HER STORY

Myla has lived in Southern California all her life. She graduated from Stanbridge University in 2020. She is excited to make an impact on people’s lives.

HER SUMMITS

• Licensed Vocational Nurse
• IV/Phlebotomy license
• Trained in BLS

HER TRUE NORTH

Myla enjoys spending time with her family, friends and puppy Kona. She loves walks on the beach and traveling. She loves experiencing new things and trying different foods. In the future, she plans on becoming a Psychiatrics Nurse Practitioner.

HIS STORY

Dr. Harris has been practicing in the field of Clinical Psychology for the past eight years in various settings including a youth correctional facility and multiple Community Mental Health, and outpatient settings where he worked with children, adolescents, young adults, and families that presented with an array of complex mental health concerns. Dr. Harris’ preliminary interests include conducting therapy with children, adolescents, young adults, and families in individual and group settings. Dr. Harris is passionate about supporting children, adolescents, and young adults in working towards developing skills to achieve their ‘Life Worth Living’ Goals.

HIS SUMMITS

• Bachelors in Psychology from Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University, Hillsboro, Oregon
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in working with children and adolescents from Pacific University, Hillsboro, Oregon
• Extensive training in Functional Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and management of crisis and suicide for children and adults
• Extensive training in Psychological Assessment
• Completed Intensive DBT Training by Behavioral Tech trainers Randy Wolbert and Gwen Abney-Cunningham

HIS TRUE NORTH

Dr. Harris enjoys spending time outdoors, exercising, and spending time with his family, friends, and two rescue pitties.

PROGRAM CLINICIAN

Christine’s role at Compass includes providing individual DBT treatment and skills coaching sessions, conducting DBT groups, participating in weekly team consultation, and developing the treen residential school program. Christine is intensively trained in DBT-PE (prolonged exposure) for treating individuals suffering from trauma-related disorders and traumatic invalidation. Christine also has training and experience delivering DBT for parents and families and DBT-C (DBT for children) with younger children. Christine is supervised by Marissa Colangelo, LCSW (#78805).

HER STORY

Christine comes to Compass beyond excited to blend her experience as a clinician and a special education teacher. Prior to joining Compass, Christine worked for the Child Mind Institute in New York City as a Clinical Associate Social Worker in their Mood Disorders Center treating youth, families, and young adults. Christine is a graduate of the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) where she received extensive training as a DBT fellow in Dr. Andre Ivanoff’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Lab.
Christine first learned about DBT when she was working as a Special Education teacher in a therapeutic high school program, which led her to social work. Her students began teaching her skills they were learning in therapy, and she was truly astounded by how impactful and accessible these life skills could be for teens struggling with emotion dysregulation. Before transitioning social work, she served as a Special Education teacher for 9 years in public schools in the United States and International Schools in Peru and Germany. Christine holds teaching licenses in Special Education for individuals with mild/ moderate disabilities in grades K0-8 and 5-12.
Christine is passionate about her work with adolescents, families, and young adults. She is committed to helping everyone she works with find and build their life worth living.

HER TRAINING

• Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia School of Social Work, New York City
• Master of Science in Special Education from Simmons University
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minor in Special Education from Simmons University
• Completed 65 hours of Intensive DBT training offered by Behavioral Tech Institute trainers, Gwen Abney-Cunningham, LMSW and Donna Pattie, LICSW
• Completed Intensive training in DBT-Prolonged Exposure with Melanie Harned, PhD and Annie McCall MA, LMHC
• Trained in Phone Coaching in DBT: Managing Clinical Challenges and Suicide Risk with Alexander Chapman, PhD
• Completed Beck Insitute Intensive Training in CBT for Anxiety with Robert Hindman, PhD
• Trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) through the Medical University of South Carolina
• Certificate in Motivational Interviewing from Columbia School of Social Work
• Experience and previous certification in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI)
• Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities, PreK-8 (Massachusetts state licensure)
• Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities, 5-12 (Massachusetts state licensure)

HER TRUE NORTH

Christine’s passions include hiking and backpacking with her dog Blanca, long-distance running, and sipping tea on the beach while watching the waves go in and out.

Jasmine recently obtained her undergraduate degree at UC Santa Cruz . She has worked in mental health for almost 2 years now, from an assisted living facility to a previous residential treatment center. Jasmine loves being able to help people, even if it means just brightening up their day just a little bit.

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Certified in non-violent crisis prevention and intervention
• Certified in basic life support/CPR
• Volunteers with the suicide prevention center lifeline

HER TRUE NORTH

Jasmine enjoys just about any arts and crafts out there, mostly crochet and embroider. Jasmine loves going on nature hikes, playing videogames, and reading. Jasmine highly values creativity and artistic expression, since it’s not only great for expressing one’s identity, but also is a great way to improve mental health. Jasmine hopes hope to one day bring her love for art into her career in psychology, specifically with learning how to use creativity to help those struggling with anxiety and trauma disorders.

THEIR STORY

Jenna graduated from University of California, Irvine (UCI) mid-pandemic in 2020. Within those four years at UCI, Jenna focused their education towards Neurology and Clinical Psychology courses while applying a queer lens. Jenna involved themself in various advocacy work for marginalized communities all across the UC system while working under their college student government all four years. Jenna, like most college students, experienced a variety of mental health obstacles at this time and with lacking access to mental health services, strived to support themself through self-reflection and self-care practices.

Jenna values transparency, honesty, and open communication in their personal and professional life. Jenna is a huge advocate for utilizing mindfulness skills in their daily activity and has personal experience with neurodivergence, eating disorder recovery, anxiety and depression recovery, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for sleep disorder recovery. Jenna holds themselves to a high standard of healthy communication and boundaries with family, friends, coworkers, and clients.

After college, Jenna began working as an organic chemist at a water testing laboratory and found themself unmotivated and feeling stuck. They acquired some imposter syndrome and struggled a lot with negative self-talk. Jenna ended up taking a leap of faith and switching career fields working with adolescents in short-term residential care. They fell in love with the work environment and are currently exploring future career path options with the guidance of their fellow Guides here at Compass. Jenna hopes to become inspired by the work done here and ultimately contribute to the clienteles’ success stories.

THEIR TRAINING AND SUMMITS

• Bachelor of Science from UCI in Biological Sciences with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies (2020)
• Apart of the Inaugural Cohort of the UCI Inclusive Excellence Certificate Program (2020)
• Certified in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention from Crisis Prevention Institute (2023)
• Completed Professional Assault Crisis Training (Pro-ACT) (2023)
• Certified in AED, Adult/Child/Infant CPR, & Advanced First Aid from American Red Cross, as well as completed Stop the Bleed course (2023)
• Trained with 3+ years experience in acute medical care with adolescents and college students, receiving 2 awards for mastery of knowledge and execution of care
• Moderately trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with intensive training in Verbal De-escalation and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention at a 24-bed adolescent residential facility
• Currently in progress towards completing an online CBT Cognitive Behavior Life Coach Certification

THEIR TRUE NORTH

Jenna considers themself a “Scientist 2nd to Human Experience,” meaning that while they acknowledge they come from an extensive scientific educational background, they also have an extensive lived experience that precedes the aforementioned. Jenna says, “Our experiences as humans dictate what we research as scientists and science only puts words to our daily experiences.” To them, this means we must simplify our communications with each other to how we feel and what experience exactly in the moment and this will strengthen our connections as humans.

On a different note, Jenna spends most of their time either thrifting, hanging out with their two cats, Cotton (the perfect one) and Joie (the gremlin), and volunteering at the Pasadena Humane Society in their honor!

