Alsana Outreach Team

Move beyond standard care and explore the therapeutic power of storytelling. This presentation introduces a narrative model for treatment planning and progress monitoring rooted in CBT, DBT, and narrative theory. Attendees will learn how to use metaphors and story themes to reduce clinical shame, strengthen the therapeutic alliance, and frame recovery in a way that resonates with clients, families, and treatment teams alike.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how story, metaphor, and imagery deepen client insight and self-compassion.
• Implement developmentally attuned, narrative-based techniques to track progress.
• Connect story-driven clinical concepts to clear, objective documentation outcomes.

About the Speakers

Keesha Amezcua serves as Alsana’s Chief Clinical Officer, bringing over two decades of clinical leadership and excellence to the eating disorder treatment field. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Consultant, she previously served as Vice President of Clinical Programming for Monte Nido & Affiliates, where she oversaw care for both adolescents and adults across all treatment levels. Her international expertise includes program development for Wandi Nerida, Australia’s inaugural residential eating disorder treatment center.

An accomplished author and frequent speaker at national conferences, Keesha is a trauma-informed practitioner certified as a Daring Way Facilitator, as well as in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). At Alsana, she directs evidence-based, outstanding care while fostering a nurturing environment for professionals and shaping the future of the industry.

Dr. Courtney Chism is the Director of Clinical Services for Alsana's Birmingham locations. A dedicated leader and clinician, she oversees clinical programming, risk management, and multidisciplinary treatment teams across residential, PHP, and IOP levels of care. Dr. Chism holds a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Advanced Clinical Services and a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama. With extensive experience in solution-focused therapy, crisis response, and clinical supervision, she is committed to advancing excellence in eating disorder treatment and clinical practice.