About Us
The Athena Center's philosophy is based on the core values of respect, compassion, empathy, listening, and connection. We work within a strengths based paradigm; focusing on our client's passions, intuition, and wisdom. Working within this framework, we have created a therapeutic environment that is nurturing, non-judgmental and healing. Our therapists have the utmost respect for the healing process and feel privileged to work with those that seek our services.
Our Staff
Amy Poppel, MSS LCSW — Founder and Director
Amy is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of PA since 2004. She completed her training at Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Research. Since 2003, Amy has worked with both men and women with eating disorders, and brings with her experience in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Amy's additional areas of expertise include ADHD in women, mood disorders, and women and chronic illness. Amy holds a bachelor's degree in Nursing and worked as a registered nurse prior to becoming a psychotherapist. Amy's dual education offers a unique combination of knowledge that she brings to her therapeutic work. She may be reached at 215-716-3120, extension 10.
Sarah Learned Sciarra, MSS, LCSW
Sarah Learned Sciarra completed her graduate training at Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research in 2004 and has been working in the mental health field since 2000. She has practiced in several treatment settings, including foster care and adoption, college counseling, community mental health treatment and behavioral health. Sarah's treatment approach focuses on helping clients to overcome adversity, realize inner strengths and resources, and increase self-awareness and personal reflection. She provides insight-oriented psychotherapy, paying particular attention to interpersonal relationship and lifestyle patterns to help improve overall health and well-being. Sarah also has a passion for women's issues and holds a post graduate certificate in postpartum depression through The Postpartum Stress Center. She may be reached at 215-716-3120, extension 13.
Jeanine O'Rourke, MSW, LCSW
Jeanine O'Rourke is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience as a psychotherapist. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 1994 and worked at a rape crisis center, advocating for trauma survivors and providing sexual abuse prevention education programs for children in the public schools. Jeanine completed her Master's Degree in Social Work at Smith College in 1999. Since that time, she has provided individual, couples, family, and group therapy in a variety of clinical settings for women and girls. She specializes in eating disorders, trauma, and postpartum depression. While she believes in the transformative power of traditional therapy, she is also an avid practitioner of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which can offer rapid resolution of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Jeanine is very excited to join the Athena Center staff in 2010. Additionally, she maintains a private practice in Center City Philadelphia and Wyndmoor, PA. She can be reached at 215-726-3120, extension 14 or directly at 215-206-2931.
Charles May, MSS, LCSW
Charles May received his Master’s in Social Work with a specialty in Child and Family Wellbeing from Bryn Mawr College in 2005. Most recently, he has worked as a primary therapist and case manager at The Horsham Clinic’s Adult Partial Hospitalization Program, providing individual, group, and family therapy. His interest in identity development has led him to the study of meditation in various forms with some of the finest teachers of our time, including Jon Kabat-Zinn. Charles has a deep appreciation of the role that trauma and loss play in the development of mood disorders and addiction. Combining more than 20 years of formal training in martial arts, yoga, Buddhist meditation, and mindfulness stress reduction, he understands recovery as a process of self-discovery and self-realization, and he views the therapist’s role as a mirror reflecting inherent strengths. Charles also views the therapeutic relationship as one involving teaching practices leading to skillfulness in the art of living and peace of mind. He may be reached at 215-716-3120, ext. 11.
Kristin A. Kwak, MS, RD, LDN
Kristin A. Kwak is a nutrition therapist specializing in eating disorders and nutritional wellness. She has been in private practice at Buckingham Green in Holicong, PA, for over 9 years and a nutrition consultant to Project Transition and Delaware Valley College Counseling Center for the past 6 years. Her clientele includes teens, children, and adults, males and females, from ages 2 to 82 years old. In her private practice, she guides individuals and families toward optimal nutrition well-being through nutrition education, realistic goal-setting, and mindful decision-making.
Kristin has a background of experience in health promotion, sports nutrition, and integrative medicine, which provides a strong basis for her current work with individuals and families. Encompassing almost two decades, Kristin’s work history includes The Renfrew Centers of Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr, The Milwaukee Heart Institute, The Sports Medicine Institute of Sinai Samaritan Medical Center, and Competitive Edge Sports Medicine Institute, Milwaukee, WI. She has presented at the National Art Therapy Association annual conference, has been a guest speaker for Delaware Valley College, and has presented locally and regionally to nutritionists, therapists, physicians, and students on nutritional wellness issues, eating disorders, body image, sports nutrition, and cardiovascular nutrition. She has been interviewed on television and radio and for newspapers.
Kristin has a BS in Dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and her MS in Nutrition is from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. She completed her Coordinated Internship-Master’s Degree Program at the V.A. Medical Center in Cleveland, OH.
Towns We Serve
In Montgomery County:
Abington, Ambler, Bluebell, Cheltenham, Collegeville, Colmar, Dresher, Flourtown, Fort Washington, Glenside, Harleysville, Hatboro, Hatfield, Horsham, Huntingdon Valley, Jenkintown, Lansdale, Lower Gwynedd, Maple Glen, Montgomeryville, North Wales, Oreland, Plymouth, Skippack, Souderton, Springhouse, Upper Dublin, Upper Gwynedd, Whitemarsh, Whitpain, Willow Grove
In Bucks County:
Buckingham, Chalfont, Churchville, Doylestown, Hilltown, Jamison, New Britain, New Hope, Ivyland, Quakertown, Richboro, Sellersville, Solebury, Southampton, Telford, Warminster, Warrington, Warwick
In Lehigh County:
Center Valley, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Emmaus, Cooperstown, Hellertown, Nazareth