Johanna grew up around the US due to her family’s military background, she prides herself in being adaptive due to constant new environments. Quickly moving into retail management her first two years of employment, she decided on a career shift and now has 5 years’ experience in administrative positions. Johanna is excited to move into a more focused position with Compass in the billing department.

HER TRUE NORTH

When Johanna is not working, she enjoys online gaming, she has found a community online and encourages more women to join the gaming world.

Christian was born and raised in Southern California, graduated for Sri Sai Krish Institute in 2021. He has experience working as a psychiatric nurse with adults and is also excited to make an impact with Compass.

HIS TRAINING

• Trained in BLS
• Pursuing Bachelor’s Degree & RN School in Feb 2024
• Previous experience as a psychiatric nurse
• CPR Certified

HIS TRUE NORTH

Asides from work, he likes to work out in the gym, likes to play video games, and watch anime.

Embodies Everything Everywhere All at Once, in the literal sense.
Subsequently, has collected a menagerie of skills involving:
Web Development
Photography
Film Production
Rock Climbing
Currently getting certified in IT and Python.

THEIR TRUE NORTH

Follows all the dog rescues on IG and constantly contemplates adopting all the dogs on the planet. They also regularly enjoy pulling plastic (indoor climbing).

At Compass, Sophie facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Sophie brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Sophie is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HER STORY

Sophie completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Riverside, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Currently, she is enrolled in a remote-hybrid graduate program at New York University, specializing in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness with the goal of obtaining clinical licensure upon the program’s completion.
Prior to joining Compass, Sophie was a Mental Health Worker at a 16-bed residential treatment facility for adolescents struggling with mental health and substance use. This experience deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by this demographic, fueling her passion to make a positive impact on youth. Now part of the Compass team, Sophie brings her passion, dedication, and expertise to help make a positive impact in the mental health field.

HER TRAINING & SUMMITS

• Ongoing Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling & Wellness at New York University (remote/hybrid)
• Conducted research at UCR’s Youth Health & Development laboratory to analyze cultural and ethnic impacts on the identity and psychological well-being of minority youths
• Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of California, Riverside
• Registered Behavioral Technician
• Trained in Adult/Child/Infant CPR, & Advanced First Aid

HER TRUE NORTH

During her free time, Sophie enjoys playing video games, reading books, and spending time with her loved ones. A self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady,” Sophie loves to unwind after a busy day by curling up on the couch to read and cuddle with her cats.

Marianne has earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from National University. Her career in the behavioral field began 7 years ago, as a Medical Support Administrative Assistant at Naval Medical Center San Diego, where she collaborated with providers by collecting data for their research studies. Marianne also has experience in ABA therapy as a Registered Behavioral Technician, where she worked with children on the Autism Spectrum, ranging from mild and moderate to severe cases.

Whether it was during her time working as a barista at Starbucks or collaborating with her superiors to ensure treatment plans were effective for their clients, Marianne has always had a passion for connecting with and helping others. Given her experience at NMCSD, ABA, and life itself, Marianne has acquired a unique skillset to provide the utmost care for the overall well-being of everyone she meets.

• Undergraduate degree from National University
• Presented Senior Capstone based on an Independent Research Study on the Mental Health of multiple generations of Filipino Americans
• Registered Behavioral Technician

HER TRUE NORTH

Marianne is a San Diego native who loves the beach, coffee, food, traveling, digital and film photography, and her friends. She also enjoys showing everyone photos and videos of her bull terrier, Kimba.

PRACTICUM STUDENT & PROGRAM GUIDE

As a Practicum student, Samhara facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, Mindful Self-Compassion, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent/Caretaker Effectiveness Consultation, Attachment and Mult-Family Groups. In addition to running these groups, Samhara is being assigned individual clients alongside a clinical supervisor to grow her clinical skills while in her graduate program. To maintain best ethical practices, Samhara meets with the clinical team for consultation meetings and individual clinical supervision every week to ensure she is delivering the best possible care that meets these clients’ individualized goals/needs

Program Guide tasks that Samhara facilitates are the collection of SMART goals, maintaining the program schedule for each day, journaling, collecting chain analysis and solution analysis for target behaviors, mindful daily reflections, recreation, accumulation of adventure bucks (money earned by utilization of DBT skills), documentation of clinical updates, individual check-ins with residents, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Samhara brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Samhara earns her 2-year DBT Training Externship in January 2025 through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HER STORY

Samhara has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science from the University of California, Irvine, and is in her last year of her master’s program for earning a degree in Counseling from Palo Alto University. Soon, she hopes to earn her dual license in Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) and Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). She has conducted research for the Teen Resilience lab at UCI. She presented a flash talk for the Association of Psychological Science Conference in 2020 that was related to acute stress and its impact on processing speed and inhibitory control among adolescents. She also worked as a mental health worker at a Psychiatric Hospital for adults with acute mental health disorders. She’s had extensive experience working with children as a mentor and tutor for several nonprofit organizations. She worked as a Behavioral Interventionist for kids with autism and provided ABA therapy. Those experiences have prepared Samhara for the possible challenges that occur in the mental health field and furthered her resolve to help individuals along their journeys toward healing and recovery. She believes that everyone can heal in their own unique way and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of their story.

HER SUMMITS

• Earns 2-year DBT Training Externship in January 2025 from the Compass Research & Training Institute

• Is in her last year of completing her Master’s degree in Counseling from Palo Alto University

• A Practicum Student/Intern with Compass (I am learning how to be a therapist with a DBT-focused approach!)  

• Active member in good standing from the American Counseling Association (ACA)

• Bachelors in Psychological Science from the University of California, Irvine

• Presented a Flash Talk at the Association of Psychological Science (APS) Conference in 2020

HER TRUE NORTH

When Samhara is not working or studying for her classes, she enjoys going on nature walks, hanging out with her elderly cat, spending time with friends, reading new books, going to concerts, and planning new trips/activities to do around her community (Orange and LA county). She enjoys trying new things, so if you have a chance to meet with her, she loves receiving new recommendations!

HER STORY

Sasha earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia in Food, Nutrition, and Health and her master’s degree in Nutritional Science from California State University, Los Angeles. During her graduate studies, Sasha’s research focused on exploring how weight and socioeconomic status impacted the recognition and treatment of eating disorders. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Houston. Throughout her education and career, Sasha has gained experience at all levels of care for eating disorder treatment. She approaches nutrition therapy with compassion, meeting clients where they are at, for individualized care throughout every stage of recovery. Sasha uses intuitive eating and Health at Every Size principles to help clients find a more peaceful way to relate to food, which includes nourishment and satisfaction. In 2020 Sasha completed the requirements to become a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian.

HER SUMMITS

• Bachelor’s of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health from the University of British Columbia
• Master’s degree in Nutritional Science from the California State University, Los Angeles
• Dietetic Internship at University of Houston
• Registered Dietitian
• Certified Eating Disorder Specialist

HER TRUE NORTH

Sasha is a proud Canadian-American who loves skiing, ice-hockey, hiking, and anything outdoors. She spends her free time hanging with her pup Chiku and cooking delicious meals for friends and family.

HER STORY

Taylor attends California State University, Long Beach, where she is currently in her second year in the Counseling Psychology program, aiming to get licensed with an LMFT and LPCC. During her time at Long Beach, she has learned about CBT, trauma-focused treatments, child and adolescent therapies, and group counseling. Before starting her journey with Compass, Taylor spent time working within her community in foster care, assisting with teachers at a preschool, and running programming on her floor as a residential assistant. Taylor is passionate about trauma-informed care, community mental health, and increasing access to mental health services.

