatient levels of care.
Chris uses a client-centered approach and specializes in DBT and CBT therapy.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys covering the Arizona State University football and basketball teams with Devils Digest. He is also an avid traveler and hiker.
Julia MacDonald, MS, LAC
Mental Health Counselor
Julia joined Healthy Futures in 2016 as a student intern while earning her Masters In Professional Counseling at Grand Canyon University. Upon completing her degree in 2017, she received her credentialing as a Licensed Associate Counselor. In addition to her career in behavioral health, Julia has been working for more than 25 years in nonprofit fundraising.
She has pursued specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Somatic Experiencing, finding both modalities to be very powerful in her own life as well as with her patients at Healthy Futures. Her approachable personality makes her easy to connect with.
Julia is an Arizona native and is living amongst the mountains and pine trees in Flagstaff. She has two adult children she travels to visit as often as she can! In her free time Julia loves traveling, hiking, watching documentaries, and listening to a variety of podcasts.
Laurie Geraghty, LCSW, DTR
Clinical Social Worker & Nutritionist
Laurie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Nutritionist at Healthy Futures.
Laurie has more than 15 years of professional experience in the field of eating disorders. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University and has eight years of experience as a Social Worker.
Laurie has experience as a Social Worker in an inpatient Psychiatric facility as well as a Medical Hospital. Laurie has been working with individuals with eating issues since 1997. Her experience includes working with individuals with anorexia, bulimia, and overeating disorders as well as childhood feeding problems.
Laurie also has experience working with childhood obesity and utilizes the Shapedown concept. Being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as a Certified Nutrition Professional, Laurie is able to use both areas of expertise to assist individuals.
Jessica McCall, LPC
Therapist & Counselor
Jessica serves as the Clinical Operations Manager and as a primary therapist for Healthy Futures. She is an Arizona state Licensed Professional Counselor and has been in practice since 2010 treating eating disorders, with specialties in ARFID, adolescent emotional eating, performers and athletes, as well as the Somatic Experiencing trauma healing approach. With counseling experience at the Inpatient, IOP, and OP levels, Jessica brings experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training, Somatic Experiencing Trauma Healing, Multimodal/CBT theories, expressive arts therapies, as well as other various styles of experiential group work.
Jessica completed her two master’s degrees from Argosy University, Phoenix in search of her passion. Upon completion of a Sport and Exercise Psychology Masters and a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Masters, Jessica continues to further her skills as a counselor as a long-term member of Healthy Futures treatment team. Jessica manages community outreach and student training at Healthy Futures, as well as providing exercise and movement specific groups and treatment.
Jessica’s caring and comforting nature embodies her therapeutic approach. With a background in sport psychology and team building activities, she engages groups with fun and creative techniques to enhance the therapeutic process. Her experience as a dancer and ballet instructor, in addition to several traditional and non-traditional sports/activities gives her a wide range of skills from which to turn into experiential therapies for individuals and groups. Jessica spends her free time with her family, getting outside when the weather is nice, and dancing through life!
Cali Dumas, MS, CPC
Clinical Provider
Caroline “Cali” Dumas, MS, CPC, serves as a Clinical Provider for Healthy Futures combining her clinical and administrative skills to support the treatment process for patients and their families.
She earned her Master of Science in General Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University in 2012 and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Communication Arts from Austin College in 2008. In 2021, she became a Certified Professional Coach through the GROW Training Institute. Cali is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders. Her passion for working with individuals exhibiting an eating disorder and co-occurring mental health issues began in 2008 as a Behavioral Health Technician in a residential treatment center. This experience led her to pursue graduate studies to be able to provide effective and life-saving treatment for individuals with eating disorders.
She is experienced in conducting individual, family, and group therapy as well as psychological assessments and has worked in outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential settings for the treatment of eating disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Her training includes Family-Based Treatment (also known as the Maudsley Method), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Additionally, she has experience as a Clinical Administrative Coordinator and Clinical Liaison for a partial hospitalization program for adults with eating disorders.
Cali supports and empowers families and individuals through the recovery process with compassionate, understanding, and evidence-based care. She has a passion for working with this population and their loved ones and sharing the message that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible.
