Dr. Lightman is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. Her primary clinical interests are short-term goal directed interventions for the treatment of mood disorders, personality disorders, and relational conflict resolution. She offers individual therapy, family therapy, and parent support for behavior management training.

Dr. Lightman emphasizes helping individuals develop and integrate coping skills from a wide variety of approaches and resources to best manage difficult life stressors. Her approach to treatment is individualized and incorporates treatment techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to help individuals better manage emotional and behavioral difficulties. Such techniques teach skills to help individuals to better self-regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, improve interpersonal relations, and be more mindful of their thoughts and behaviors. Dr. Lightman also provides comprehensive psychological, psycho-educational, and developmental testing for the diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, and learning disabilities.

Dr. Lightman earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. She completed her pre-doctoral training at the Youth Opportunity Center, where she conducted assessments and therapy to youth with severe emotional and behavioral difficulties. She then completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Minnesota. There she ran intensive outpatient group programs for children and adolescents with anxiety, depression, social difficulties, and behavioral disorders.

Dr. Malekjah is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and is also credentialed as a Health Service Provider in Psychology by the prestigious Council for the National Register. Dr. Malekjah provides counseling and psychological services with care by taking the time to listen to clients and helping them take an active role in their own psychological well-being. He uses a collaborative approach and incorporates empirically supported, evidence-based psychological treatment modalities to deliver high quality counseling and psychological services. Some therapeutic modalities used include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Adlerian, Gestalt, Behavior Therapy (BT), Family Systems, Multicultural, Brief SolutionFocused, and Mindfulness. Dr. Malekjah focuses on instilling hope and optimism, increasing clients’ feelings of self-empowerment, personal growth and psychological health, and improving the quality of clients’ day-to-day lives by enhancing their subjective sense of well-being or happiness.

Dr. Malekjah completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. He completed a Master of Science Degree in Marriage, Family Therapy (MFT) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) where he conducted research on the relationship between self-esteem and happiness. His clinical training at CSULB included performing non-directive play therapy with both sighted and visually impaired children, children with autism, ADD/ADHD, and those with multi-sensory deficits. Dr. Malekjah then completed a second Master’s Degree (MA) in Psychology as well as a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) in San Diego, where his doctoral research project involved studying sexual satisfaction and body image in men. This research was presented at the California Psychological Association (CPA) in 2008 and during that same year, his research was also accepted for presentation at the San Diego Psychological Association.

Dr. Malekjah’s diverse clinical experiences include providing care for patients at a psychiatric hospital and also, at a residential treatment facility focusing on crisis intervention and management of addictions. Dr. Malekjah’s Post-Doctorate training in San Diego involved working with visually impaired young adults and geriatrics. He has been an Adjunct Professor teaching graduate level psychology courses at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Malekjah has also had a private practice working with children, adolescents, families, couples, and seniors and his clinical experience has entailed past work with depressive disorders, anxiety and panic disorders, PTSD, grief/loss, ADD/ADHD, workplace conflict, OCD, chronic pain, relationship/marital difficulties and infidelity, substance use/abuse, anger management, body image concerns, LGBTQIA-related counseling, life adjustment or transitions, sexual concerns, and emotional management.

Dr. Dorin graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in Psychology before earning his M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University, Malibu. He then continued his studies at Pepperdine University in West Los Angeles and received his Doctorate of Psychology. This program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and meets strict academic requirements to ensure the students receive the best training possible in providing therapy.

Overall, Dr. Dorin’s experience has ranged from working with patients between the ages of 2 to 75 with considerable experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Among these age groups, he has worked with people representing various cultures and backgrounds. He has also worked in schools with children and adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. Additionally, Dr. Dorin has provided a range of psychological assessments to children on the autism spectrum and those affected by genetic disorders and learning disabilities.

Dr. Dorin most recent work has been as a staff psychologist at adult assisted living homes, where he treated patients experiencing a number of emotional and behavioral problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. In addition to this, Dr. Dorin continued with a group practice at Harbor Psychiatry Mental Health, Newport Beach. He enjoys working collaboratively with his patients and providing guidance in finding solutions. Above all, he believes that the relationship between patient and therapist is the cornerstone in achieving the patient’s goals.

Dr. Davidson is a licensed clinical psychologist; she completed her PsyD at Alliant International University in 2016. Her clinical training experiences have primarily involved conducting therapy and psychological assessments with children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of clinical environments. She has worked at private practices, schools, residential treatment facilities, in-homes, and in community mental health clinics.  She specializes in treating and addressing  behavioral difficulties, depression and anxiety disorders, childhood abuse and neglect, disrupted family environments, legal involvement, and cognitive and developmental delays. Additionally, she has extensive experience working with victims of trauma in addition to patients with dual diagnoses and suicidal ideation.

Dr. Davidson is experienced in conducting Dialectical Behavior therapy, for both groups and individuals, as well as cognitive, personality, ADHD, and learning disorder assessments. Her therapeutic orientation tends to be a combination of psychodynamic/systems and behavioral and her particular interests include working with youth and adults who have experienced trauma, and individuals affected by anxiety.

Kimberly Baerresen, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in clinical neuropsychology, cognitive rehabilitation, and psychotherapy. She obtained her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2014 from Loma Linda University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. She also received clinical training at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and UCLA’s Longevity Center. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Division 40 (Neuropsychology) and the International Neuropsychological Society.

