Meet our Providers
Our providers are trained in bariatric psychology, specialize in improving outcomes for both surgical and medical weight loss, and are all members of ASMBS
Dr. Kati Duncan
Dr. Kati Duncan has worked in bariatrics conducting pre-surgical psychological assessments since 2005. She is a committee member and regular speaker at the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and Virginia Bariatric Society. Dr. Duncan has been an adjunct faculty member at Eastern Virginia Medical School since 2007, where she completed her internship and residency training in neuropsychology. She is the owner and director of Assessment & Therapy Associates. Dr. Duncan loves working with bariatric patients both pre- and post- surgery and feels fortunate to support patient's on their journey.
Dr. Duncan is licensed in Virginia and holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport, meaning she is able to practice in the following states: https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap
Dr. Duncan sees patients 14 and older.
Dr. Duncan can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Fax: (757) 296-2263
Ashley Laws, LPC
Ashley Laws is licensed in Virginia, North Carolina, and California. She also holds a telehealth license in Florida. She completed her Masters in Counseling at Regent University and is currently a doctoral student in Counseling Education and Supervision program at University of the Cumberlands. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Ashley specializes in working with adults and adolescents (ages 14 and up) struggling with anxiety, depression, mood issues, grief, self esteem and life transitions in the therapy space. In addition, Ashley completes pre-surgery evaluations for those individuals seeking bariatric surgery.
Ashley sees patients 14 and older.
Ashley can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Dr. Karen Stewart
Dr. Stewart specializes in care of bariatric surgery patients. She completed her doctoral and postdoctoral studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and internship/residency training at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Prior to joining ATA, she has served as faculty in the Psychiatry departments of Virginia Commonwealth University Medical School and Vanderbilt University Medical Center and worked in the Surgery department at Carilion Clinic. She provides bariatric surgery assessments, brief individual surgical preparation support, and bariatric surgery groups.
Dr. Stewart is licensed in Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama, and holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport, meaning she is able to practice in the following additional states: https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap
She sees patients 16 and older.
Dr. Stewart can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Dr. Denise Hall
Dr. Denise Hall received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Walden University. She received her master's and bachelor’s degrees in social work from Washburn University. She has over twenty-one years of experience working in the mental health field. Dr. Hall has worked with
diverse populations and in diverse settings including Sentara Comprehensive Weight Loss Solutions, private practice, community mental health, and providing in-home therapy in rural and suburban areas.
Dr. Hall is licensed in the state of Virginia. She also holds a telehealth license in Florida. She currently specializes in pre-surgical evaluations for individuals pursuing weight loss surgery and has over twenty years of experience conducting pre-surgical evaluations. She takes pleasure in helping patients before and after their surgeries to achieve optimal outcomes. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Hall sees patients 14 and older.
Dr. Hall can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Dr. Dan Paulus
Dr. Dan Paulus completed his doctoral degree at the University of Houston and his internship at The Charleston Consortium Psychology Internship Program (Medical University of South Carolina and Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center). He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of Pittsburgh. He specializes in pre-surgical assessments for individuals pursuing bariatric surgery and spinal cord stimulator surgery and provides acceptance and mindfulness-based therapy for people struggling with health issues (weight, pain) and anxiety/depression. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Paulus is licensed in Pennsylvania and holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport, meaning he is able to practice in the following states: https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap
Dr. Paulus sees patients 18 and older.
Dr. Paulus can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Dr. Michelle Constantino
Dr. Michelle Constantino received her masters and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She has over 10 years of experience working in the mental health field in a variety of settings, including Novant Health, where she was the head of the bariatric behavioral health team. She specializes in pre-surgical evaluations for adults and adolescents pursuing bariatric surgery, as well as brief therapy both pre- and post-op to assist patients in their readiness and success with surgery. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Constantino is licensed in North Carolina and holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport, meaning she is able to practice in the following states:
https://psypact.org/mpage/
Dr. Constantino sees patients 14 and older.
Dr. Constantino can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Dr. Michelle Mirsky
Dr. Michelle Mirsky received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford. She completed her internship at Middlesex Hospital and her residency at Community Health Center. Dr. Mirsky specializes in the assessment and treatment of obesity, binge eating disorder, and food addiction. She has over 10 years of experience in providing pre-surgical assessment for individuals pursuing bariatric surgery. Dr. Mirsky additionally offers therapy for pre and post bariatric patients to assist them with their weight loss journeys. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Mirksy is licensed in Connecticut and holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport, meaning she is able to practice in the following states:
https://psypact.org/mpage/
She sees patients 18 years and older.
Dr. Mirsky can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Fax: (757) 296-2263
Dr. Julie Oliveira-Payton
Dr Julie Oliveira-Payton is a licensed clinical social worker, specializing in care of Bariatric Surgery patients. After completing a specialized fellowship training and education program in bariatric science, she is a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (CBC). She is the first from Hawaii to attain this certification. Dr. Julie Oliveira-Payton earned her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC), along with Masters degrees in both Business Administration and Social Work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is the Clinical Supervisor and Manager for the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Bariatric Clinical Services. Under her guidance and leadership, the Bariatric Surgery Department has been awarded Bariatric Surgery Comprehensive Center Accreditations for three successive term cycles. In addition to leading the bariatric surgery multi-disciplinary team, she continues to specialize in bariatric surgery assessment and counseling, including binge eating, food addiction, and the impact of Adverse Childhood Events (ACE). She has 18 years of experience in helping patients prepare for bariatric surgery.