She is an Arizona native and enjoys hiking with her family, singing, and reading in her free time.
Julie Hendin, MA, CPLC
Clinical Provider
Julie Hendin, MA, CPLC, earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College, an all-women’s college in Pennsylvania. Julie first came to Healthy Futures as an intern, spending a year working with our clients. She graduated in 2012 from Argosy University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Most recently, she completed her certification as a Professional Life Coach, and is passionate about helping others find a safe space for healing.
Julie grew up in Arizona, and while she’s not a native, she has lived in Phoenix most of her life. Julie is a mother to five children – four sons and a daughter, and is a stepmom to her husband’s four adult children and three grandchildren. She finds her strengths in working with disordered eating, difficult family dynamics, providing support during emotionally trying times, and creating change with DBT skills and coaching.
Outside of work, Julie loves traveling – she has basic language skills in French and Spanish, as well as cooking, swimming, and spending time with her dogs, Pepper and Toffee.
Varsha Prasad, LCSW
Outpatient Therapist/Family Therapist
Varsha Prasad, LCSW, provides outpatient therapy at Healthy Futures. She specializes in family therapy and trauma.
Varsha has a Masters Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University and has received training in EMDR and Emotion Focused Therapy for both individuals and families. Varsha’s approach centers on creating a safe and collaborative space and providing individuals and families with the tools and support needed to heal and grow.
Varsha loves the outdoors, animals, books, and spending time with her family.
Cindy Dean, LPC
Mental Health Counselor
Cindy joined Healthy Futures as a student intern while earning her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. After completing her studies and obtaining her credentialing as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Cindy began her new role here at Healthy Futures. Cindy has prior experience working with the Gila River Community in crisis and trauma care as well as working with at risk youth. She has obtained special training in treating anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, group crisis intervention, and assisting individuals in crisis.
Before her role as a counselor, Cindy was a part time teacher within the Scottsdale school systems and a full-time mom. She also loves laughing and spending time with girlfriends, yoga, hiking, and reading.
Christine “Chris” Clark, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
Christine “Chris” Clark, PsyD, originally joined the Healthy Futures team in 2013 as a student intern while she was working toward her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She left Arizona for her internship in Minnesota, where she spent the next several years specializing in eating disorder treatment before moving back to Arizona in 2022.
Chris is a licensed Psychologist in the states of Arizona and Minnesota and holds a PSYPACT passport, so she can conduct telehealth services across the country.
Chris is passionate about recovery work, and her approach is straightforward, genuine, and relational. Her therapy work is informed by person-centered, CBT, DBT, and ACT approaches. She has recently been trained to provide gut-brain psychotherapy for individuals struggling with co-occurring gastrointestinal concerns.
Cecelia Goulding, MS, LAC
Clinical Therapist
As a licensed mental health professional, Cecelia “Cece” Goulding is dedicated to helping individuals and couples manage overwhelming emotions, reducing impulsive and undesirable behaviors, and overcoming barriers to creating fulfilling and successful lives.
Cecelia provides treatment and counseling for eating disorders, anxiety disorders, relationship and marital struggles, and personality disorders including borderline personality disorder. She is extensively trained and certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Foundational Training and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills and integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), and psychodynamic techniques to help clients build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and healthier relationships.
“My commitment to eating disorder treatment is rooted in both professional training and personal experience,” she said. “Having faced and overcome my own struggles with disordered eating during adolescence, I know recovery is possible because I’ve lived it and I’m passionate about helping others find that same path forward.”
Cece takes a collaborative and skills-focused approach, tailoring treatment to each individual’s needs while integrating both insight and evidence-based modalities to help clients gain self-awareness, healing, and lasting change.
The Nutrition Team
Sheila Way, RD
Registered Dietitian
Sheila is a Registered Dietitian who is passionate about helping patients restore their relationship with food, with the ultimate goal of finding food freedom. She has worked in all levels of care for eating disorder treatment including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient. These experiences have given her the ability to meet her patients where they are at in their recovery journey, while providing nutritional support to help them grow in their healing process.