HER TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California Los Angeles
• Ongoing Master of Science degree from California State University Long Beach

HER SUMMITS

• Research Assistant for Dr. Howard Adelman – UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools and wrote a paper on homeless youth in Los Angeles
• Research Assistant for Dr. Karen Givvins for Talking Teaching Network
• Intern for the UCLA Lab School

HER TRUE NORTH

Taylor enjoys finding new places to eat, weightlifting, dancing, and spending time with loved ones (especially her dog, Precious).

HER STORY

Madison was born and raised in Southern California, and graduated nursing school from Stanbridge University in 2019. Madison worked in substance abuse, eating disorders and mental health. Madison is here at Compass because she is passionate about mental health and helping people find a life worth living.

• Licensed Vocational Nurse
• IV/Blood Withdrawal Certification

HER TRUE NORTH

On her off-time, Madison likes to take trips to Disneyland, spend time with her family, friends, and pets, read, and try new things. She loves to travel and experience new adrenaline inducing activities & cannot wait to expand the list of countries she’s visited and places she’s gone skydiving!

At Compass, Tatiana facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Tatiana brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Tatiana is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HER STORY

Tatiana earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona along with a minor in Criminal Justice. Throughout her undergraduate degree, Tatiana worked in various customer service jobs until her senior year when she began working in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Through these working experiences, Tatiana has gained knowledge on how to support those with developmental disabilities and foster compassion for those experiencing mental health struggles.

HER SUMMITS

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona
• Registered Behavior Technician Certification
• Trained in ABA therapy

HER TRUE NORTH

Tatiana enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and of course playing with her dog, Rocco. One of her favorite things to do is travel, whether that be road trips or flights; life is meant for exploring in her opinion!

HIS STORY

Chef Tom grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah, majoring in Music and Hotel Management. Tom then pursued cooking and graduated from the Western Culinary Institute. Tom pursued a career in culinary arts because he has a deep appreciation for the role food plays in our lives, families, and communities. Tom believes having comfortable access to elegantly prepared meals makes people’s lives fuller and more relaxed. Tom enjoys learning the history of cooking and teaching about different techniques, flavors, and recipes.

HIS SUMMIT

• Graduated from Western Culinary Institute (Le Cordon Bleu) Culinary School
• SerfSave Certified
• Member of American Culinary Federation
• Owner of Private Catering for over 20 years

HIS TRUE NORTH

Tom loves cars from the 60’s & the 70’s. He also enjoys reading, history, literature, music, and writing. He enjoys bike riding whenever he gets the chance!

PROGRAM GUIDE

At Compass, Michael facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Michael brings his clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Michael is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HIS STORY

Born and raised in Southern California, Michael sought to broaden his outlook on the world by pursuing his undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Minnesota. There, he initially focused his studies on workplace motivation before developing an interest in the core factors that affect motivation such as stress and person-to-person interactions. From then on, chose to commit more time towards working on the individual issues that affect the younger demographic. After graduating, Michael volunteered as a Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line, where he helped numerous texters from all over the U.S. who dealt with grief, drug abuse and suicidal ideation among other problems. Now, as a Compass Guide, Michael hopes to directly make a difference in the lives of his clients with a compassionate and understanding leadership style.

HIS SUMMITS

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Minnesota (Honors)
• Intensive Training in Crisis Intervention

HIS TRUE NORTH

Michael is an avid enjoyer of video games, music, and all other forms of storytelling. He finds fulfillment in seeing, hearing, or feeling a good story be brought to life.

PROGRAM GUIDE

At Compass, Cameron facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Cameron brings his clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Cameron is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HIS STORY

Cameron earned his Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Psychology & Social Behavior, Education Sciences, and Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California, Irvine. After graduating, he worked in Human Resources for his local county’s transportation agency. He is currently attending California State University, San Bernardino for his Master’s degree in Counseling with concentrations in professional clinical counseling and school counseling. Before starting at Compass, he worked at a wellness center as an Education Specialist, where he encouraged, motivated and supported members to pursue and achieve their educational goals.

• Ongoing Master of Science degree in Counseling from the California State University, San Bernardino
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Social Behavior, Criminology, Law, and Society, & Education Sciences from the University of California, Irvine
• Mental Health First Aid Certification
• Completed DBT Foundational Training through PsychWire
• Completed CBT & DBT Foundational Training through Compass Behavioral Health
• Part of a 30 Week DBT skills training group
• Trained in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention AED, Adult/Child/Infant CPR, & Advanced First Aid

HIS TRUE NORTH

In his free time, Cameron enjoys exploring nature, hiking the San Bernardino mountains, & playing video games with his brother and friends. He is passionate about learning & reading, and loves g. He loves coming home to his dog, Teddy, who is always ready with a toy to play fetch. Cameron is active is Orange County’s improv scene, and loves playing theater games with his friends.

At Compass, Marlene facilitates Program Guide ran milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Smart Goals, Journalling & Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Marlene brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Marlene is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through Compass Research & Training Institute.

THEIR STORY

Marlene obtained their Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. During their time as an undergraduate, they assisted with numerous studies specific to supporting the Queer community as a member of California State University, Fullerton’s Queer Lab. Marlene completed their undergraduate research project focused on domestic violence in lesbian relationships and presented findings at the Society for Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2019 and the Western Psychological Association (WPA) 2019 conferences. Marlene continued onward with their academics at California State University, Fullerton and is currently completing their thesis on the addictive behavior of self-harm in the gender diverse community to fulfill graduation requirements for their Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. Throughout their time in their Master’s program, Marlene has gained experience working one on one and in groups with teens in residential and outpatient settings and teaching skills related to ACT, CBT, and DBT. Marlene’s research interests include trauma, addictive behaviors, and the mental wellbeing of the Queer community.

THEIR TRAINING

• Undergraduate degree from California State University, Fullerton
• Ongoing Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Fullerton
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Certified

THEIR SUMMITS

• Lab Manager for CSUF Queer Lab
• Society for Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Member (2019-2020)
• Weirich, M., Kim, S., Sanchez, A., Jacobsen, H., Quintana, C. (2019, June). Relationship Dynamics in Same Sex Couples. Poster Presentation at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Annual Summer Conference, San Diego, CA
• Tessler, J., Beals, K., Baker, M., Weirich M., Kim, S., Sanchez, A., Jacobsen, H., Quintana, C, Barajas, A., Bertram, G., Fruto, L. (April, 2019). Queerer Things. Symposium Presentation at the Western Psychological Association (WPA) 99th Annual Convention, Pasadena, CA   

HER TRUE NORTH

Marlene enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and photography.

HER STORY

Rayy has worked with teens and young adults in mental health for over 15 years. She started her weight loss journey in 2016 and was able to achieve losing 100lbs in 1 year naturally through diet and exercise. While on her journey, she knew she wanted to help others with their own journey to physical health.

In 2019 she then began her own journey through mental health. Her journey has helped her to see others for where they are in the beginning stages in their journey. Her goal in life is to continue to help motivate and inspire others through physical and mental health.

HER SUMMITS

• ISSA Certified personal trainer
• 24 Hour Fitness sponsored athlete and model as well as for Under Armour Women

HER TRUE NORTH

You can find Rayy giving back to her community by feeding the homeless every year around Thanksgiving, Christmas and throughout the year. She never records this, simply because she does not believe it comes from the heart if you only care to post it on social media for the likes and comments. Helping the homeless has become therapeutic and allows her to bless others with the gifts God has given her.

She loves all things animals, music, hiking, food and traveling. She’s very excited to join the Compass Health Team.

HER STORY

Crystal obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grand Canyon University and is still currently attending to pursue her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Prior to Compass, she spent 5 years working at the Los Angeles Air Force Base as a Family Health & Pediatric LVN for 4 years and Patient Safety Manager for 1 year.