Dr. Oliviera-Payton is licensed in Virginia and Hawaii. She provides bariatric surgery assessments, brief surgical individual readiness & preparation, and bariatric surgery peer support groups. Dr. Oliveira-Payton is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). She sees patients 18 years old and older.
Dr. Oliveira-Payton can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Dr. Patchawan “Por Por” Phunwutikorn
Dr. Por Por is a licensed psychologist in Michigan and holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport as well as a Thai clinical psychologist license. She is able to practice in Thailand, the state of Michigan, and the following states:
https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap
Dr. Por Por obtained her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology and completed her postdoctoral training in Clinical Health Psychology.
She currently works as a clinical health psychologist at a medical center, serves as a faculty member of a clinical psychology postdoctoral fellowship program, supervises psychology fellows, and provides medical education for resident physicians.
Within the area of Clinical Health Psychology, Dr. Por Por is particularly passionate about
working with bariatric patients. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Por Por provides pre-surgical psychological evaluations as well as pre- and post-surgical interventions. Dr. Por Por utilizes approaches and techniques from Narrative Therapy to support her bariatric patients in re-authoring their journeys and pursuing their preferred ways of being.
Dr. Por Por sees patients 18 years and older. She can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Fax: (757) 296-2263
Alicia Hyatt, LPC
Alicia Hyatt is licensed in South Carolina and Virginia, and holds a telehealth license in Florida. She completed her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of South Carolina.
She has over 12 years of experience working in weight loss and specializes in the care of bariatric patients, providing therapy pre and post-bariatric surgery. She provides pre-surgery psychological evaluations. Alicia also works with adults (ages 18 and up) struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and life transitions.
Alicia is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Alicia sees patients 18 and older.
Alicia can be reached at:
Office: 757-206-2772
Fax: 757-296-2263
Dr. Cathy Buksar
Dr. Buksar earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Adler University, with additional pre-surgical assessment training through Regional Health Systems and Rush University Hospital in Chicago. She has extensive experience in performing psychological evaluations for patients seeking bariatric surgery as well as surgical options for treatment of chronic pain. She teaches pre-surgery education classes and provides individual short-term therapy for co-morbid conditions such as depression, anxiety, and problematic eating behaviors.
Dr. Buksar is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Buksar is licensed in Indiana and Illinois. She also holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport, meaning she is able to practice in the following states: https://psypact.org/mpage/
Dr. Buksar sees patients 16 and older.
Dr. Buksar can be reached at:
Office: 757-206-2772
Fax: 757-296-2263
Dr. Allyson Wright
Dr. Allyson Wright (Diggins) received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida. She completed an Underserved Medical Psychology internship at the University of Florida’s Health Sciences Center and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Prior to joining ATA, Dr. Wright served as a staff psychologist in the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute (BMI) at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Wright is a member of several professional societies including the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American Psychological Association (APA). She is published in the areas of psychological assessment, physical activity, substance use, and implementing eating disorder treatment. Her research and clinical interests include the interaction between culture and health, disordered eating behaviors, body image, depression, anxiety and cognitive behavioral treatment. Dr. Wright is offering pre- and post-op therapy to enhance bariatric surgical outcomes.
Dr. Wright is licensed in Ohio and holds a PSYPACT license mobility passport.
Dr. Wright can be reached at:
Office: 757-206-2772
Fax: 757-296-2263
Dr. Phoebe McCutchan
Dr. Phoebe McCutchan received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from American University. She joined ATA in September 2023 and is enthusiastic about the opportunity to support bariatric patients. Previously, Dr. McCutchan has worked with diverse clients in a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient community health clinics, the US Naval Academy, the DC VA Medical Center, and several university counseling centers. She specializes in working with adults navigating relationship issues, health issues, depression, anxiety, and suicidality. In addition, Dr. McCutchan provides pre-surgical evaluations for those individuals seeking bariatric surgery. She is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Office: 757-206-2772
Fax: 757-296-2263
Dr. Tangenilla Fry-Riggins
Dr. Tangenilla Fry-Riggins is a licensed psychologist in the state of Michigan, with a PSYPACT license mobility passport, meaning she is able to practice in the following states:
https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap
Dr. Fry-Riggins has provided mental health services to patients seeking bariatric surgery and support since 2015. She has been practicing psychology for over 20 years in a variety of roles. Dr. Fry-Riggins completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Wayne State University and completed post- doctoral internship at Henry Ford Hospital including rotations in consultation liaison and clinical psychology. She enjoys assisting patients to be prepared for bariatric surgery and post-surgical adjustment.
She sees patients 18 years and older.
Dr. Fry-Riggins can be reached at:
Office: (757) 206-2772
Fax: (757) 296-2263
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