Meet Our Roseville Staff
Alison Kemps, LCSW Clinical Director
Alison Kemps is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist; 10 of which was in a management role of a multi-disciplinary team. She completed her undergraduate from California State University, Chico with a degree in Social Work, and went on to earn her master’s degree with honors from California State University, Sacramento with a Masters in Social Work. She has a passion for continuing education and keeps abreast of all current and relevant treatment modalities in the fields of PTSD, eating disorders, mood disorders and psychosis.
Alison has worked as a Clinic Director for psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente, an adjunct professor for Alliant International University, and she has been a clinician both at Kaiser Permanente and in private practice. She specializes in eating disorders, diversity issues, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, mood disorders, Critical Incident Debriefing, and crisis intervention. She has served as an LCSW oral examiner for the Board of Behavioral Sciences, is a staff trainer on diversity at Kaiser Permanente, and has over 15 years experience as a clinical supervisor for trainees. Alison is skilled in utilizing multiple theoretical frameworks in order to best maximize treatment outcomes. Evidence based treatment approaches such as ACT, CBT, mind-body and DBT are weaved throughout the PHP and IOP programs, thus providing clients with a holistic therapy experience. Alison is an expert in Narrative therapy, and utilizes this framework to deconstruct the labeling of disorders, while also addressing the societal impact on disordered eating, self esteem and body image. She brings a passion for service to her patients, and fully believes that people will fully recover from the disordered eating to live and maintain a full and rich life.
Leslie Vest, RD Dietitian, Yoga Instructor
With a comprehensive background in clinical nutrition, nutrition counseling and education, as well as fitness and wellness, Leslie is passionate about motivating individuals to improve their health and quality of life. She is especially dedicated to helping clients struggling with eating disorders by providing sound dietary interventions and teaching gentle mind/body classes. Leslie encourages self-acceptance, mindfulness, and respect for the body through her non-judgmental yoga classes and nutritional education. Her role, in collaboration with the patients, is to develop a nutritional plan based on the individual’s health and medical needs. She works with the patient to incorporate the patients preferred food choices, while also challenging patients to step outside of their food comfort zone.
Leslie graduated with highest honors from the University of California-Davis with a bachelor of science in Clinical Nutrition. She completed her dietetic training through the UCSF Medical Center and is a member of the American Dietetic Association and the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition dietetic practice group. Leslie is also a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise.
Chyrisee Lee, MA, MFT Therapist
Chyrissee comes to the New Dawn team with a passion for working with young people to help them achieve their fullest potential. She has over a decade of experience in many aspects of mental health including work in schools, clinics and hospital-based services. Chyrissee enjoys working to help improve self-esteem and body image through Cognitive Behavioral and Dance/Movement Therapies.
Chyrissee is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento. She holds a bachelor of science in Criminal Justice and a master of arts in Counseling Psychology. Chyrissee is a member of the California Association of Marriage, Family Therapists and the American School Counselor Association. As a Beauty Pageant Consultant, School Counselor and Marriage Family Therapist, Chyrissee has dedicated herself to supporting our country’s young people not only educationally but also emotionally and mentally. The passion she has for youth makes her a favorite among her students, parents, community and clients.
Allison Jones, MFT Therapist
Allison is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than six years of experience in the mental health field. Allison entered the therapy profession with the goal of helping individuals overcome eating disorders. She creates an accepting and compassionate environment for clients and works from a narrative therapy model while incorporating cognitive-behavioral methods. She graduated from California State University-Sacramento with a master of science in counseling, with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. Allison also has experience working in the field of domestic violence and sexual assault counseling and is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
April Murray, RD Nutritional Assistant
April graduated from the University of California-Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition. She completed a dietetic internship program at Stony Brook University in New York working with adolescents, college-aged students, hospital patients and nursing home residents. She is a licensed Registered Dietitian through the American Dietetic Association, and holds a certification in Food Safety Management.
In her capacity at New Dawn, she works with the patients to understand appropriate dietary interventions based on their individual needs, while understanding the struggles that can arise during a meal. She assists patients in understanding the pattern between anxiety and food through the venues of meal preparation and eating. She works closely with the therapy team to help patients with the integration of these thought patterns to develop a positive relationship with food. April truly enjoys psycho-education and is responsible for nutritional education in conjunction with the nutritional team. Her passion for teaching people about their relationship with food helps to reframe negative thought patterns to more helpful and empowering ones.
Jessica Oehmigen Intake Coordinator
Jessica Oehmigen has been with the New Dawn team since 2009. Jessica completed her education and training at the Trinity Institute specializing in massage therapy. For several years Jessica worked as a certified massage therapist, and it was during this time that Jessica first developed an interest in the many ways in which people relate to their bodies. It was in the course of providing massage for people suffering from a variety of medical diagnosis that Jessica developed the belief a whole person approach which includes integrating holistic healing practices with the cutting edge innovation of Western ideas. Jessica has worked at several of our treatment facilities broadening her knowledge of New Dawn treatment options, until Jessica’s talents of advocacy found herself working in the administrative department working on behalf of the client to ensure payment for treatment from the client’s insurance company. Jessica then felt the need to work more directly with clients that New Dawn serves. Jessica knows from personal experience the devastation that addiction, and other behavioral health issues can have on a family member. As Intake Coordinator, Jessica feels it is an honor being that first contact to those seeking help for themselves or for their loved ones. She has witnessed the wonder that treatment can produce and the miracles that recovery can bring to those suffering. It is her goal to share a message of hope while she assists those who call to begin the journey towards recovery.
Laura Handley, RN Nurse
Laura is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento with a bachelor’s of science degree in Nursing with multiple academic honors. Her participation in the California Nursing Student Association has provided her the opportunities to represent her chapter at as the State Convention delegate. Care-giving and altruism are deeply seeded in her volunteer endeavors through both San Juan Mercy Hospital and Sutter Roseville. Implementing the Holistic Care Model, Laura is finding great success with her patient’s treatment for both Eating Disorders and Chemical Dependency.
Mechelle Jungsten, MFTI Counselor
Mechelle has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years, working with individuals, families, couples and groups. She received her BA degree in Psychology in 1985 from Sacramento State University and her MA degree in Counseling Psychology from National University in 1989. A Certified Personal Trainer since 2004, she recently obtained her certification as a Performance Enhancement Specialist and will soon receive her Wellness Coach certification. These philosophical paradigms allow Mechelle to work holistically with individuals with Eating Disorders, addressing both the mind and body connection. Mechelle has experience working with a variety of populations including mood disorders, emotional disturbances, trauma, grief, and loss; arming her to address individual’s therapeutic needs. Her passion is empowering individuals to obtain personal goals by assisting them with finding tools and building a structure to overcome challenges and identifying strategies to be successful in their mental health and wellness.
Faye Boyd-Wright, ATR, MFTI Art Therapist
Faye received a master's degree in art therapy and marriage and family counseling from California State University-Sacramento. She is registered with the Board of Behavior Sciences in California, and has a national certification from the Art Therapy Credential Board. She has worked with a wide variety of clients from foster youths to psychiatric hospitals private practice. She is passionate about her work and is excited about her role at New Dawn.
Marissa Ward Chef
Originally from Southern California, Marissa relocated to Northern California to attend UC Davis where she received her BA in Sociology. While in school, she was employed by the ASUCD Coffee House, which is the largest student run restaurant in the nation. Marissa held many positions working her way up to one of 4 Kitchen Student Managers. Her restaurant management skills developed quickly as she oversaw daily production for over 90 student employees and 20 supervisors in 3 campus kitchens. She is excited to bring her knowledge and passion to New Dawn.
