Our Team
Philip Walker, M.S., President Walker Wellness Clinic. Inc.
Philip has been in the wellness industry for over 30 years. Prior to launching The Walker Wellness Clinic, Philip spent ten years at The Cooper Clinic, known throughout the world for their expertise in preventive medicine. As a youngster he was a world class athlete competing in numerous international events for his native country as a member of The British Biathlon Team (x-country skiing & shooting), and The British Triathlon Team (swimming, cycling, running). He has managed healthcare and wellness facilities in England, Germany, Hong Kong, United States and Saudi Arabia, as well as lecturing on healthcare issues throughout the America's, Europe and Asia. Philip’s sports & hobbies include windsurfing, skydiving, sub-aqua, and he can be regularly seen sculling on a nearby lake or swimming laps in a local pool.
Susan Parish-Walker, M.S., L.P.C., Clinical Director
Susan has worked in the field of mental health for 28 years and she and Philip met and married while she was a clinical consultant and had a private practice at The Cooper Clinic at The Cooper Aerobic Center. Susan has extensive clinical experience in working with adolescents, adults, and families in an outpatient and inpatient setting. Her areas of clinical expertise include: comorbidity diagnoses such as eating disorders, depression, generalized anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Moreover, she has designed the clinical programs that are offered at The Walker Wellness Clinic and has incorporated a myriad of adjunct therapies such as music and art therapy, cooking classes, equine therapy, and body image classes. She is currently completing a Walker Wellness Clinic cookbook, textbook, and workbook that will be used as a clinical and educational tool for patients. Susan’s hobbies are ballroom dancing, playing classical piano, traveling, reading, and playing with their two Simese cats, Brahms and Liszt.
Susan E. Justitz, Ph.D., Director of Psychology
Susan holds a doctorate degree in counseling psychology from the University of Houston and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. She has worked in mental health facilities and higher education for over 14 years. Her areas of clinical expertise are as follows: grief and loss, marriage and family therapy, attachment issues, and eating disorders. Dr. Justitz has custom designed the adolescent and adult groups at The Walker Wellness Clinic. She brings a unique psycho-educational approach to the group process by using educational tools to not only educate patients on overcoming their eating disorders, but making the group process enjoyable and fun. She is clinically trained to offer Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a theoretical approach to treatment. In addition, she conducts clinical test batteries including psychological, career development, and ADD/ADHD testing. Currently, she is responsible for developing the psycho-educational component of treatment for the family support week and clinical objectives on how to measure outpatient progress with eating disorders. Dr. Justitz loves the outdoors, as well as running with her dog Aggie, cooking, and spending time with her two lovely daughters.
Elise Gordon, M.S., R.D/L.D., Director of Nutrition
Elise has been a registered dietitian for 8 years. She holds a master's degree from Texas Woman’s University in Sports Nutrition. Her clinical expertise ranges from pediatrics to adults and her specialties include eating disorders, weight management, and sports nutrition. Elise’s native country is South Africa and she brings an array of international influence to her professional work at The Walker Wellness Clinic. She has developed the clinical programs for patients that incorporate meal therapy, cooking classes, nutrition groups as well as individual nutrition counseling. Elise is responsible for the clinical supervision, development of the nutrition programs, and training of all of the dietitians. Elise is married with two lovely daughters Julia, who is 31/2 and Sarah who is 6 months. Her hobbies include shopping, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Carey Garrett, M.S., R.D/L.D.
Carey has been a dietitian for 20 years. She earned a BS degree in Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics from the University of California at Berkeley and an MS degree from the University of Texas in Change Management. Carey has experience in clinical, outpatient, corporate and 3rd world settings. She enjoys learning about the history of surrounding foods, diets and health and how they have changed through generations and cultures. Her specialties include eating disorders, weight management, personal change/transition and optimal supplementation. Carey loves to cook and enjoys working with patients to help them conquer their anxiety surrounding cooking and eating. She offers cooking classes and meal therapy sessions tailored to each patient. Carey and her husband, Al, have a son and two daughters ages 13, 10 and seven. She enjoys traveling, walking, skiing, yoga and sailing with family and friends.
Laura Malhotra, M.S., L.P.C.
Laura has a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling and has been active as a mental health practitioner for 15 years. She has previously worked in the Philadelphia area foster care system and at an inpatient treatment facility serving adolescents with emotional and behavioral issues. Prior to relocating in Texas, Laura was employed at an Eating Disorder Inpatient Clinic as an admissions counselor and primary therapist. Her clinical expertise includes adolescents, adults, emotional eating, depression and anxiety. In her free time Laura enjoys being with her husband and two year old son, as well as enjoying reading, traveling and baking.
Jennifer Passanante, LCSW
Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with her Masters Degree in Social Work from the UT Arlington. Prior to joining the Walker Wellness Team, Jennifer worked at an inpatient Trauma and Eating Disorders unit for three years. Jennifer brings a special blend of professional knowledge and compassion for the struggles her patients face on their journey towards recovery. Jennifer incorporates CBT, DBT as well as a number of creative therapies into her sessions to provide patients with a wide variety of tools for use when stressors arise. Body Image and it's vital role in recovery, is of particular interest to Jennifer and she uses an educational and creative approach to run body image groups. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys dancing and spending time with her wonderful husband and two young daughters.
Whitney Caston, RD/LD
Whitney graduated from the University of Oklahoma where she earned a BS in Nutritional Services. Her clinical areas of interest include pediatrics, weight management, and eating disorders. Whitney enjoys educating others about the importance of healthy eating behaviors and positive self-image. As a dietitian, she holds individual and group nutrition sessions in addition to hosting meal therapy. Whitney is very active in the community contributing her knowledge in providing eating disorder preventions seminars to local schools. She loves to do anything active including shopping, traveling, and spending time with family, friends and her pet rabbit Bozlei.