Sheila earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nutrition Dietetics from Arizona State University, where she studied abroad in parts of Europe, specifically Italy and Greece, learning concepts of nutrition on a global level and studying mediterranean cuisine. Sheila completed her Dietetic Internship through Iowa State University, where she was able to study abroad again, this time to Ghana, Africa, conducting nutrition research in rural Ghanaian communities.
Sheila currently specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and is pursuing the Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) certification through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). Sheila strongly values incorporating education with experiential learning through meal exposure groups, meal processing, and nutrition education groups; these are her favorite activities to do with patients!
Laurie Geraghty, LCSW, DTR
Clinical Social Worker & Nutritionist
Laurie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Nutritionist at Healthy Futures.
Laurie has more than 15 years of professional experience in the field of eating disorders. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University and has eight years of experience as a Social Worker.
Laurie has experience as a Social Worker in an inpatient Psychiatric facility as well as a Medical Hospital. Laurie has been working with individuals with eating issues since 1997. Her experience includes working with individuals with anorexia, bulimia, and overeating disorders as well as childhood feeding problems.
Laurie also has experience working with childhood obesity and utilizes the Shapedown concept. Being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as a Certified Nutrition Professional, Laurie is able to use both areas of expertise to assist individuals.
Dena Walker, BS
Nutritionist
Dena is a nutritionist for Healthy Futures. She earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Arizona State University. Dena has worked more than 12 years for the Food and Nutrition Department for Mesa Public Schools. She has more than 10 years experience in inpatient and outpatient eating disorder clinics. She has experience with teaching nutrition and making various meal plans for clients as well as their families.
Dena has a passion for helping those struggling with eating disorders of all ages. She enjoys teaching subjects such as fad diets, vitamins and mineral supplements, exercise, carbohydrates, fats, protein and metabolism. Dena believes that food can be a healthy part of anyone’s life and one of her goals is to motivate and support clients in various ways to increase a healthy lifestyle.
Currently, Dena is enrolled at the Institute For Integrative Nutrition in New York City to become a Certified Holistic Health Coach. This is an exciting time for Dena, as she plans to blend her scientific approach with a holistic approach to better serve her clients.
If you need a unique nutrition professional, Dena is it. She is bubbly and has a way of making our nutritional needs common sense.
The Exercise Team
Jessica McCall, LAC, MA
Therapist & Counselor
Jessica serves as a therapist for Healthy Futures. She is an Arizona state Licensed Associate Counselor and been in practice with eating disorder treatment since 2010. She handles initial intake assessments and provides individual and group therapy at Healthy Futures.
Jessica has experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training, Multimodal/CBT theories, expressive arts therapies, as well as other various styles of experiential group work.
With a background in sport psychology and team building activities, she engages groups with fun and creative techniques to enhance the therapeutic process. Her experience as a dancer and ballet instructor, in addition to several traditional and non-traditional sports and activities gives her a wide range of skills from which to draw and implement into experiential therapies for individuals and groups.
Jessica completed her two master’s degrees from Argosy University, Phoenix in search of her passion. Upon completion of a Sport and Exercise Psychology Masters and a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Masters, Jessica continues to further her skills toward completion of her LPC. Jessica has also recently completed two years of Somatic Experiencing trauma healing training, working toward her SEP.
Jessica has experience in treating eating disorders, ARFID, and adolescent emotional eating in addition to general mental health. Jessica’s caring and comforting nature embodies her therapeutic approach. Jessica spends her free time with her family, getting outside when the weather is nice, and dancing through life!
The Administration Team
Crystal Lira
Office Manager Goddess
Crystal is an Arizona native who earned her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics Degree from Arizona State University in 2012, and is a Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR). She has experience in both the nutrition and boutique fitness industry and came to Healthy Futures with intentions to continue supporting individuals’ journey to live their best, healthiest lives.
When Crystal is not working, she enjoys the outdoors – especially hiking and paddle boarding – exploring new places, and time with friends, family, and her furry sidekick pup, Louie. She looks forward to meeting and working with you!
Denise Regeski
Medical Records Director
Bio coming soon…
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