We are the only center in the United States with a multi-dimensional approach to weight-loss designed to, in one program, provide you with all of the missing pieces necessary to create lasting change, achieve improved health and wellness, and build a better life.
Congratulations!
You’ve taken the first step by acknowledging the need to change your relationship with food in order to have the life you desire and achieve lasting weight loss.
Our Mission
At The Bariatric Counseling Center of San Antonio, we are here to help you by providing the counseling, education, and support you need to embrace the behavioral changes that will help ensure that the weight you take off, stays off.
We are an Intensive Outpatient Program geared towards assisting people whose prior weight loss attempts have not been successful because their dieting habits were unsustainable. We focus on creating that change through insight and awareness into one’s relationship with food and developing realistic habits that you can sustain throughout your life. In our program, you will establish adaptive coping mechanisms to reduce the use of food to cope with stress and emotions and eliminate binge eating and other problematic behaviors. We come together as a community to prepare and eat a meal at each session, learning new cooking and eating habits that support your success. You will do all of this in a community who understands the struggle and who are all working toward change and success.
Staff
From cooking and nutrition skills, to physical fitness regimens, to understanding the personal needs or issues that drive overeating, our team will equip you with the tools to transform your life.
With nearly 100 years of combined experience, we’re here to support your long-term success by providing the education, therapy, counseling, and insights you need to change your relationship with food, and to embrace healthier lifestyle choices in areas like eating, exercise and relationships.
Clinical
Dr. Sara Hamilton
Licensed Clinical Psychologist - Director of Clinical Services
About
Nancy Albus LPC, NCC, CEDS-S
Clinical Advisor
About
Nancy Albus joined the BCC in June of 2017 to assist with the expanding the clinical mission in San Antonio. She has extensive experience as a former Chief Executive Officer managing and growing nationally accredited eating disorder treatment facilities. Nancy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with extensive training and over 18 years of experience in eating disorders, depression, anxiety, relationships and family therapy. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Supervisor by International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and brings that specialization to the program, staff and clients as the Clinical Advisor.
She is passionate about access to mental healthcare, removing the stigma associated with therapy and assisting the clients with a process leading to empowerment and improved quality of life.
Marie Lewis LPC
Outpatient Therapist
About
Marie Lewis is a Licensed Professional Counselor earning her master’s in clinical Mental Counseling from Troy University and is currently a Doctoral Student with Northcentral University. Before becoming a Therapist, Marie was a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, who served honorably for 24 years. She was a Paralegal, Navy Master Training Specialist, and Military Guidance Counselor.
Marie specializes in Military Marriage and Family Therapy and regularly attends training sessions to showcase education and certification techniques. Her areas of focus are mental, emotional, and behavioral issues in a variety of healthcare settings. A strong believer in the power of positive thinking, she enjoys working with families, individuals, groups and couples on issues ranging from substance abuse, psychoanalysis, and learning disability counseling. Marie enjoys exercising, traveling and spending time with her husband and family.
Sara Broussard R-DMT, LPC
Therapist
About
Sara Broussard is a licensed professional counselor and a registered dance movement therapist with over six years of diverse counseling experience. She earned her BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College, and her MA in Dance Movement Therapy and Counseling from Columbia College Chicago. She incorporates expressive movement and body-based interventions into talk therapy sessions. She works with folks who have disconnected from their bodies in order to cope with stress, trauma, and societal expectations. Sara offers a safe, non-judgmental space to heal the mind, body, and spirit. In addition to counseling, Sara is a yoga instructor. She loves practicing yoga in the sunshine, camping in the Texas hill country, spending time with her partner and rescue dog, and cheering for the San Antonio Spurs.
James M. Gemino LPC-I
Therapist
About
Christi Brooks LPC-I
Outpatient Therapist
About
Medical
Alicia Stack RN, BSN
Staff Nurse
About
I am the RN here at BCC and helping people is my passion. My BSN degree was obtained from Northwestern State University. I moved here from Maryland in 2006 and enjoy spending time with family, hiking, going to old bookstores, gardening, and anything to do with foraging and apothecary.
Dietary
Chasley Fortune
Director of Dietary Services
About
Chasley is a Registered Dietitian who is licensed to practice in Texas. She was born and raised in San Antonio, attending private school from 4k-12th grade and participated in multiple sports growing up. She graduated from the University of Texas of San Antonio Coordinated Dietetics program with a Masters in May 2019. Chasley has a Fiancé, an older sister, and my two parents who also live in San Antonio. Chasley hopes to show everyone how to have a loving relationship with food in their lives and to spread to joys of nutrition knowledge.
