Dr. Ayika Foster, a licensed clinical social worker, based in Washington DC, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). After completing a specialized training and education program in bariatric science, she was recently credentialed as a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (BCBC).

Dr. Foster earned her Doctor of Social Work from Long Island University – Brooklyn; her Master of Social Work from The University of Alabama; her Master of Public Health from the University of Mississippi, and her Bachelor of Social Work from Jackson State University. Dr. Foster has practiced as a licensed Social Worker for 15 years in various state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and private sectors working with populations at the intersections of social work and public health.

Dr. Foster is the founder of Fostering Therapy, an online psychotherapy practice based in Washington, DC servicing adults in individual and couple sessions. Dr. Foster’s clinical specialties include life transitions, attachment issues, identity work, gambling addictions, infidelity, and now bariatric assessments and counseling She also serves as a board approved clinical supervisor in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Arkansas for master’s level social workers seeking clinical supervision and mentorship.

Recognizing the need for specialized training in Bariatric Science led her to pursue certification with AABC, where she was awarded an academic scholarship for her vast clinical excellence and dedication to bariatric care. Her certification as a BCBC will help advance the AABC global mission of providing best practices in the care, treatment, and prevention of obesity and related disorders.

Email: glenda@aabc-certification.org
Website: www.aabc-certification.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aabcorg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/american-association-of-bariatric-counselors/

Whitney Bonds is a Licensed Professional Counselor based near Denver, Colorado, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). Following completion of specialized education and training program in Bariatric Science, she was credentialed as a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (BCBC).

Whitney earned her Master of Education from Liberty University. For more than a decade she has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate emotional, behavioral, and psychological challenges through compassionate, evidence-informed care.

Throughout her career, Whitney has worked with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, developing extensive experience in mental health assessment, individualized treatment planning, behavioral interventions, and supporting clients through significant life transitions. Her background in clinical and school-based environments has shaped her understanding of the relationship between mental health, behavior, personal development, and overall well-being.

Whitney currently serves as Director of Operations at Dynamic Counseling, where she contributes to clinical quality, practice development, and the delivery of effective mental health services. Alongside her leadership responsibilities, she maintains an active clinical practice providing individual counseling and preoperative psychological evaluations for individuals pursuing bariatric surgery. Her approach emphasizes emotional resilience, self-awareness, and individualized support to help patients build a healthier relationship with themselves and achieve lasting improvements in their quality of life.

Recognizing the need for specialized training in Bariatric Science led her to pursue certification with AABC, where she was awarded an academic scholarship for her vast clinical excellence and dedication to bariatric care. Her certification as a BCBC will help advance the AABC global mission of providing best practices in the care, treatment, and prevention of obesity and related disorders.

Email: glenda@aabc-certification.org
Website: www.aabc-certification.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aabcorg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/american-association-of-bariatric-counselors/

Dr. TréSina E. Steger, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), in Maryland, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). Following completion of specialized education and training in Bariatric Science, she was credentialed as a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (BCBC).
She earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University, her Master of Business Administration from Columbia Southern University, and her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Liberty University.

Some of her postgraduate training and certifications include Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Level II (CCTP-II), certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Certified Telemental Health Provider (BC-TMH).

Dr. Steger is founder of True Path Authentic Counseling, based in Elkton, Maryland. She has extensive professional experience working with adult populations and provides counseling to individuals navigating trauma, identity concerns, military-related experiences, mood and behavioral health challenges, life transitions, and other complex psychosocial concerns. Her clinical practice places particular emphasis on serving BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities and individuals whose experiences may be shaped by marginalization, identity development and trauma.

Recognizing the need for specialized training in Bariatric Science led her to pursue certification with AABC. She was awarded an academic scholarship for her clinical excellence and dedication to bariatric care. Her certification as a BCBC reflects her commitment to advancing evidence-based care and supporting the AABC global mission of providing best practices in the care, treatment, and prevention of obesity and related disorders.

Email: glenda@aabc-certification.org
Website: www.aabc-certification.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aabcorg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/american-association-of-bariatric-counselors/

Sonja A. Welch, Ph.D., LPC, , a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). Following completion of specialized education and training in Bariatric Science, she was credentialed as a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (BCBC).

Dr. Welch earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Thomas Edison State University, her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Nyack College, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of the Cumberlands. Her credentials also include; Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Anger Management Specialist II

Dr. Welch is the founder and proprietor of Fair Havens Wholeness Center, LLC, a private counseling practice located in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Throughout her 15-year career, she has provided individual, couples, and family counseling across diverse clinical settings. Her professional experience includes serving as a clinical director of multiple mental health and substance use treatment facilities, providing clinical supervision, and teaching undergraduate and graduate-level counseling courses as an adjunct professor. Her areas of specialization include trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, substance use disorders, anger management, emotional regulation, and behavioral change.

Recognizing the need for specialized training in Bariatric Science led her to pursue certification with AABC. Her certification as a BCBC will help advance the AABC global mission of providing best practices in the care, treatment, and prevention of obesity and related disorders.

Email: glenda@aabc-certification.org
Website: www.aabc-certification.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aabcorg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/american-association-of-bariatric-counselors/

Megan Klimkewicz, M.S.Ed., a Professional Educator from Missouri, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). Following completion of specialized education and training program in Bariatric Science, she was credentialed as a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (BCBC).

Megan holds a Master of Science in Education with a specialization in Literacy from the University of New England and is completing her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Truman State University

Megan joined Clarkson Counseling, P.C., in 2024 and currently serves as Intern and Psychological Testing Administrator. Since fall 2025 she has been an integral part of the mental health team that conducts presurgical bariatric biopsychosocial evaluations. She also provides postoperative behavioral health support, helping individuals navigate the emotional and behavioral adjustments associated with weight-loss surgery.

Recognizing the need for specialized training in Bariatric Science led her to pursue certification with AABC. Because of her commitment to bariatric care, AABC awarded her with a fellowship scholarship her certification as a BCBC will help advance the AABC global mission of providing best practices in the care and treatment of obesities and related disorders.

Email: glenda@aabc-certification.org
Website: www.aabc-certification.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aabcorg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/american-association-of-bariatric-counselors/

Maria C. Garrido Amadeo, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been awarded National Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC). Following completion of specialized education and training in Bariatric Science, she was credentialed as a Board-Certified Bariatric Counselor (BCBC).

Following her undergraduate education in psychology, she attended the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she obtained her PsyD in Clinical Psychology in 1988.

For nearly 20 years, she was an independent practitioner in Providence, Rhode Island, where she worked with a mainly Spanish-speaking population while affiliated with the University of Rhode Island as an adjunct professor in the Psychology Department.

From 2007 to the present, she has served on the faculty of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (SBBS) at Ponce Health Sciences University (Ponce and San Juan, Puerto Rico), where she has been a full professor since 2015. Dr. Garrido teaches advanced assessment courses, supervises psychology interns, and directs doctoral dissertations in various assessment and health psychology topics.

Recognizing the need for specialized training in Bariatric Science led her to pursue certification with AABC. She was awarded an academic scholarship for her clinical and academic excellence and dedication to bariatric care. Her certification as a BCBC will help advance the AABC global mission of providing best practices in the care, treatment, and prevention of obesity and related disorders.

Email: glenda@aabc-certification.org
Website: www.aabc-certification.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aabcorg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/american-association-of-bariatric-counselors/