Monika Peterson

Dr. Peterson obtained her undergraduate degree summa cum laude in Psychology at Arizona State University and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Brigham Young University with an emphasis on eating disorder treatment.  She completed a one-year internship at Valley Mental Health in Salt Lake City, the fifth largest community mental health center in the Country. While residing in Utah, Dr. Peterson completed numerous psychological and psychosexual evaluations for the Fourth District Juvenile Court.

After graduation, she relocated to New Mexico and completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at The Samaritan Counseling Center prior to enjoying an active private practice specializing in the treatment of eating disorders.  She also served as the Clinical Director of Adolescent Programs at The Eating Disorders Institute of New Mexico.  As lead adolescent psychologist, she conducted therapy groups and offered meal support as part of the intensive outpatient treatment program at The Institute.  Additionally, she contributed to the development of the program curriculum.  As one of the few psychologists in the state specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, she spoke publicly to academic, medical, and mental health groups.  She has presented and published research in eating disorders and has earned the Outstanding Early Career Psychologist Award given by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.  She is a certified eating disorder specialist (CEDS) as recognized by The International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.

We are excited Dr. Peterson decided to return to the desert to continue her work in Arizona.  Her current work focuses on eating disorders including binge eating and dietary restriction, body weight and shape concerns, and compensatory behaviors including purging, overexercising, and laxative abuse.  Other areas of focus include depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, grief/loss, career concerns, adjustment issues, stress management, and life transitions.