Staff

Andrew Walen, LCSW-C
Director, psychotherapist
Andrew Walen created The Body Image Therapy Center in 2008, specializing in eating disorders, compulsive eating, body image, and preparation and aftercare for bariatric surgery patients. He has authored numerous articles and presented workshops on his personal struggle and recovery from an eating disorder, as well as topics including body image disturbance, exercise addiction, bariatric surgery recovery, and how food addiction affects relationships. Andrew currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Binge Eating Disorder Association and is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), Eating Disorders Network of Maryland, National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, and is a former professional singer and songwriter in Nashville, TN.

Douglas Chay, LCSW-C
Psychotherapist
Douglas has provided psychotherapy to individuals, groups and families for the past 19 years. He co-authored a book on transcultural counseling, served as a mental health consultant to the Baltimore Sun, and has been interviewed on several local television news programs. Douglas has a Masters in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. He specializes in family therapy, recognizing that the family plays a powerful role in the recovery of the eating disordered individual. Additionally, he focuses on the unique needs of the GLBTQ population.

Courtney Thomas, LCPC
Psychotherapist
Courtney comes to The Body Image Therapy Center after four years providing therapy to children and families in Baltimore City and County. Her experience includes working with PTSD, anxiety and depression, as well as extensive training in the treatment of eating disorders. She has a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Old Dominion University, and she received her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Towson University. In addition, Courtney was a gymnast for 5 years, participated in competitive cheerleading for 15 years, and was a gymnastics and cheerleading coach for 7 years. Her involvement with these sports allowed her to see firsthand how athletics can lead to body image distortion, weight cycling, compulsive exercise and eating disorders.