Adia Nembhard originated from Jamaican, immigrant parents and was born and raised in Southern California. Connecting with loved ones, cycling and keeping an assortment of plants alive help to keep her grounded. ...

Agustin Valadez is a bicultural/bilingual Spanish speaking therapist in the San Diego area. Currently he is the Assistant Program Director of Douglas Young Youth and Family Services, a children’s program of Community Research Foundation....

Aimee Zeitz, MFT, has twenty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, built on a foundation of strategic partnerships and authentic collaboration.  In 2017, she joined the YMCA Childcare Resource Service, a social services branch of the YMCA of San Diego County....

Aisha Pope has worked in San Diego County's Children's Behavioral Health System of Care for the last 20 years. ...

Alice Joy Kirk is a licensed clinical social worker who has been working with vulnerable and underserved populations for 16 years....

Alison Hendricks, LCSW, is a trainer and consultant who specializes in
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), trauma-informed
systems, and Secondary Traumatic Stress....

I have served as a prosecutor for the past 16 years. In my current assignment, I am the team leader for all case issuance as well as the team leader for all school threat cases at the juvenile division. I have reviewed and prosecuted over 200 school threat cases....

Angela Rowe, LCSW has worked in the field of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Mental Health for 25 years. Right out of grad school from SDSU, she began working for Vista Hill ParentCare Family Recovery Center....

Ariane Porras is passionate about the ways she has been able to serve her hometown for over 12 years. She has been able to engage with all ages through her work as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Trainer and support group facilitator.
...

Dr. Babbi Winegarden is a Clinical Psychologist, licensed by the California Board of Psychology in 1994....

Barbara Higgins has been an educator in San Diego County for the past 20 years; starting her career as an elementary and high school teacher, she then worked as an assistant principal, principal and Director of Student Services at the district level, before coming to the San Diego County Offic...

Ms. Zangari graduated from the California State University, San Diego with a BA in Sociology, Magna Cum Laude.  Then she obtained her JD Cum Laude from Baylor University School of Law. ...

Bill James started working with teens in residential treatment in 1989. He graduated from Baylor University with a BA in Psychology in 1984 and from San Diego State University with a Master’s in Social Work in 1993....

Blaire Ehret, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in suicide prevention and providing clinical services to Veterans living with psychosis. She works at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and sits on the board of directors of Survivors of Suicide Loss, San Diego....

Brent Crandal, PhD, is a child and family psychologist, researcher, and administrator at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. He has be fortunate to offer evidence-based treatment to children, youth, and families in outpatient, inpatient, pediatric, military, and community mental health settings and ...

Before moving to San Diego County in 1999 to become a Probation Officer, Brian Day was a peace officer for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, working in corrections and several field assignments. ...

Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, DFASAM is an addiction physician and the Director of Addiction Medicine for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Brian currently serves as a board member of ASAM and was recently elected as the President-Elect of ASAM, which is a role he will assume in April 2...

Candice Hendrickson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience in working with underserved populations through county contracted programs. ...

Caroline is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the State of California. She currently works as the Lead Therapist in the Senior Intensive Outpatient program at Sharp Mesa Vista, a nationally recognized program designed to improve the quality of life of older adults who are experiencing depressio...

Catherine Ayers, is a Section Chief at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) La Jolla Mental Health Outpatient Clinics, Associate Professor in the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Department of Psychiatry, Director of the CREST Community Program for older adults with hoarding....

Coalition’s, Crisis Counseling Program. She has worked with the refugee community in San Diego since 2011 and specializes in newcomer support and peer-based mental health services. She holds a Bachelor’s in International Development Studies and Spanish from Point Loma Nazarene University....

Dana Brown is a Midwest farm girl who has resided in San Diego for over thirty-five years. An ACEs Science subject matter expert, Dana has been facilitating training throughout the region, state, and nation for several years cross-sector in a socio-ecological model....

Dana Mendoza is a licensed clinical social worker who holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from San Diego State University and a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Relations with a concentration in Conflict Management from Lesley University....

Dr. Dara Bliss Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist at Sharp Mesa Vista – the largest privately operated psychiatric hospital in San Diego....

