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Phillip Werdell, M.A., is co-founder of ACORN. He is a recovering food addict and anorexic with 20 years of abstinence and recovery. He is maintaining an 80-pound weight loss and 25-pound weight gain from his highest and lowest weights, respectively. Phil is a nationally recognized leader for food addiction recovery and has worked professionally with thousands of food addicts as a lead counselor in the residential food addiction treatment program of Glenbeigh Psychiatric Hospital of Tampa and The Radar Institute of Washington’s non-residential eating disorder program. Phil’s expertise and experience was key to the development and implementation of ACORN’s highly successful workshop-style alternative to treatment.

Mr. Werdell was a Yale University Scholar of the House, was awarded Corning and Fulbright Fellowships, and was an administrator and/or teacher at City University of New York, the College for Human Services, Campus-Free College, Kansas State University’s University for Man, the College of New Rochelle’s School of New Resources, and the University of New Hampshire Graduate School of Human Services.

He is the author of “Food Addiction: Beyond Ordinary Eating Disorders” published in the Clinical Forum of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals as well as dozens of other publications on food dependency.

Mary Foushi is co-founder and National Services Coordinator for ACORN. Mary is a food addict with over 15 years of stable recovery and is maintaining over 195-pound weight loss for 15 years. Her strong commitment to recovery and her ability to honestly relate her personal struggles and successes with food addiction offer an invaluable source of information and hope for those seeking to learn about food dependency and freedom from a life addicted to food. Mary is a CENAPS Trained Relapse Prevention Specialist, a certified instructor for the Zenger-Miller training program, a nationally recognized speaker, and facilitates food dependency recovery groups, workshops, and intensives throughout the United States. She is the editor of News from ACORN, various material for ACORN lectures, and co-author of “Food Addiction Recovery: A New Model of Professional Support.”

Clare Weldon, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Clare has 12 years of stable abstinence and recovery from food addiction. Residential workshops have been held in her area for many years, and she regularly consults with ACORN alumni during early recovery. She leads a local recovery group in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area and is a regular staff member at ACORN events.

Vicki Horne, M.Ed., CADAC, is well known for working for the Department of Mental Health with clients that are dually-diagnosed with major mental illness and some form of addiction, including food. Her years of experience both professionally and personally with recovery from food addiction have given her valuable insights into helping those in need. Vicki has lost 285+ pounds and is continuing to lose. In addition to working for the State of Massachusetts, Vicki has led recovery groups, has a small private practice specializing in food addiction, and travels around the country working for ACORN as a group facilitator. Her educational background includes a M.Ed, with a major in Counseling Psychology. She is a Certified Alcohol and Addictions Counselor and has trained in the SENAPS Relapse Prevention Technique.

Dolores Proto, M.A. holds a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies with specialized training in alcohol, drugs, codependecy and food addiction. Dolores has worked at Eagleville Hospital as a certified Addiction Counselor (CAC). At Rutgers University, she studied codependency treatment with Dr. Janet Woititz (ACOA) and consequently was trained while facilitating groups with Dr. Yvonne Kaye. Dolores is a staff member of ACORN and in 2004, completed 3 years of specialized professional training with its director and founder, Phil Werdell, M.A. She continues to strengthen her affiliations with noted practitioners, John Bradshaw and Kip Flock on "shame reduction" work. Dolores also teaches in the Addiction Studies Program at Alvernia College. She has a private practice and operates Gladness House, a recovery place, in Philadelphia. Dolores is maintaining a 130 pound weight loss and has been involved in the 12 Step rooms for over 30 years She has produced her first DVD, "Relapse, Recovery and the Powerlessness of Shame."

Arian Eigen Heald, M.Div., MsIA, CNE, CEH, CISA, CISSP. Eigen creates and supports the web pages for ACORN.