Dr. Patricia Pitts is the Chief Executive Officer of The Bella Vita established in 1985. She is a nationally renowned expert in the treatment of anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating and disordered eating. She has addressed a variety of national and international professional conferences in her twenty-seven years of treating these disorders.

Dr. Pitts has extensive professional experience in developing and directing inpatient hospital eating disorder programs, outpatient eating disorder programs and full-time outpatient group therapy practices. She has created, implemented and directed three hospital programs, at CPC Alhambra Psychiatric Hospital, Ingleside Hospital and BHC Alhambra Hospital. She has also served as an eating disorders consultant to numerous other facilities.

As a highly recognized expert in her field, Dr. Pitts was chosen as the Weight Control & Eating Disorder Specialist of the Year 1999. She was also listed in the Who’s Who National Directory of Executives and Professionals and awarded the Program of the Year by the Adult Psychiatric Program. Her numerous broadcast appearances include Woman to Woman, NBC’s Extra, and news programs such as KCAL, CBS and MSNBC, among others. Her radio broadcast appearances include segments on KRLA, KABC, and others. She was featured in the aired documentary "Prisoners of The Flesh". She was also a columnist for Choice Magazine.

Dr. Patricia Pitts holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Cambridge Graduate School of Psychology and has received licensure as a Clinical Psychologist. In addition, she holds a masters degree in theology from Fuller Seminary along with being a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Counselor.

Dr. Pitts is a member of The California Psychological Association, both the American and California Associations of Marriage, Family & Child Counselors, International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, National Eating Disorders Association, Academy of Eating Disorders, and Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

Professional Profile

Education
1989 – Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology - Cambridge Graduate School of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA
1982 – Masters Degree, Theology - Fuller Seminary, Pasadena CA
1979 – Bachelors Degree, Speech Communication – Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

Licensure
Clinical Psychologist; Marriage, Family and Child Counselor

Memberships and Affiliations
California Psychological Association
American Association of Marriage, Family & Child Counselors
California Association of Marriage, Family & Child Counselors
International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals
National Eating Disorders Association
Academy for Eating Disorders   
Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders  

Industry & Media Recognition
Renowned Speaker at National and International Eating Disorders Conferences &Workshops
Eating Disorder & Weight Control Specialist of the Year, 1999
Who’s Who National Director of Executives and Professionals
Recipient of the National Program of the Year (CPC Psychiatric Hospitals)
Featured on NBC’s Woman to Woman, NBC’s Extra, Leeza Gibbons Show, Charles Grodin Show
Featured on News networks KCAL, CBS and MSNBC.

The Journal of Dr. Pitts Dr. Pitts communicates to those curious about emotional and spiritual wellness, as well as, well-being and health of the body and mind. Find opinions established over her tenured career in the field of psychology. Read More

Wellness Services at The Bella Vita As our facility in Los Angeles expands, The Bella Vita will offer classes focused on alternative therapies. An array of exercise and holistic programs, such as Yoga and Meditation classes, will soon be offered as well. For more information on this, visit our Wellness Services section. Read More