Dr. Sweetland is a licensed clinical psychologist. She is the author of Intellectual Disability and Mental Health: A Training Manual in Dual Diagnosis (2011). She has worked in the field of dual diagnosis for over 20 years....

Dr. David Greenfield is the founder and clinical director of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and former Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut, School of Medicine, where he taught courses on Internet Addiction as well as Sexual Medicine...

Denise VonRotz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor working with children and families in private practice. ...

Dimitri Perivoliotis is a licensed clinical psychologist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry....

Eileen Quinn-O’Malley, MA, LMFT is currently a Behavioral Health Program Coordinator (BHPC) with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health Services Children Youth and Families....

Elisa Barnett is the Senior Services Program Manager at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. Elisa holds a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego, and has been working in the San Diego nonprofit sector for the last ten years. Using her lived experience of men...

Dr. Erika Ryan is a licensed Clinical Psychologist. She received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University and her MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship training at the CARES Institute, through Rowan ...

Felicia Neubauer received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and her MSW from The University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Work. After working in community mental health for 5 years, she worked at the CARES Institute, through...

Dr. Frank Ogle, Ph.D., LMFT, a native San Diegan, is a licensed Marriage Family therapist who currently works at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital in the Senior Intensive Outpatient Program (SIOP)....

Gabriel Núñez-Soria, born and raised in San Diego, earned his bachelor’s degree in cultural and social anthropology from Stanford University, and his teaching credential and master’s degree in education and counseling from San Diego State University....

Gabriella Grant, MA, trains professionals in the social services on an array of topics, including trauma, substance abuse, PTSD, eating disorders, problem gambling, domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. ...

Dr. Geoff Twitchell is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (California Board of Psychology 2000) with advanced training in addiction and treatment of co-occurring disorders. His career in the field of addiction began over 20 years ago when he worked with Dr. Marc Schuckit....

Gimel Rogers, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist with over 10 years of professional speaking and training experience. She is currently the Training Director of the Professional Clinical and Forensic Services department at the Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma (IVAT). ...

Golby Rahimi Saylor is the Clinical Director of Operations at The Chadwick Center at Rady Children’s Hospital, overseeing the Children’s Advocacy Center’s clinical programs....

Heather Nemour is a Program Specialist: Student Wellness & Positive School Climate for the San Diego County Office of Education’s Student Support Services division....

Ana España is the Presiding Judge of the San Diego County Juvenile Court. She has presided over juvenile cases since January 2018. Prior to her appointment to the bench in 2008, Judge Espana represented children and youth in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems....

Dr. Igor Koutsenok is an addiction psychiatrist. In 1982 he graduated from the National Medical University in Kiev, Ukraine as a medical doctor. In 1988 he completed his psychiatry residency training at the Medical University in Sofia, Bulgaria...

Ilana Israel Samuels holds a Master degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, from Chapman University. She has worked in the field of education for her entire career, in early childhood development, teacher education, college admissions and outreach....

James (Diego) Rogers is the Senior Vice President of Clinical Services for Community Research Foundation, a San Diego based non-profit behavioral health agency with 25 programs throughout San Diego, CA funded primarily by the San Diego County Department of Behavioral Health Services...

Janice Boafo (She/Her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Coach, Facilitator and San Fernando Valley girl whose professional life is informed by her lived experiences as well as over 25 years of work in human services and behavioral health....

Jessica Empeño is a medical social worker with over 20 years’ experience in dementia, caregiver support, hospice, and care of the seriously ill. ...

Jill Stoddard is passionate about sharing science-backed ideas from psychology to help people thrive. She is a psychologist, TEDx speaker, award-winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast....

Joanna Tol is a Policy Analyst with the County of San Diego, Child Welfare Services (CWS). In this role, she oversees policies and procedures that affect children and families impacted by Human Trafficking (HT) and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)....

Jodi Pfarr brings to her audiences the knowledge gained from direct experience with not-for-profit organizations. Pfarr served as executive director of Emma Norton Services, providing housing to single women with issues around low income, mental illness, and/or chemical dependency. ...

Juan Camarena is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Sex Therapist certified by the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists....

Kara S. Bagot, M.D. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, and Medical Director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai-Partnership to End Addiction Alliance....