Nicole Harris
Registered Dietitian
About
Nicole holds both a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Master of Science in Nutrition. She has trained at some of the nation’s leading research institutes including the National Institutes of Health and Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute conducting research in diabetes, obesity, and aging. She received her nutrition training at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington with a focus on integrative and functional whole foods nutrition. There, she was trained to worked with an integrative healthcare team including Naturopathic doctors as well as Herbal and Chinese medicine practitioners, to provide holistic care to all her patients.
Nicole is skilled at relaying complex scientific information to patients. She believes that when patients truly understand the science behind diet and lifestyle changes, they are more likely to follow through and make long term changes. She is passionate about empowering patients to be advocates for their own health. Through patient-centered counseling, she guides her clients through self-discovery with which they become informed and proactive members of their own health care. Nicole takes a holistic approach, not only focusing on nutrition education, but honoring how healthy mind and body are both required for lasting change.
Nicole lives with her cat, Charles Darwin. She spends her free time emersed in activities that expand her mind. She also enjoys reading, painting, and singing karaoke.
Culinary
Byron Young
Executive Chef
About
Inspired by his mothers’ passion for cooking, Byron started his path in the industry as a busboy in a Fine Dining Hotel restaurant here in San Antonio, then eventually moving to prep and line cook prior to joining the Armed Forces. He served his country overseas in the Military and learned an array of Culinary Techniques from local Chefs and Restaurateurs on his off time. After returning home close to seven years later, he jumped back into the industry as a line cook and continued to further his education in Culinary School. He then moved on to be a Sous Chef at a newly built hospital for a few years.
Wanting to expand his knowledge and creativity, Byron ultimately went into the private sector as a Personal Chef and Caterer. In 2019, an opportunity of a lifetime was presented to him and he applied for a position at BCC. Byron is now the Executive Chef and Instructor for the Bariatric Counseling Center here in San Antonio, TX. He strives every day to bring his talents, artistry, and personal connection to food to our wonderful cliental. Byron’s dream is to one day have his own Cooking show on the Food Network and meet his idols he grew up watching.
“I feel so blessed to be a part of this team, and I am very thankful I can make a change in somebody’s life for the good”. Chef Bryon
Sam Martinez
Assistant Chef
About
We are excited to welcome Sam Martinez to the team as the new Assistant Chef. Having recently graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, and with a background as both a Nutritionist and Kinesiologist, Sam brings a wealth of culinary, dietary, and movement knowledge to the BCC team.
Sam joins Byron Young, BCC’s Executive Chef, in the state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, educating BCC’s clients on food preparation and meal planning that is healthy while also being tasty, cost effective, and time effective to prepare. The culinary team instills food preparation skills that are both realistic and sustainable, so clients have the tools to succeed with their dietary improvements long after they leave the program.
Movement
Dr. Kimberly Tovar, PT, DPT
Physcial Therapist
About
Administrative
Leloni Gonzales
Intake Assistant / Marketing Coordinator
About
Hello! My name is Leloni, and I am apart of the intake team here at BCC. I am the sweet and friendly voice you will hear when you call to schedule an appointment or inquire about services. I love butterflies and monkeys, and I enjoy shopping or playing soccer with my daughter. I have been described as a compassionate, outgoing, and loving individual who will always strive to help those in need. I look forward to supporting each and every client as they go through their journey!
Madison Brubaker
Clinical Assistant
About
Hello! My Name is Madison, and I am apart of the intake and clinical team here at BCC. You will see me more behind the scenes when it comes to all things clinical. I have the honor of being apart of the BCC family and I look forward to supporting each and every client as they go through their journey!
I am currently in school studying to be a therapist like many of the wonderful therapist we have on staff here at BCC. I am apart of both the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Alpha Lamda Delta. When I am not here, I am volunteering at my church working with the youth.
Autumn Hernandez
Intake and Admissions Coordinator
About
Jennifer Arce
Clinical Assistant
About
Jennifer is excited to serve as a clinical assistant and often joins sessions to assist the clinical team with various needs. Her favorite part of being a member of the BCC team is engaging with clients to work on goal setting and supporting them in their journeys to achieve those goals. She also enjoys her role of working with clients to track their progress throughout the program. Jennifer is currently completing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Texas in San Antonio and is eager to begin working as a licensed counselor. She is passionate about meeting new people, learning their stories, and hopes to inspire success and fulfillment in everyone she has the privilege of working with. Apart from her time at BCC and in school, Jennifer loves spending time with her family and friends and travels as often as she can. She is eager to spend time getting to know everyone who comes to BCC and hopes they will find it to be the inviting and special place it has become for her.
Facility
If participating in person with our COVID safety precautions are not for you, we offer telehealth services over our HIPPA compliant platform that enable you to participate in all programming virtually, as if you were present.
If you are interested in our services, we encourage you to visit our facility. Contact us to arrange a tour, so you can see firsthand the caring environment and positive results that await our patients.
