OUR STAFF

Donald Erwin, Ph.D., who is the Clinical Director of Monmouth Psychological Associate's Eating Disorder Program, received his Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Harvard University in 1970, and then spent a year in research at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Erwin then went on to Brandeis University to get his Master's and Doctorate degrees, and did his doctoral research at Oxford University as a Sachar International Fellow. After getting his Ph.D., he then was involved in a post-doctoral training program, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, at the Duke Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Erwin has been working with eating disorders for 20 years, and has been active in a variety of professional and consumer-oriented organizations. He founded the NJ Chapter of the American Anorexia/Bulimia Association in 1990 after serving on the Board of the national organization for a number of years. He has been president of the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County and the Monmouth-Ocean County Psychological Association. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops in New Jersey, and often is asked to do Eating Disorders prevention and awareness programs in schools. Since 1996, Dr. Erwin has also been affiliated with Somerset Medical Center in Somerset, New Jersey. He was the Associate Director of the Eating Disorder Unit there from 1996-1999, and was the first psychologist in that institution to be credentialed and appointed to the Medical Staff. He also is on the faculty of Hahneman Medical School and is a clinical supervisor in the Applied Psychology Program at Rutgers University. While Dr. Erwin agrees that he has been fortunate to have some very good opportunities for academic training, he would maintain that he has learned the most from his patients over his years of practice. He feels that his primary focus in the treatment of an eating disorder is in helping his patients understand what is behind their troubled relationship with food and their bodies. He is open and direct in his counseling techniques, and sees his work to be collaboration with his patients to remove the eating disorder from their lives. Dr. Erwin lives close to his practice, and likes to spend his time off with his family taking hiking and camping trips. 

Brunella DeMarco, LCSW, a Clinical Social Worker at Monmouth Psychological Associates, received her Bachelor Degree from Rutgers University. She then received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work. Brunella focused on individual, family, and group therapy with an emphasis on incorporating research into practice. Brunella worked at CPC Behavioral Health, a Community Mental Health Agency, in a variety of programs. She was an outreach worker and counselor for the Community Alternatives Program. She also worked in the Outpatient Department and in the Alternative School program as a Clinician. Brunella also has experience working with children and adolescents in an inpatient setting. She worked at Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center as a youth worker, case manager, and primary therapist. Presently, Brunella is a School Social Worker with the Barnegat Township School District. She has been with Barnegat Township Schools for about nine years. Brunella has provided services at Monmouth Psychological Associates for thirteen years, including group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults with Eating Disorders. Brunella enjoys art, music, and riding bikes. She values spending time with family and friends, and developing positive relationships with people. 

Lauren Takacs, M.A., L.P.C. Lauren has been working at Monmouth Psychological Associates for the past five years, first as an intern and now as a Clinical Associate. Lauren has her B.A. and M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Monmouth University, where she was also a member of the Psychology Honor Society and the Academic Honor Society. Lauren did her internship in the psychological counseling office of Catholic Charities in Red Bank, and also worked at St. Rose elementary school counseling students and having class meetings on character education. Lauren has also worked for Ocean Township Human Services as a counslor in the agency as well as a SAC at Wayside Elementary School. While she was interning at Monmouth Psychological, Lauren worked on several very interesting projects. One project, a pilot study on body image using digital photography, involved putting her face on 10 different bodies all dressed the same. Then, she would photograph patients volunteering for the study who would wear the same black work out clothes. Then, switching her head for theirs in the photo, she would mix all the images together to see if patients could pick out their body with her head! Preliminary results suggested that most patients pick bigger bodies than their own…just what one would expect with the body image distortions that are so problematic with eating disorders. Lauren also developed a peer relations curriculum for girl-girl bullying and relational aggression which she is implementing in middle school systems in the Fall of 2004. Having been raised in the Red Bank area, and having graduated from Middletown North High School, Lauren is a true "local" and knows the shore scene! She enjoys music, shopping, and spending time with family, friends, and her puppy.