After a successful for-profit career, Karen Lenyoun became dissatisfied with the status quo. She felt that longing to make a difference in her community and entered the nonprofit world over 20 years ago....

After her return to the SF Bay Area, Kathryn created a mental health program for Latino immigrants at Canal Alliance in San Rafael, and coordinated the restorative justice program for youth in Sonoma County....

Kevin LaChapelle serves as the CEO of the San Diego American Indian Health Center that includes Medical Care, Behavioral Health, and Dental Care. ...

Kimberly Beckstead is a LCSW and certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II (ADCII). ...

Dr. Yershova is a Deputy Scientific Director of the Columbia Lighthouse Project (formerly, Center for Suicide Risk Assessment) at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Medical School....

L Tuiletufuga’s (they/them) social location: non-binary-queer person of color. L is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist. ...

Laura Rogers has been in the non-profit field since 1994 and an administrator since 2001, she has direct practice in Substance Abuse, Residential, Mental Health, Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Education, Community-Based, Children, Adolescents and Families, Evidenced-Based Practices, Trauma Informe...

Dr. Laura Vleugels serves as the Supervising Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for The County of San Diego. Having worked in public mental health for a decade, Dr. Vleugels promotes collaboration amongst organizations to best meet the needs of youth. ...

Dr. Lauren Willner completed her PhD in Social Welfare at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs in 2017 and earned her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice in 2009....

Leah Porter first joined the mental health field a little less than a decade ago, working primarily with children and families with severe trauma and behavioral disorders....

Linda D. Ketterer was born to teach! In 2005, she received a BA in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on education, from San Diego State University, as well as a Pre-K through Adult multiple subject teaching credential, and dedicates her life to reaching the unreachable (or so they think)...

Lisa St George, MSW, CPRP, CPSS brings over 40 years of experience in the health and human services industry. She currently serves as the Vice President of Peer Support and Empowerment at RI International....

Lorena Avitea is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice. She brings 20 years of experience in working with children and families who have experienced trauma, including children and families involved in the Child Welfare System....

Lucas Zullo, Ph.D. (pronouns: he/him/his) obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center....

Lynnetta Devereaux has been working to improve the lives of others through training, coaching, advocacy, and/or mental health services for more than twenty years....

Dr. Manny Tau is a clinical & forensic psychologist specialized in threat assessments and active threat management, and a Certified Threat Manager by  the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals....

Mary Beth Wirkus is a Deputy Public Defender in San Diego County and is currently the Supervising Attorney of the Juvenile Delinquency Division of the Office of the Primary Public Defender....

Mary Ellen Baraceros is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a Master of Social
Work from San Diego State University and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and
Social Behavior from University of California, Irvine....

Mayumi Yamanaka Douglass, M.S. is originally from Cuernavaca, Mexico, where she completed her undergraduate work, as well as specialized training in humanistic psychotherapy. She is a licensed psychologist in Mexico by the Autonomous University of Morelos State....

Melanie Gibbons, MA, LAC earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. She is a Licensed Associate Counselor with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field....

Michael Juan is a Clinical Psychologist practicing in San Diego, California. Currently, he works as a faculty psychologist at San Diego State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Michael is also in private practice providing psychotherapy, training, and consultation services....

Michelle Ly’s pronouns are She/Her and was involved with County Contracted Services for 12 years as a Therapist, AAMFT approved Clinical Supervisor and Director.  During her time at Union of Pan Asian Communities, she received the Advancing Principles award from BHS CYF System of Care in 2016....

Michael A. Jones, LCSW is a therapist and trainer in San Diego, CA. Michael was licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences in 2004. He has worked since 1999 with traumatized children and their families....

Dr. Myesha Barton  is the Program Manager at North Coastal Mental Health Center and has a Doctorate in Education (Counseling Psychology) from Argosy University, San Diego. ...

Navid Zamani is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego, CA. His works spans a variety of contexts addressing domestic violence (DV) issues within families and communities, ranging from advocacy work with the Domestic Violence Response Team to counseling services in emergency shelters....

A native of Galveston, TX, Dr. Paul A. Minifee received his BA in English and Psychology and PhD in Rhetoric and Writing Studies from the University of Texas at Austin....