HER TRAINING

• Licensed Vocational Nurse, licensed since 2012
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Patient Safety Professional Course: TapRoot 2021
• Intravenous Therapy & Blood Withdrawal certification​

HER TRUE NORTH

Crystal enjoys camping, hiking, anything outdoors related, salsa dancing, attending vintage car shows, loves music, traveling, trying new food spots, playing with her two German Shepherds Bali & Java, grabbing coffee or boba with friends, and family time.

PROGRAM GUIDE

At Compass, Alyssa facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Alyssa brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Alyssa is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HER STORY

Alyssa is an Arizona Native and moved to California in 2022. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2019 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Human Development with a Thematic Minor with Health Emphasis. She plans to go back to school to pursue a graduate degree in Family and Marriage Therapy. Although she had planned to become a nurse, she found that her true calling was in mental health services during the year of 2020.

• She presented research on PTSD and advocated for PTSD awareness in her community at University of Arizona
• Alyssa has completed a certification in Incorporating Mindfulness in the Clinical practice
• Alyssa was part of a compassion meditation group led by her former college instructor and other mentors of the community
• Alyssa was a frequent volunteer in the NICU at her local hospital where she assisted nurses and cared for infants withdrawing from neonatal abstinence syndrome and helped mitigate their withdrawal symptoms
• Completed DBT Foundational Training through PsychWire
• Completed CBT & DBT Foundational Training through Compass Behavioral Health
• Part of a 30 Week DBT skills training group
• Trained in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention AED, Adult/Child/Infant CPR, & Advanced First Aid

HER TRUE NORTH

Alyssa is very passionate about nature, earth conservation and sustainability. She enjoys traveling, attending music festivals, trying new foods, and working out. She is also a new dog mom to her maltipoo, Panchita.

HER STORY

Ashley is a Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapist from Orange County, CA. As a survivor of childhood trauma herself, an anxiety diagnosis and series of panic attacks led her to the practice of yoga over ten years ago. As she experienced profound healing through her personal practice, she became more aware of the subtle benefits of yoga and the parallels that yoga had with her psychology background. It was then that she knew she needed to study Yoga more deeply to understand why it was so helpful in the healing process. Ashley completed her Yoga Therapist Training and focused on working with trauma survivors. She is passionate about helping students weave the tools of yoga naturally into their everyday lives. Her dharma (“purpose” in Sanskrit) is to come alongside students and empower them to walk their own healing journey.

HER TRAINING

• Yoga Therapist Training, AlcheMe Yoga Therapy
• SEP Certification, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Thomas Edison State University

HER SUMMITS

• Developed yoga programs in Newport Mesa school district for adolescents recovering from addiction
• Designed a Trauma-Informed Yoga Training for students and those wanting to teach yoga to others
• Implemented a bilingual therapeutic yoga program at the Melinda Hoag Center for Healthy Living for students of all ages and abilities, including the disabled, those in chronic pain, and those recovering from injuries or surgeries
• Created Trauma-Informed 1:1 Yoga Therapy session plans for students struggling with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and PTSD to integrate into their treatment plan

HER TRUE NORTH

As a deeply compassionate person, Ashley always says, “at the end of the day, I want to be able to say that I helped someone.” As a result, she volunteers with a local Shakespeare troupe, enjoys singing at church, and recently fostered a family of cats, but ended up keeping them all so they could grow up together. Now she and her spouse spend time adventuring with their dog Nova and all their cats: Arthur, Rhea, Apollo, & Selene. Yes, the cats walk on leashes, but not all at once.

At Compass, Erica facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Erica brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Erica is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HER STORY

Erica obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Global and is still attending for her Master of Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling. Before Compass, Erica spent three years working with adolescents in treatment centers.

HER SUMMITS

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at University Massachusetts Global
• Ongoing Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling at University Massachusetts Global

HER TRUE NORTH

In her free time Erica enjoys going on road trips, painting, and playing video games with her partner.

​Jay joined Compass Behavioral Health as the Program Administrative Assistant. Over time, their contributions extended beyond their initial role, as they actively participated in creating essential positions such as the Intake Coordinator and Utilization Management roles. Jay’s versatile role at Compass has immersed them in multiple departments, resulting in a significant accumulation of experience and knowledge. As they aspire to make significant contributions to Compass’s outstanding team, they are dedicated to pursuing continuous growth and development within the Billing Department.

Prior to Compass, Jay graduated from Paul Mitchell the School’s Esthetics Program.

THEIR TRUE NORTH

When Jay is not working, they enjoy spending time outside. They are committed to living a life worth living through hiking, traveling, and “feeling small in this big world”. One of Jay’s goals for 2025 is to climb Mt. Whitney! (Largest Mountain in the Continental U.S.) Jay also LOVES making playlists on Spotify! They have a deep passion for sharing music.

PROGRAM GUIDE & PRACTICUM STUDENT THERAPIST

At Compass, Elowyn facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Elowyn brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Elowyn is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HER STORY

Elowyn received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University, Fullerton. She is currently attending The University of Massachusetts Global to obtain her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Before she started her journey with Compass, Elowyn gained experience implementing ABA intervention with children, supported adolescent foster youth in residential treatment, and worked with adults managing addiction and life after incarceration.

HER SUMMITS

• BA Psychology, minor child and adolescent development
• Ongoing Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from The University of Massachusetts Global

HER TRUE NORTH

In her free time, Elowyn enjoys baking, reading fantasy fiction, and going to the beach. She aims to visit new places as often as possible.

At Compass, Corey facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Corey brings his clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Corey is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HIS STORY

Corey received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and is currently working on his Master’s Degree in Social Work, both at California State University, Fullerton. Prior to working at Compass, he spent a year working with men with substance use disorder. This experience has led to his interest in the mental health and wellness field.

HIS TRUE NORTH

Corey enjoys hockey and basketball, reading and writing, as well as a relaxing day at the beach.

HER STORY

Marianne is a recent recipient of her Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, where she researched art-therapy as treatment for PTSD. Since her graduation in 2019, Marianne has worked in the mental health field as a strong means of support for teens struggling with addiction, self-harm, trauma, suicide attempts and ideation, eating disorders, mood dysregulation, psychosis, and other challenges surrounding mental health. Marianne keeps a warm and positive outlook while empowering teens to practice healthy coping skills, self-love and self-compassion, healthy communication, and self-advocacy. In addition, Marianne has taken her passion for all things theater and applied it to the mental health field as a Drama Therapy Apprentice for the past 2 years. As a Program Development Specialist, Marianne uses her experience as an auditor for residential treatment facilities across the country to write policies that guarantee fair treatment and the highest quality of care for all clients who come to Compass.

HER SUMMITS

• B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of California, Berkeley
• 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County
• Presented research on the effects of Drama Therapy methods in PTSD in refugee populations
• Acceptance to Columbia School of Social Work for Fall ‘22!

HER TRUE NORTH

On Marianne’s rare free days, you can find her participating in Indigenous gatherings and social justice advocacy, supporting local drag artists, hand-beading portraits, exploring new music, and spending time with her loved ones, including her cat Pumpkin.

At Compass, Savannah provides direct care to residents and ensures quality of care across Guide shifts. As Assistant Program Manager, Savannah is responsible for the training, re-training of Guides and adherence to policy with the goal to help Guides provide effective treatment to residents.

HER STORY

Savannah is a college graduate from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), where she obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Human Development with a double minor in Psychology and Sociology. She currently interns as a research assistant for the Child Language Interactions and Memory Lab (CLIaM) at CSULB. The research she conducts focuses on the intersection of language and cognitive development in children using an interdisciplinary theory from developmental psychology, to address issues facing children and families. Savannah has a passion for helping others and strives to make a positive and ever-lasting impact on people’s lives.