Holly Clark, M.S.W. Holly graduated from Middletown South High School, and then Rutgers in 2002 with a degree in psychology. While at Rutgers, she presented body image workshops in their peer counseling program and helped organize Body Appreciation Week in 2001. She then went on to Monmouth University where she maintained a 3.8 GPA getting her Master's in Social Work. She was licensed in 2004, and also received her School Social Work certification, which she currently uses at Hackettstown High School as a member of the Child Study Team. Prior to moving to Hackettstown, Holly worked in an outpatient drug clinic in Asbury Park, and has been a member of the Middletown Township Drug and alcohol alliance. Holly is eligible for state certification in drug and alcohol counseling. Holly has worked with Monmouth Psychological Associates since 1997, spearheading many presentations of our Recovery Panel in schools, hospitals, and agencies. With a keen and green memory of her own recovery, Holly knows what it is like to be in the other chair in the therapy room, and brings this awareness into her work. She maintains that even if it feels like "I don't know," a little time and therapy work will provide the answer! Holly enjoys shopping and playing with her cats.

Elizabeth Ebner, M.S., R.D., a clinical nutritionist at Monmouth Psychological Associates, received her Bachelor degree from Rutgers University with a double major in Biochemistry and Nutritional Science. Liz completed her Masters degree program at Texas A & M University in Nutritional Biochemistry, and began an intensive year-long dietetic internship at Texas A & M affiliates, which she completed in 1992. Her Master's Thesis was a study devoted to weight management in obese and non-obese females, and was published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in March 1992. Liz has been working with clients in the Eating Disorders Program at Monmouth Psychological Associates for almost eight years. Prior to coming to this program, she worked for two years for Diabetes Treatment Centers of America. She currently is active in the American Dietetic Association, and offers her nutritional services through their national network. Liz also speaks to a variety of schools and health care professionals in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania regarding eating disorder awareness. The most significant factor in Liz's success with her eating disordered patients is that she herself had Anorexia Nervosa. During her adolescence, she sought professional treatment that only had a marginally positive effect. It was not until she was in her early twenty's, when she devoted herself to the study of nutrition, that she truly recovered. She strongly believes that part of her continued recovery process is setting a healthy example for her patients. Liz enjoys many indoor and outdoor exercises, especially when they involve her two children; and, believe it or not, she also loves to cook!

Hilary Turett, M.S., R.D., has been a member of our nutritional counseling group since 2002.  She has been working with clients along the spectrum of eating disorders for over fifteen years. Hilary received her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from the University of Maryland followed by a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition in 1983 from The Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University. Her interest in eating disorders was further prompted by training in adolescent nutrition at the University of Washington in Seattle.  Hilary has an active family life, keeping up with two athletic sons and a sports medicine physician husband. Recently, she has developed a fondness for weight training and pilates. 

Beth Allen, is the office manager at Monmouth Psychological Associates, and is usually the first person new clients speak with when they call for information. Beth knows everyone's schedule and all about the Eating Disorders Program, and is glad to answer questions about how to get started in treatment, what is involved, and the cost for services. Beth graduated from The Fashion Institute of Technology, and worked in retail for a number of years. She made somewhat of a career switch in coming to Monmouth Psychological Associates this past December, but has truly enjoyed her work here and the people she meets. Often, Beth represents the Eating Disorders Program at Health Fairs and Wellness Days at high schools and community centers. Just recently, Beth and her husband Tony have taken up biking. So when not musing about new interior decorating schemes and visiting with family, Beth is out on the roads around Freehold breaking in her new bicycle.

Jenn Nocera, M.A. is the Services Coordinator at Monmouth Psychological Associates. She often represents the Eating Disorders Program at health fairs and other community events, and she is happy to provide information about getting started in treatment. Jenn has her Master’s degree in Psychology from Kean University. As she continues to get additional clinical courses and experience necessary for licensure, she sometimes runs support groups and often conducts Metabolic Testing for clients. Jenn is also certified as a personal trainer and coaches clients on exercise, when appropriate.