Peggie Webb, M.A. is the Manager of Forensic and Behavioral Health Services for the San Diego Regional Center.  Peggie’s team provides support to staff in the area Forensic and/or Behavioral Health....

Pradeep Gidwani, MD, MPH, FAAP is a pediatrician and community health leader who works at American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3, San Diego and Imperial Counties (AAP-CA3) on a team that provides Countywide Coordination and Support for two large scale community initiatives...

Rachel Haine-Schlagel holds a PhD in clinical psychology from Arizona State University. She completed her predoctoral clinical internship at the University of California, San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and is a licensed psychologist in California....

Rex Sheridan received his bachelor’s degree in therapeutic and community psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University in 1999 and his masters in marriage and family therapy from the Fuller School of Psychology in Pasadena, CA in 2004....

Rosalind C. Corbett, M. S. is currently a Lecturer/faculty member in the School of Social Work at San Diego State University.   ...

Rosemarie is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapy and has been working with kids, families and individuals since 2000. In addition, Rosemarie earned a Masters of Arts in education with an emphasis on multicultural counseling....

Ruth Teseyem Tadesse currently serves as a Community Health Project Specialist at the University of California San Diego within the Center for Community Health. ...

Sandra D’Alonzo is a licensed clinical social worker and has worked in the field of medical social work for 10 years. ...

Shannon Jackson received her BA in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from San Diego State University in 2000. She went on to receive her MA in Counseling from the University of San Diego in 2002....

Shannon Nosenzo completed San Diego State University’s Community Based Block program earning an equivalency MA in Education with a specialization in multicultural counseling. She went on to complete an MS in Counseling with specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy....

Shelly Paule, MSW, LCSW is currently a Policy Analyst with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Child Welfare Services. Shelly graduated with her BS in Psychology and her MSW at San Diego State University, completing her final degree in 1998. ...

Shelly Virva is a thoughtful and experienced health care leader with more than 20 years’ experience working as a licensed clinical social worker....

Soraiya (they/them) is a POC gender-affirming therapist that prides themselves on serving the communities they inhabit....

Stacey Annand holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in pre- and perinatal psychology and concentration in somatic psychology. ...

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Steve Wedel worked as a scientist for ten years for San Diego-based bio-tech company IDEC Pharmaceuticals, focusing on immunological-based treatments for cancer....

Steven Thorp, Ph.D., ABPP earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno and completed postdoctoral research fellowships in geriatric psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and at the University of California, San Diego....

Susan Wingfield-Ritter, LMFT, MAC, and Member of MINT, 2019 is the Senior Clinical Director of McAlister Institute for Treatment and Education. ...

Susan Writer has her doctorate in clinical psychology from Alliant International University and works full time as the Psychoeducation and Public Affairs Liaison for Aurora Behavioral Health Care, an acute in-patient psychiatric hospital in San Diego that treats children, adolescents, adults, and se...

Tahra Broderson is a certified Child Welfare Law Specialist.  Ms. Broderson has been an attorney with the San Diego Office of County Counsel, Juvenile Dependency Division, since 2006.  In that time, she has served on the trial, appellate, and embedded advisory teams. ...

Terri Garcia has worked in behavioral health since 1999 in various capacities, working
with adolescents and adults with co-occurring disorders. ...

Dr. Theresa Carroll graduated from the University of St Augustine for Health Sciences with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice with high honors. ...

Tiana Vargas (they/them) is the Director of Training and Community Education for The San Diego LGBT Community Center. They are a queer, transgender, and nonbinary educator from San Diego, CA the ancestral homeland of the Kumeyaay people....

Tim Ware studied Public Administration at the University of Southern California before embarking on a career in School Safety. He is certified as a trainer of trainers for the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines model developed by Dr. Dewey Cornell....

Vanessa Girard is a licensed clinical social worker at the VA San Diego Healthcare System....

Vincent DeOcampo has 20 years of Law Enforcement experience. He began as a Juvenile Probation Officer with San Diego County then went to the Chula Vista Police for over 16 years....

Detective Wayne R. Spees (Ret) is a 31-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). Mr. Spees is a recognized expert in the response to active shooter tactics....