Our clinicians

Dr. Brittney France, LMFT

Dr. France is an eating disorder therapist and the founder of The Emerald Therapy Collective.

Brittney France, Ph.D. is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#111091) in California. She has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders, emotional and overeating, as well as body image for 15 years through both a clinical and research lens.

Prior to moving to San Diego, Dr. France worked in an inpatient eating disorder program at the Center for Overcoming Problematic Eating (COPE) in Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and at the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

While completing her graduate work Dr. France worked at the UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research program, taught and assisted in undergraduate, graduate, and medical school courses, and began working in private practice. In 2018 Dr. France started her own Private Practice which eventually grew into the group The Emerald Therapy Collective.

Dr. France believes that everyone holds the skills to create positive and meaningful change in their lives. Combining evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), with personalized approaches Dr. France works to help clients achieve a deeper connection to their own values while working on goals to improve relationships with food, body, and mind.

Monica Rixon, LPCC

Monica is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (#8069) in California, having graduated with her Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of San Diego. Monica specializes in working with those experiencing grief, trauma, and eating disorders, supporting clients in identifying their goals and aligning with their values. She has been with the practice since 2021 and has experience with her specialties in multiple clinical settings.

Monica hopes to challenge clients in connecting with their authentic selves and believes it is her role to model that by showing up to sessions with authenticity and compassion. She provides a non-judgemental space to explore the things in our lives that have felt "off limits" to explore before. Monica believes that some behaviors we have in our lives come about as ways of coping, our mind and body working to find a solution to our problem. While many of these behaviors provide short term relief, they tend to not provide long term solutions. Through therapy, she believes these ways of coping can be challenged while identifying what is continuing to keep them in our lives.

Monica provides different modalities of therapy including talk therapy and EMDR. Monica uses evidence-based practices such as CBT, DBT, and ACT while connecting with clients through a human lens. She feels therapy is different for every individual and supports clients in finding what they are looking for.

Jo Stadtmueller, AMFT

Jo Stadtmueller, AMFT, is an associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#143552) based in California, specializing in guiding individuals and families through challenges related to eating disorders, dual diagnoses, and spiritual exploration.

A graduate of Point Loma Nazarene’s Master of Clinical Counseling program, Jo is currently on the path to dual licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling. Since 2022, she has trained and worked in the partial hospitalization eating disorder program and the dual diagnosis intensive outpatient program at Sharp Mesa Vista’s behavioral health programs. In these capacities, Jo conducts group, individual, and family sessions, providing comprehensive, evidence-based, and collaborative care.

In her practice, Jo prioritizes authenticity, collaboration, and warmth, delving into the intricacies of behaviors, relationships, dynamics, and lived experiences that hinder living in alignment with one’s values. Trained in Spiritual Integration, she recognizes the impact of spiritual experiences on mental health, exploring their role in enhancing a client’s overall well-being.

Proficient in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for individuals and families, Jo is additionally certified in the Gottman method for couples. Her approach is rooted in a compassionate understanding of clients’ unique journeys, with a focus on fostering growth and overall well-being.