HER TRAINING

• Savannah has attended one day foundational overview trainings for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
• Savannah participated in a 16 hour Treatment Implementation Collaborative (TIC) Master Class: Core Skills in DBT training, a 12 hour TIC: Averting the Crisis: Coaching in DBT training.
• Savannah also completed the PsychWire DBT Skills and PsychWire DBT skills for Adolescents and Families training courses. 
• Savannah is well trained in ABA therapy.
• Lastly, Savannah is currently part of a 30 Week DBT skills training group. 

HER SUMMITS

• Co-authorship on multiple published journal articles.
• Presented research posters on High Impact Practices (HIPs), Parent-Child Interaction and Caregiver Attachment-Bases Vulnerabilities at the American Education Research Association (AERA), Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Western Psychological Association (WPA) and Yale NEA-BPD Research Conferences.

HER TRUE NORTH

Savannah loves spending her time reading, hiking and working out. She is also a huge foodie and loves checking out new food spots with her friends and family.

HER STORY

Prior to Compass, Mily spent 2 years working as a nurse in a behavioral health urgent care facility. She has over 7 years of experience working in case management in workers compensation. She is currently taking pre-requisite classes for a Registered Nursing program at Los Angeles Harbor College.

HER TRAINING

• Licensed Vocational Nurse, licensed since 2012
• Intravenous Therapy & Blood Withdrawal certification

HER TRUE NORTH

Mily enjoys the outdoors, and can be found hiking or camping whenever she has the chance. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends.

HER STORY

Allie has been working as a Behavioral and Mental Health nurse for over 4 years. Allie has worked with adolescents and children in a variety of settings, which included being a Health Office nurse for an OC School District. She also has specialty experience in Dermatology and Wound Care.

HER TRAINING

• Intravenous Therapy & Blood Withdrawal certification
• Crisis Prevention Institute certification
• Spanish Medical Translator certification

HER TRUE NORTH

Allie enjoys spending time with her family and participating in both leisurely activities and active ones. She enjoys the outdoors, people watching, and great coffee. Living an active and meaningful life is one of her core values.

PROGRAM GUIDE

At Compass, Mitchell facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Mitchell brings his clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Mitchell is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HIS STORY

Mitchell obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from California State University, Fullerton and is currently attending California Southern University to obtain his Master’s Degree in Psychology. Before he started his journey with Compass, he had spent two years working at a residential treatment center for adolescents struggling with addiction, trauma, self-harm.

HIS SUMMITS

• Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from California State University, Fullerton
• Ongoing Master of Arts in Psychology from California Southern University

HIS TRUE NORTH

Mitchell enjoys spending most of his time with his roommates and family, reading and writing fantasy, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

PROGRAM GUIDE

At Compass, Majd facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Majd brings his clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Majd is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HIS STORY

Majd obtained his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with specialization in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. Before working at Compass, he spent two years working as a research assistant at UC San Diego’s Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research and then later joined the UCSD Body Acceptance Lab as a trial interventionist for the body project. His current research interests surround eating disorders, personality disorders, and addiction.

HIS SUMMITS

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego
• Two years as a Research Assistant at UC San Diego’s Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research
• Trial Interventionist at the UCSD Body Acceptance Lab

HIS TRUE NORTH

He is particularly interested in understanding these disorders in relation to sexual and gender minority identity. In the future, he plans on applying to Psy.D. programs to become a clinician.

At Compass, Georgia facilitates milieu groups such as Mindfulness, Executive Functioning, Individual Skills Coaching, SMART Goals, Journaling, Mindful Daily Reflection, Recreation, and Sleep Hygiene Groups. As a Program Guide, Georgia brings her clinical training and experience to manage a truly therapeutic milieu for our residential program. Georgia is in a 2-year DBT Training Externship through the Compass Research & Training Institute.

HER STORY

Georgia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from California State University, Fullerton and is in a Master of Social Work program, hoping to pursue clinical licensure post-graduation. Throughout her undergrad and for the better part of a decade, Georgia worked as a barista making coffee and connecting with others. Before working at Compass, she was also a Mental Health Counselor at a six-bed residential facility for the treatment of adolescents with eating disorders.

It was this experience that sparked her interest in harm reduction, mutual aid, and social justice approaches to community mental health. Her research interests include the impact of anti-fat bias, diet culture, and social determinants of health on collective liberation, mental health services, and overall well-being.

• Undergraduate degree from California State University, Fullerton in Sociology
• Master of Social Work Degree in Progress at CSU Dominguez Hills
• Trained in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention, AED, Adult/Child/Infant CPR, & First Aid
• Completed DBT Foundational Training through PsychWire.
• Completed CBT & DBT Foundational Training through Compass Behavioral Health.
• Completed 40−Hour Domestic Violence Advocate Training and additional training in Danger Assessment, Motivational Interviewing, Clinical Suicide Prevention, Mental Health First Aid for Adults and Youth (HOAG).

HER TRUE NORTH

Georgia enjoys cats, coffee, plants, and reading—in no particular order, but ideally at the same time. She is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner and likes to read a balance of fiction and non-fiction. She is an avid teller and lover of what are commonly known as “dad jokes,” which she insists are just called jokes.”

Within Patricia’s role as the Research Director, Patricia is responsible for the development of new treatment methods, supervising, consulting, and training research assistants and therapists, overseeing quality assurance, progress indictors, and DBT adherence, and designing, conducting, and disseminating research. In this capacity, Patricia works closely with Dr. Clive Robbins, DBT Training Director at Duke University and Compass Training Institute. Additionally, Patricia facilitates a clinical caseload, providing individual, couple, and family therapy, and attends weekly team consultation meetings.

HER STORY

Patricia’s experiences providing services to clients in a variety of clinical settings have significantly influenced her research interests. Her clinical internships in medical facilities at East Carolina University (ECU) illuminated the intersection between the sexual, reproductive, and mental health of individuals, couples, and families in an integrated care setting. These experiences contributed to her interest in integrated care and demonstrated the importance of attending to the biopsychosocial and spiritual health of clients. Subsequently, she was employed at Awakenings: Counseling for Couples and Sexuality, a private psychotherapy practice that specializes in couple and sex therapy. Her clients varied in their reasons for seeking therapy; however, she frequently worked with LGBTQIA+ and heterosexual individuals and couples seeking relief from sexual health concerns, relationship distress, and mental health symptoms. In conjunction, her clinical experiences at ECU and Awakenings solidified her scholarly interest in couple therapy and psychoeducation, sexual health, perinatal depression, integrated care, and improving marginalized communities’ access to mental healthcare services. Her research interests and research experience culminated into her dissertation, which features the design and implementation of a pilot study examining the efficacy of an online, adapted version of the Hold Me Tight (HMT) couple workshop with couples at risk for or experiencing perinatal depression.

During her doctorate at Michigan State University (MSU), Patricia pursued multiple sources of training and specialized education to further inform her clinical and teaching practices. First, she completed the required courses to become an Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) therapist. She also sought training in HMT to support her intervention-based dissertation research. Additionally, she completed the Sexual Health Certificate Program (SHCP) at the University of Michigan. She participated in both the Sex Therapist and Sexuality Educator certification tracks to enhance her clinical practice and pedagogy. Furthermore, she completed the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). This program featured numerous training opportunities, two multi-day training institutes, a faculty mentor, and a project that cumulated in a research presentation.

