BS in Psychology (DePaul University), MS in Counseling Psychology (Colorado State University), PhD in Developmental Psychology and Science (Colorado State University)

MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Somatic Counseling (Body Psychotherapy), MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Somatic Counseling (Dance/Movement Therapy)

Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice, Assessment

Dr. Bernadette Pivarunas specializes in comprehensive, trauma-informed, and empirically-based mental health care and consultation for disordered eating, eating disorders, and trauma across the lifespan. She is trained in a wide array of modalities including, but not limited to: Big-hearted Embodiment, Circle of Security Parenting, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Comprehensive Bereavement Care, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (and Imaginal Nurturing), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Intuitive Eating, Pet Loss and Bereavement, Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy; she is also trained in and facilitates psychedelic assisted psychotherapy (primarily ketamine and psilocybin).

Bernadette is passionate about teaching, mentorship, and supervision, which happens at Naropa and within her role as Founder and Clinical Director of Radical Healing in Fort Collins, CO (www.radicalhealingllc.com). You can often find her with her beagles, JoJo and Beckett.

• Shomaker, L. B., Gulley, L. D., Clark, E. L. M., Hilkin, A. M., Pivarunas. B., Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Nadeau, K. J., Barbour, L. A., Scott, S. M., & Sheeder, J. L. (2020). Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled feasibility study of brief interpersonal psychotherapy for addressing socio-emotional needs and preventing excess gestational weight gain in adolescents. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 6(1), 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s40814-020-00578-1
• Shomaker, L. B., Berman, Z., Burke, M., Annameier, S. K., Pivarunas, B., Sanchez, N., Smith, A. D., Hendirch, S., Riggs, N. R., Legget, K. T., Cornier, M., Melby, C., Johnson, S. A., & Lucas-Thompson, R. (2019). Mindfulness-based group intervention in adolescents at-risk for excess weight gain: A Randomized controlled pilot study. Appetite, 140, 213-222.
• Shomaker, L. B., Pivarunas, B., Annameier, S. K., Gulley, L., Quaglia, J., Brown, K. W., Broderick, P., & Bell, C. (2019). One-year follow-up of a randomized trial piloting a mindfulness-based group intervention for adolescent insulin resistance. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-5. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01040
• Levinson, C. A., Zerwas, S. C., Thornton, L., Pivarunas, B., Crowley, J. J., Yilmaz, Z., Berrettini, W. H., Brandt, H., Crawford, S., Fichter, M. M., Halmi, K. A., Johnson, C., Kaplan, A. S., La Via, M., Mitchell, J., Rotondo, A., Strober, M., Woodside, D. B., Kaye, W. H., & Bulik, C.M. (2019). An examination of personality and psychological factors in patients with anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 27(2), 161-172. doi: 10.1002/erv.2635
• Dalager, S., Annameier, S., Bruggink, S., Pivarunas, B., Coatsworth, J. D., Schmid, A., Bell, C., Broderick, P., Brown, K. W., Quaglia, J., & Shomaker, L. B. (2018). Mindfulness-based group intervention for an adolescent girl at risk for type 2 diabetes: A case report. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, 32(3), 23-31.
• Shomaker, L. B., Bruggink, S., Pivarunas, B., Skoranski, A., Foss, J., Chaffin, E., Dalager, S., Annameier, S., Quaglia, J., Brown, K. W., Broderick, P., & Bell, C. (2017). Pilot randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based group in adolescent girls at risk for type 2 diabetes with depressive symptoms. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 32, 66-74. doi: 10.1016.j.ctim.2017.04.003
• Reyes-Rodriguez, M. L., Gulisano, M., Silva, Y., Pivarunas, B., Luna-Reyes, K. L., & Bulik, C. M. (2016). “Las penas con pan duelen menos”: The Role of food and culture in Latinas with disordered eating behaviors. Appetite, 100, 102-109. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.029
• Pivarunas, B. (2016). A Qualitative exploration of a faith-based support group for women with disordered eating. Pastoral Psychology, 65(2), 215-225. doi: 10.1007/s11089-015-0675-z
• Pivarunas, B., Kelly, N. R., Pickworth, C. K., Cassidy, O. L., Radin, R. M., Shank, L. M., Vannucci, A., Courville, A. B., Chen, K. Y., Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Yanovski, J. A., & Shomaker, L. B. (2015). Mindfulness and eating behavior in adolescents at-risk for type 2 diabetes. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(6), 563-569. doi: 10.1002/eat.22435
• Pivarunas, B., & Conner, B. T. (2015). Impulsivity and emotion dysregulation as predictors of food addiction. Eating Behaviors, 19, 9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.06.007
• Smith, S. S., Smith Carter, J., Karczewski, S., Pivarunas, B., Suffoletto, S., & Munin, A. (2015). Mediating effects of stress, weight-related issues, and depression on suicidality in college students. Journal of American College Health, 63(1), 1-12.