Dr. Baerresen’s clinical specialties include:

• Neuropsychological assessment and management of adult patients with neurological injuries or illnesses (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease).
• Cognitive enhancement therapies (e.g., UCLA’s Brain Boot Camp) aimed at improving memory, executive functioning, attention, processing speed, and language in both individual and group formats.
• Psychotherapy: Dr. Baerresen works with patients and their families in order to assist in coping with functional losses related to neurological injury or illness. She also assists patients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, as well as adjustment-related difficulties (i.e. relationship stress, life transitions) from primarily a cognitive behavioral framework (CBT). In order to provide the maximum care to each patient, Dr. Baerresen adopts the biopsychosocial model—considering all aspects of the patient (e.g., medical, psychological, spiritual, relational and environmental) when formulating a treatment plan and implementing therapeutic interventions.

Dr. Nonnette Mosley has been a Licensed Clinical Psychologist since 2001. She has worked in the field of mental health for over 17 years. Dr. Mosley has worked in a variety of diverse settings, specializing in the treatment of adolescents, young adults, adults, couples and families. Clinical issues include depressive and mood disorders, grief/loss, trauma (PTSD), sexual abuse, substance abuse, attentional problems (ADHD), relationship issues, work difficulties, personality disorders, self-esteem, self-injurious behavior, stress and anger management, and anxiety disorders. Dr. Mosley has considerable experience working with dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders. She offers individual therapy, couples therapy and family therapy in addition to comprehensive psychological and psycho-educational testing for diagnostic clarification and attentional problems (ADD/ADHD).

Although Dr. Mosley was trained from a psychodynamic perspective, she tailors her therapeutic approach to the needs of the individual. She utilizes psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and family system approaches. Her focus in therapy is to establish a relationship with individuals that fosters trust. Her primary goal is to provide a therapeutic atmosphere that facilitates emotional growth, self-actualization and the development of positive coping skills that assist individuals in managing life stress.

Dr. Mosley completed her undergraduate work at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling at the California State University, Fresno. In addition, she earned both a Master’s and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in Fresno. She remained at Alliant to complete a Post-Doctoral Master’s degree in Psychopharmacology.

Dr. Stephanie Van Stralen graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Counseling and Social Change from San Diego State University. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego. She has worked in a variety of mental health settings including hospitals (UCSD Moore’s Cancer Center and SHARP Pain Rehabilitation Program, San Diego) and at several university counseling centers. She completed her APA-accredited internship at California State University, Northridge and her postdoctoral fellowship at Loyola Marymount University. Before beginning at Brain Wellness Institute she spent several years as staff psychologist at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In addition to therapy she is passionate about training and has supervised interns and post doctoral fellows.

Dr. Van Stralen has extensive training in evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression. Her therapeutic approach integrates relational and psychodynamic theory with more present-focused cognitive behavioral techniques with the goal of understanding how early experiences may have impacted current concerns. Dr. Van Stralen utilizes a multicultural lens when working with clients, considering diverse beliefs and backgrounds. She believes the relationship between the therapist and client to be the most important tool in therapy. Dr. Van Stralen strives to create a space of safety, empathy, support, and challenge.

Therapy with Dr. Van Stralen will focus on decreasing symptoms, increasing coping, learning new ways to care for yourself, and gaining insight into the origin of your concerns. You will be provided with a collaborative relationship with a professional who is there for you and wants you to succeed. Goals for therapy are discussed and agreed upon at the start of therapy to help facilitate an effective experience.

Dr. Van Stralen enjoys working with adolescents, adults, and couples. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and managing stress (work/life balance). She has a particular interest in working with athletes, Veterans and their families, members of the LGBTQ community, and adults on the Autism Spectrum.

Jaime Spray is a psychological assistant working under the supervision of Dr. Ross Malekjah. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and a Masters of Arts in Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology/Alliant International University – San Diego. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Health Track) at the California School of Professional Psychology/Alliant International University – San Diego.

Jaime completed her APA-Accredited pre-doctoral internship in community mental health at Four County Counseling Center in Indiana as part of the Heart of America Psychology Internship Program. She then completed a two-year pediatric psychology fellowship at Children’s Hospital New Orleans where she triaged all inpatient consults for the Consultation & Liaison service, worked in multidisciplinary medical clinics, provided inpatient and outpatient treatment, and conducted comprehensive psychological evaluations for diagnostic clarification, intellectual and learning disabilities, and pre and post-treatment/transplant for the Hematology/Oncology service.

She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families providing psychotherapy (intervention/treatment), biofeedback, consultation, and assessment services in outpatient psychology clinics, acute inpatient settings, inpatient rehabilitation, residential treatment facilities, school-based, multidisciplinary medical clinics, and inpatient medical settings. Her theoretical orientation is primarily cognitive behavioral, however she integrates evidenced-based behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, family-systems, and solution-focused interventions into her practice. Jaime specializes in treating individuals with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, patients coping with medical conditions (chronic pain, adherence, adjustment to diagnosis/treatment), parent training for behavior management problems, trauma, and comprehensive psychological evaluations.

Kathy Le is a psychological assistant working under the supervision of Dr. Malekjah. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology at University of Los Angeles (UCLA) and Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Pepperdine University. She is currently earning her Doctorate of Psychology (PhD) at California Southern University.

Kathy’s therapeutic orientation is a combination of evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) and humanistic therapy. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Person Centered Therapy in her work. In therapy, Kathy tailors each treatment plan and interventions to suit the needs of her clients.

Kathy is culturally competent and adept in exploring the interpersonal and generational issues that are present in her clients. She specializes in treating individuals with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and relational conflicts.  She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults from diverse backgrounds in many different life stages. During her time at Pepperdine University, she worked with children and adolescents within the Santa Ana Unified School District as well as adults at Turning Point Center for Families. She also has experience in teaching parenting skills.

Kathy is passionate about creating a safe space in which clients can heal and grow. Through empathy and humor, she strives to create an environment where clients can explore issues, set goals, and implement change.