Patricia has been a teaching assistant, guest lecturer, and instructor of record for a variety of courses in the Human Development and Family Studies department at MSU. She was a teaching assistant for courses on children, youth, and families and human sexuality before graduating to instructor of record for the online human sexuality course. She has repeatedly been a guest lecturer for courses on human sexuality, acclimating to graduate school, parenting, and clinical supervision. She prides herself on creating classroom environments that accommodate the needs of her students, center their intellectual interests, and promote a high level of critical thought and writing skills. Some of her most fulfilling experiences as an instructor have arisen from helping students struggling to grasp difficult concepts through a combination of individual meetings, experiential activities, and larger group discussions.

HER TRAINING

• Undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Sexuality Studies
• Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University
• Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy from Michigan State University
• Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Hold Me Tight (HMT)      
• Completed the Sexual Health Certificate Program (SHCP) from the University of Michigan – Sex Therapist and Sexuality Education certification tracks
• Completed the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
• Trained in Prepare and Enrich

HER SUMMITS

• Completion of her PhD from Michigan State University
• Completion of the educational components of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Completion of the Sexual Health Certificate Program (SHCP) from the University of Michigan

HER TRUE NORTH

Patricia’s passions include connecting with others, teaching, rescuing animals, interior decorating, thrift shopping, and traveling. She also enjoys spending time with her fur-babies, Kimmy and Chevy!

SENIOR GUIDE/COMPASS RTC MEDICAL DIRECTOR

In Dr. Nicole’s role as Medical Director of the Compass Residential Treatment Program (RTC), The Farmhouse, she oversees the medication management and overall psychiatric treatment of residents.  Dr. Nicole works closely with the Compass Chef to develop nutritional psychiatry informed menu programming, utilizing food as a source of mood stabilization, improving focus, and enhancing overall well-being and health.

HER STORY

Early in her training in medicine, Dr. Nicole realized quickly that health is far from black and white, and medicine is often looked at from the standpoint of disease and what is wrong, rather than searching for optimal health. It was through her intensive training that Dr. Nicole found medications far from enough to help those struggling with their mental health. By integrating therapy, self-discovery, mindfulness, nutrition, exercise and sometimes medications, we can live an emboldened life to the fullest.

At Compass Behavioral Health, Dr. Nicole found a community of providers that embodied these values of wellness where a life worth living can be realized.

HER TRAINING

• Undergraduate degree from University of California, Irvine in Psychology and Social Behavior
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine (WesternU)
• Completed a Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellowship in medical school at WesternU
• General Psychiatry Residency at Kaiser Permanente, Fontana
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at University of California, Irvine
• Trained in infant, child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy at Newport Psychoanalytic Institute
• Trained in Mentalization Based Treatments with Children and Young People at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
• Certifications in Integrative and in Nutritional Psychiatry from Integrative Psychiatry Institute
• Board certified in Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Completed training in Accelerated Rosolution Therapy

HER SUMMITS

• Fitness instructor at LA Fitness
• President of MBLDN Psych and Wellness

HER TRUE NORTH

Dr. Nicole loves spending time with her family and two shih-tzus, Honey and James. Though while with her family, she will often be spotted making amigurumi with crochet or learning new crafts.

EXPEDITION LEADER / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cherie oversees the implementation of Compass’ Mission Statement and adherence to its driving principles.

HER STORY

After nearly two decades of working with adolescents struggling with depression, suicidal ideation and other disorders, Cherie noticed a disturbing trend. “When I interviewed the young adults on our psych ward who weren’t getting better, I heard the same statements over and over,” she recalls. “It must be me, I must be too broken to be fixed.”

Working closely with hundreds of patients and their families, it became clear to Cherie that recovery depended on developing an effective treatment program before patients started to form their identity. “Before their identity literally became ‘depressed and suicidal’,” she says. “Before they developed a mindset that nothing could help or that they were broken, that was when they needed help the most.” It was with these families in mind that Cherie founded Compass Behavioral Health.

HER TRAINING

• Undergraduate degree from Vanguard University in Cultural Anthropology
• Master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary’s Graduate School of Psychology
• Certification as a Play Therapist from UCSD Extension
• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) through Behavioral Tech, DBT treatment developer Dr. Marsha Linehan’s training institute
• Intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Dr. Melanie Harned
• Comprehensively Trained as a Family Connections Leader by treatment developer Dr. Alan Fruzzetti
• Intensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) through Oxford University’s Center for Research on Eating Disorders
• Intensively trained in Behavioral Activation through Oxford University
• Intensively Trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Children (DBT-C) by treatment developer Dr. Franscheska Perepletchikova
• Intensively Trained in DBT Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Alan Fruzzetti
• Trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Sue Johnson through Psychwire Training Institute
• Trained in Family-Based Therapy for Anorexia through The Training Institute for Child & Adolescent Eating Disorders
• Intensively Trained in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) by Dr. Daniel Moran
• Comprehensively trained in Exposure-Response Prevention for OCD by Dr. Jonathan Abramowtiz, founding editor and chief of OCD Medical Journal
• Trained in Attachment-Based Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Guy Diamond at Drexel University
• Intensively Trained in MED-DBT (Multi-diagnostic Clients with Eating Disorders) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Protocol) by treatment co-developer Anita Federici, Ph.D.

HER SUMMITS

• Past Director of the Advisory Board to Orange County Parenting Magazine and a contributing writer
• 1999 nominee for Mental Health Care Professional of the Year for Orange County for her effective treatment outcomes (now titled Thomas F. Riley Award)
• DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician™

HER TRUE NORTH

An avid mountaineer and globe-trotter, Cherie is on a continuing mission to carry a Compass summit flag to the highest peak on every continent on Earth. Three down, four to go.

Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antartica

Lizbeth serves as Field Instructor for Colombia School of Social Work Compass Interns.

HER STORY

Lizbeth first become introduced to the practice of evidenced based therapies in 2006 when she was completing her Master’s in Social Work (MSW). At first, she was a bit hesitant and turned off by the idea that adopting a treatment protocol may make her feel “tied down”- still, she gave evidenced based treatments a chance. In her MSW program while interning at Harbor UCLA Medical Center she was trained in the evidenced based therapies of dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy. It was then that she was able to implement these modalities and was in awe of the significant positive outcomes she witness. She was successfully able to treat clients who had struggled with lifelong illness associated with issues such as severe trauma, depression, panic attacks, suicide attempts, non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors and substantial interpersonal problems. Lizbeth has been in favor of and an advocate for evidenced based practices ever since. Lizbeth also saw a need to provide evidenced based practices such as dialectical behavior therapy to diverse communities such as monolingual Spanish speaking clients. While at Harbor UCLA, in October of 2007, she co-led the first Spanish DBT Skills group as she helped found and launch the first adherent dialectical behavior therapy program in Spanish within Los Angeles County. As a bilingual bicultural therapist, Lizbeth finds it a gift that she is able to use her primary language to serve her clients. She has continued her work as a consultant, researcher and provider of DBT in Spanish.

