Our Team

Trellis Recovery Centers utilizes a multi-disciplinary team of therapists, nurses, psychiatrist, pediatrician, education coordinator, and a registered dietitian to create an individual treatment program tailored to the client’s strengths, needs, challenges, and unique life circumstances.

The leadership team at Trellis has over 20 years of combined experience in treating eating disorders and is committed to turning this experience into humanistic, evidence-based, and effective treatment for all individuals in our care.

Learn more about the expertise of each member of our elite eating disorder treatment team.

Margot Rittenhouse, MS, LPCC, LPC

Clinical Director

Margot has a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University and is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor specializing in treating adults and adolescents with eating disorders. Margot has additional training in DBT, Trauma-Resiliency Model, and SPARCS. Margot began her career in eating disorders in 2012 as an advocate and mentor and has since worked as a therapist and manager in eating disorder treatment, written over 1,000 articles for Eating Disorder Hope website, and ghost-written a book for Registered Eating Disorder Dietitian Robyn Goldberg. Margot enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and spending time with her two dogs and cat.

Dr. Brad Zehring

Psychiatrist

Brad Zehring, DO is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. He completed his psychiatry residency from the University of Arizona – Phoenix Campus. His desire to treat eating disorders was born out of a personal connection which fueled his passion to learn all he could to help deliver the best psychiatric care. This passion led to him starting his private practice in Arizona where he delivers expert outpatient psychiatric care in the treatment of eating disorders throughout the United States. Additionally, his desire to teach and collaborate with clinicians in delivering expert psychiatric care has led him to Trellis Recovery Center.

Rachel Lipstone, MS, AMFT

Program Therapist

Rachel received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California Lutheran University. She has been working in eating disorder treatment for several years, beginning as direct care staff and moving up through a variety of clinical roles including group facilitator, primary therapist, and senior therapist at treatment centers such as Alsana and Center for Discovery. Rachel has a passion for supporting individuals and their families through the early stages of treatment, and finds incredible value in working on a multidisciplinary team to provide holistic support to those who are beginning their recovery journey. In her spare time, Rachel spends time with friends, dabbles in various arts and crafts, and plays with her dog, Leo.

Charles White

National Director of Clinical Outreach

In his role, Charles develops strategic partnerships with inpatient and outpatient providers on a national level. He also supports clients and their families in finding appropriate treatment for a variety of mental health conditions. Additionally, he directs community events and helps with brand and business development. Charles is a marketing and sales leader with over ten years of experience in both the medical and mental health space. He served as the Education Chair for the Los Angeles Chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals from 2019 – 2020. Charles enjoys food, travels with his partner Ricky, and cuddles with his 13 pound miniature poodle Cleo.

Dr. Kathy Lalezarzadeh

Pediatrician

Dr. Kathy Lalezarzadeh, DO, FAAP (Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics) has been practicing general pediatrics for over 14 years in the Los Angeles area. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychobiology at UCLA and received her Medical Doctorate and Master’s in Health Professions Education at the Western University of Health Sciences. She completed her pediatrics residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Over the years, she has developed a passion and expertise in treating eating disorders. Dr. Kathy moved to Los Angeles from Iran at the age of 13 and is fluent in spoken and written Farsi. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, scuba diving and traveling.

Mary McLaughlin

Program Manager

Mary has over 5 years of experience working in a residential treatment setting supporting individuals with mental health and eating disorder struggles. Mary is committed to fostering an environment that implements the most efficient modalities for client care.

Juliana McLaughlin

Director of Nursing

Juliana has been National Director of Nursing for Montare Behavioral Health for a year before joining the Trellis team. Juliana earned her vocational nursing license at CCI in 2014 and has dedicated her nursing career to serving those struggling with mental health. Juliana has managed nursing departments at Alsana for 3 years and has worked in several behavioral health settings including substance abuse treatment centers and the Ventura County Department of Mental Health. Juliana is most passionate about bringing positivity, empowerment, and hope to everyone she encounters and enjoys educating on the synergistic relationship between physical and mental health. She enjoys surrounding herself with loved ones, animals, and nature, often with a flower in her hand.

Shannon Tolentino, RN

Nurse Manager

Shannon has dedicated her nursing career to the eating disorder field. She earned her Bachelors of Nursing degree at Shepherd University in Los Angeles, CA. Shannon has over 6 years of experience in eating disorder treatment and has supported the medical wellness of those with eating disorders in every level-of-care including inpatient hospitalization, residential treatment, and PHP/IOP. Shannon was promoted as a Nurse Manager in her previous job where she supported clients in their eating disorder treatment as well as guided nursing staff in how to provide the best care. Her professional portfolio also includes medical surgical, telemetry, and surgery experience.

Alyssa Davis, MS, RDN

Director of Nutrition

Alyssa holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Health degrees from Loma Linda University. She possesses a diverse background in clinical, community and sports nutrition settings. Alyssa specializes in working with eating disorders, disordered eating, and performance nutrition. Operating in vastly different settings has provided her a wide range of experience needed for effective interaction with her clients and patients. She has provided nutrition counseling and treatment for eating disorders for clients and patients of all ages at every level of care. She is passionate about food and nutrition, mindful eating, and providing education and counseling from a weight-inclusive, non-diet perspective. Always integrating compassion and creativity into work with her clients. Alyssa is a perpetual learner and feels a great sense of purpose working alongside people to help them with their relationship with food and improve their attunement to build a strong mind-body connection.