Our Staff

Darlene Manick, M.A., LMFT
Executive Clinical Director

Darlene has devoted her professional life to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. She has over two decades of experience including the development of Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California eating disorder treatment program.

Darlene started her own Intensive Outpatient Program in 2001.

“Safe Harbor grew out of needs that I felt were not met when I went through my own recovery, the limitations I found in other programs and the specific time restraints I had due to family, work and school. The foundation of Safe Harbor is that you can create a program with us that meets your specific needs and allows you to live your life at the same time. I want your experience with us to be one full of hope and promise and Safe Harbor to be the place where you can finally find some sense of peace.”

Darlene is a dedicated woman. Apart from being the Executive Director of Safe Harbor, she continues to see patients in her private practice and has appeared numerous times on radio and television as an expert in her field. She also enjoys public speaking and has presented at The International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals as well as High Schools and Colleges.

Katie Richtiger, M.S.

Katie received her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University Northridge and has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. She has experience with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder by working with individuals as well as families in inpatient and outpatient settings. Katie also has experience working with schizophrenia as well as co-occurring disorders, but her primary interest is treating individuals with eating disorders because she has recovered from an eating disorder in her own life.

Katie has enjoyed working at Safe Harbor because it is an individualized and personalized program that works with individuals, families, groups, couples, adolescents and children in treating eating disorders. Safe Harbor is an intensive outpatient program that closely collaborates with physicians and registered dieticians to meet the needs of each individual.

After working as an eating/image consultant for 11 years, Leslie obtained a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Prior to joining Safe Harbor, Leslie trained at Valley Trauma Center providing in-home counseling for families dealing with child abuse, molestation, rape, and domestic violence. Leslie advocated for chidren at DCFS, assisted with healthier family communication and provided education on parenting.

Leslie feels blessed to have over 33 years of abstinence from compulsive overeating and takes great pleasure in helping clients obtain their own abstinence.

Leslie currently leads three groups at Safe Harbor and provides individual, couples and family counseling.

Lauren is a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer specializing in eating disorders, weightmanagement, and physical fitness. Lauren has been working with Safe Harbor helping individuals overcome their struggle with eating disorders. She has experience with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Lauren has a Master’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from California State University at Northridge (CSUN) with a concentration in Nutrition. She is a registered dietitian and NASM certified personal trainer.

Jana is a Registered Dietitian who brings a unique blend of nutrition education, compassion,and real-world sol utions to her nutrition counseling style with clients.  She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Communications and earned her Master’s Degree in Nutritional Science from Cal State Los Angeles. She holds a certification in Child and Adolescent Weight Management from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.  Jana treats both adults and children on a myriad of nutrition issues including eating disorders and weight management.  Jana also teaches Nutritional Science students and supervises Dietitian interns at Cal State Los Angeles. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the California Dietetic Association, the Los Angeles Dietetic Association, and the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group.  Jana loves providing medical nutrition therapy as part of the comprehensive treatment team at Safe Harbor.

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Laila Malad M.D.
Safe Harbor is honored to have Dr. Laila Malad as a consulting psychiatrist.
Dr. Malad is a licensed physician specializing in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry.

Dr. Malad has the understanding and compassion, as well as the expertise necessary to treat Eating Disorders and will work together with the treatment team at Safe Harbor to create the best possible treatment plan. Dr. Malad provides diagnostic consultation and comprehensive treatment including psycho-pharmacological treatment (medication management) for the following disorders:

ANXIETY

• Eating Disorder
• Body Dysmorphic
• Generalized Anxiety
• Panic
• Social Anxiety
• Separation Anxiety
• Obsessive-Compulsive
• Post-Traumatic
• Separation Anxiety
• Phobias

DEPRESSION

• Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder

MOOD DISORDERS

• Bipolar (Manic Depressive with and without Psychosis)
• Pre-menstrual dysmorphic Disorder
• Cyclothymia

ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

• Autism and Asperger’s

PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

• Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

TOURETTE’S DISORDER

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Dr. Laila Malad
31225 La Baya Drive, Ste 205
Westlake Village, CA 91362
Tel: 818-865-8190