HER TRAINING

• Bachelor’s in psychology from UCLA
• Master’s in Social Work from CSULA
• Doctorate in Social Work form USC
• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) through Behavioral Tech, DBT treatment developer Dr. Marsha Linehan’s training institute
• Trained in DBT-Accepting the Challenges to Exiting the System by treatment developer Dr. Kate Comtois
• Intensively trained in Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Dr. Edna Foa
• Trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Dr. Melanie Harned
• Trained in Case Formulation of Cognitive Behavior Therapy by Dr. Jacqueline Persons
• Certified Cognitive Behavior Therapist via the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
• Certified Prolonged Exposure Therapist via the University of Pennsylvania, Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety

HER SUMMITS

• Published work on the intersection of DBT and culture
• A founder of the first DBT adherent program in Spanish within Los Angeles County, Harbor UCLA Medical Center
• Chair, Diversity Action Committee, Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, 2020-Present
• Consultant, Treatment Implementation and Care Collaborative: Race(ism) Work Group, 2020-Present
• Board Member, Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, 2019-Present
• Student Ambassador, Association of Cognitive and Behavior Therapy, 2017-2019
• Nominated and Scholar of Saks Institute for Mental Health, USC Gould School of Law 2016-2017
• Co-Chair, Doctoral Student Association, USC Suzanne Dwork-Peck School of Social Work, 2016-2017
• Nominated, Social Worker of the Year, 2015, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Harbor UCLA Medical Center

HER TRUE NORTH

As a proud mommy, Lizbeth considers her role as a mother as first and foremost. She is often found chasing her little one around in her home or going on family bike rides with her toddler. When she is not parenting she enjoys baking and photography.

PROGRAM CLINICIAN

Candace’s role at Compass includes providing therapy, skills coaching, phone coaching, group skills training, and participating in a weekly consultation team. Candace also provides supervision to program guides working in Compass’ Residential setting. Candace is currently supervised by Marissa Colangelo, LCSW (#78805).

HER STORY

Candace joined the CBH team in May 2021 as a research assistant and case manager. In her time at Compass, Candace has occupied multiple roles across all levels of care. The same year she began working at Compass, she also entered a Master’s program at CSULB. Candace was given the opportunity to apply the tools and techniques she learned in her grad program at Compass, as she took on more client-facing and clinical roles. Candace worked as a Program Guide at Compass’ Residential Treatment Center for a year and a half, which allowed her to build mastery in working with higher risk and higher acuity cases. Candace completed a 1-year Practicum at Compass’ Outpatient location, and provided individual therapy, group therapy, and skills coaching to a wide range of clients. In December 2023, Candace graduated with her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, and in March 2024 she received her Associate number, which allowed her to begin working full time as a Program Clinician. Before working at Compass, Candace spent two years working as a Behavioral Therapist, providing one on one therapy to neurodivergent children. Her research interests are related to the mental health and well-being of communities of color and lower-socioeconomic status communities, as well as increasing outreach and services to children in low SES areas.

HER TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California Santa Cruz
• ABA Training
• Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from California State University Long Beac
• Trained in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention AED, Adult/Child/Infant CPR, & First Aid
• Completed a Trauma Focused-CBT Web Training
• Trained in Averting the Crisis: Coaching in DBT through Treatment Implementation Collaborative
• Completed the Jump Start DBT Training with Shari Manning, Ph.D. Through Treatment Implementation Collaborative
• Completed the DBT Foundational training through PsychWire
• Completed a CBT Foundational Training through Compass Behavioral Health
• Completed a DBT Foundational Training through Compass Behavioral Health
• Completed a Management for Eating Disorders DBT Training with Anita Federici
• Completed an Intensive Training in the DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol for PTSD with Melanie Harned, PhD, ABPP
• Completed a training in Ethics, Boundaries of Competence, Avoiding Harm, and Risk Management: Working Well with the Suicidal Patient with Andre White, PhD through the Portland DBT Institute
• Completed the Getting to Adherence in DBT Individual Therapy: Essential Strategies, Practical Tips, and Common Pitfalls training with Melanie Harned, PhD & Sara Schmidt, PhD

HER TRUE NORTH

Candace enjoys working out and doing athletic activities. She loves spending quality time with her friends and loved ones, especially if that time is spent watching movies or getting coffee. She has two cats, Eloise and Arlo whom she loves dearly and loves to cuddle up with at the end of a long day. 

PROGRAM CLINICIAN

Natalie provides comprehensive DBT including individual therapy, phone coaching, DBT group skills training, team consultation, and skills coaching. A team of coding and therapy adherent professionals review her treatment plans and clinical videos.

HER STORY

Natalie is a graduate of Columbia University’s School of Social Work (CSSW) where she was a fellow in Dr. Andre Ivanoff’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Lab. Natalie completed her second year internship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center Psychiatry Department’s DBT Program where she helped launch their Accelerated DBT Program and was their first Social Work intern. Prior to her time at Columbia University, she was her co-worker’s, Marissa Colangelo, teacher’s assistant during undergrad where she was introduced to DBT. From that point on, the spark of passion for this modality and its efficacy has been her driving force in helping teens, adolescents, and young adults find their life worth living.

HER TRAINING

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia School of Social Work
• Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Northridge in Psychology with a Minor in Child and Adolescent Development
• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) through Columbia School of Social Work DBT Lab
• Completed 65 hours of Intensive DBT Training offered by Behavioral Tech trainers Randy Wolbert and Gwen Abney-Cunningham
• Certificate in Motivational Interviewing from Columbia School of Social Work
• Completed Online DBT Trainings by Behavioral Tech on Skills Training, Therapy Interfering Behaviors, and Exposure Therapy
• Intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Dr. Melanie Harned
• Trained in DBT Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Alan Fruzzetti
• Trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Sue Johnson through Psychwire Training Institute
• Attachment Based Family Therapy Introductory Workshop by Dr. Guy Diamond
• Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• OCD A to Z: Diagnosis, Assessment, & Treatment for OCD by Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz
• Trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Eating Disorders the MED-DBT Protocol by Anita Federici, PhD. CPsych

HER TRUE NORTH

In addition to spending time with her husband, daughter, family and friends, Natalie enjoys going to concerts, experimenting with interior decor, and playing the violin.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our training director.  Dr. Robins was a mentor, a colleague, and a friend.

HIS STORY

Dr. Robins has been a proponent of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for more than 20 years. In 1993, he completed the first intensive training in dialectical behavior therapy, which was conducted by Dr. Marsha Linehan, the psychologist who created DBT, which combines behavioral science with concepts such as acceptance and mindfulness.

During that same year, Dr. Robins established the DBT program at Duke University Medical Center, which he directed until 2015. In the last two decades Dr. Robins has: provided DBT to many patients, trained and supervised more than 70 psychology interns and postdoctoral fellows, taught graduate-level courses in Psychological Intervention, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and the Psychology of Mindfulness, given more than 25 Grand Rounds and other invited presentations at Universities and Medical Centers, and conducted more than 90 DBT trainings and workshops for mental health professionals. He was also a co-investigator, along with his colleague Cedar Koons, on the first randomized controlled trial of DBT outside Dr. Linehan’s laboratory, and published in 2001.

HIS TRAINING

• Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Sussex graduate school at Stanford University
• Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook

HIS SUMMITS

• Faculty member, New York University
• Faculty member, Duke University
• Professor Emeritus, Duke University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Professor Emeritus, Duke University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
• Certified in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology
• Licensed Psychologist, North Carolina, License No. 1421
• Founding Fellow in the Academy of Cognitive Therapy
• Served as Associate Editor and on the editorial boards of several scientific and professional journals
• More than 80 published articles and book chapters on depression, borderline personality disorder, and cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies
• Recipient of research grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health
• Behavioral Tech DBT Expert Trainer
• DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™

HIS TRUE NORTH

Clive had the privilege of seeing Jimi Hendrix perform live in 1967 and playing guitar has been a passion ever since. Self-taught as a rock guitarist, he is now (slowly!) learning to play jazz.

HER STORY

Aerie has a background in real estate and home furnishing purchasing and design. She has a passion for creating peaceful spaces with an emphasis on minimalistic organization. Aerie is constantly developing herself professionally and is currently training in human resources.

HER TRAINING

Fullerton College

HER SUMMITS

Member of Society of Human Resource Management
Member of HR California

HER TRUE NORTH

Aerie has a passion for traveling and loves meeting new people from different cultures. She has taken solo journeys to Spain and China, and her most recent trip was to the Philippines. When Aerie is not planning the next big event at Compass, she is undoubtedly planning her next adventure.

BASE CAMP MANAGER/OPERATIONS MANAGER

Kellie Severin’s role as Operations Manager oversees several departments, including the Billing Department, Payroll, and Human Resources.

HER STORY

Kellie’s background is in public education, where she has worked various positions helping contribute to the care and education of children grades Pre-K to 12th grade. Kellie has worked in a variety of positions since arriving at Compass, and now helps to lead the team upward in successful support of our families.

HER TRAINING

Andon College, Modesto Jr. College, and Clark Community College. Certificate in Medication Administration, AIDS Education, UC Davis Online Pet Nutrition, Beyond Diversity Training, & Highly Qualified Para Assessment Certification.

HER SUMMITS

Founded a community-based food assistance program of over 4,000 to help serve families in need.

HER TRUE NORTH

Kellie’s mantra is “Living my best life” here at Compass and anywhere else her journey leads her.

PROGRAM CLINICIAN

At Compass, “Dr. Sparky” provides individual therapy utilizing strong evidenced-based treatments, facilitates DBT Skills Groups, and administers psychology testing.

HER STORY

Dr. Paige Sparks received a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology | Alliant International University, San Diego. She completed a dissertation on “Examining the Effects of Loss on the Previously Incarcerated Population” where she sought to explore the relationship between the experience of loss, adverse childhood experiences, substance use, mental health symptomology, and resiliency. She also holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from CSPP | AIU, San Diego.

Dr. Paige Sparks has received training before and during her doctoral degree program, working with children, adolescents, and adults in individual psychotherapy, as well as with couples, families, and groups providing behavioral therapies. Dr. Sparks has had training in Evidence-Based practices, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) and Expressive Therapies. Dr. Sparks has completed her post-doctoral training at Harbor Psychiatry and Mental Health. She has provided didactics and peer supervision of DBT and facilitated the implementation of a DBT skills group for adults 18 and older within her post-doctoral setting.

Dr. Sparks is in a comprehensive DBT Training Fellowship through Compass Research & Training Institute, and is currently under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Zaha.

HER TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from Newbury College, Massachusetts
• Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from CSPP | AIU
• Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Forensics from CSPP | AIU
• Trained in DBT through San Diego County Department of Mental Health during 3rd year practicum at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
• Comprehensively trained in DBT through a pre-doctoral internship at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, NJ
• Completed DBT Foundational through Psychwire, created by Behavioral Tech

HER SUMMITS

• Registered Psychological Associate through the California Board of Psychology
• Publication of dissertation “Examining the Effects of Loss on the Previously Incarcerated Population”
• Lifetime member of the Psi Chi Honor Society for Psychology
• Research Assistant for Dr. Meghan Fagundes dissertation research at CSPP | AIU (Factors associated with completion of treatment for sexually abusive behavior among sexually abusive youth)
• Teaching Assistant for Multicultural Competency course at CSPP | AIU taught by Dr. Jennifer Staples

HER TRUE NORTH

Dr. Sparks prides herself for her humor and varying interests, spending much of her time engaging in arts and crafts, participating in gaming opportunities (i.e.: video games, board games, card games, D&D, and much more), spending time in nature gardening, and spending time with friends, family, and her furry family members.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Within Marissa’s role as Associate Director of Compass Training institute, she serves as the Clinical Supervisor for Columbia University’s Master of Social Work graduates, as well as provides supervision and consultation to the team to ensure adherence to DBT. Marissa is responsible for teaching DBT didactics to UCI’s Psychiatry Fellows, provides trainings both in-house and to the community and manages Compass Training Institute’s Continuing Education.  Marissa works closely with Compass’ Research Director to identify training needs and to ensure clinical excellence. Marissa facilitates Meet and Greets with prospective families interested in Compass to identify goodness of fit and to provide an overview of the program.

Marissa serves of the Field Instructor for Columbia School of Social Work master’s level graduate students. Within this role, Marissa provides clinical supervision and oversees interns’ tasks at Compass.

Additionally, Marissa facilitates a clinical caseload, providing individual and family therapy, leading DBT Skills Training groups, phone coaching and attends weekly team consultation meetings. A team of coding and therapy adherent professionals review her treatment plans and clinical videos, and she receives expert consultation from Dr. Clive Robbins, DBT Training Director at Duke University and Compass Training Institute.

HER STORY

Marissa started her master’s in Social Work at Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) in 2012. Marissa participated in research under Dr. Allen Zweben, studying the efficacy of Chantix with substance abuse. Marissa’s research sparked interest in working with mental health and substance abuse. During her second year at CSSW, she found her passion in providing therapy to individuals who suffer from emotion dysregulation and completed her intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in 2014 by Dr. Andre Ivanoff. Marissa completed her second-year internship at Rikers Island, providing DBT to female inmates. Here, she provided DBT in a setting with limitations and restrictions, leading to her passion of providing affordable and accessible DBT to the community.

Marissa has extensive experience working with adolescents and young adults providing evidence-based therapy in a variety of levels of care. Marissa participated in the development of the Partial Hospitalization Program at Clearview Treatment Programs and has provided therapy at the outpatient and intensive-outpatient level of care since 2014. Marissa has a passion for teaching and returned to her alma mater at California State University, Northridge and was an Associate Professor in the Child and Adolescent Department for 3 years.

HER TRAINING

• Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia School of Social Work
• Undergraduate degree from California State University, Northridge in Child and Adolescent Development
• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) through Columbia School of Social Work DBT Lab in 2013
• Completed a 4-day Advanced Dialectical Behavior Therapy by Dr. Shari Manning
• Intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Dr. Melanie Harned
• Trained in Behavioral Activation through Oxford’s Center for Research on Eating Disorders
• Intensively Trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Children (DBT-C) by treatment developer Dr. Franscheska Perepletchikova
• Trained in DBT Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Alan Fruzzetti
• Trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Sue Johnson through Psychwire Training Institute 
• Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy

HER SUMMITS

• DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician™
• Field Instructor for Alma Mater, Columbia School of Social Work

HER TRUE NORTH

In addition to her loving fur-baby Madonna, Marissa enjoys spending time with friends and family, Pilates, teaching, flower arrangements, attending concerts and traveling.

LEAD GUIDE | OUTPATIENT CLINIC DIRECTOR

Matt oversees Compass’ clinical policies, quality assurance, and adherence to DBT treatment procedures.

HIS STORY

Matt is a DBT-Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ and has been comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Compass Behavioral Health. He provides therapy for individuals and their families, skills coaching, and co-facilitates Compass’ DBT Skills Training groups. A team of coding and therapy adherent professionals review the therapy he provides and he receives expert consultation from Dr. Clive Robins, DBT Training Director at Duke University. Dr. Melanie Harned, Research Director at Dr. Linehan’s lab at the University of Washington, has intensively trained Matt in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) in a DBT framework. He has been intensively trained to provide Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) by the treatment’s developer, Dr. Francheska Perepletchikova. Matt has also been comprehensively trained as a Family Connections (FC) Leader by Dr. Alan Fruzzetti, FC treatment developer, in alliance with the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality. Additionally, Matt has been intensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) through Oxford’s Center for Research on Eating Disorders.

Matt has extensive experience working with children and adolescents with emotion dysregulation. He has worked with several different populations providing behavioral therapy and interventions. Before joining Compass, Matt provided Applied Behavioral Analysis to children and teens with Autism and other presenting conditions, working in home, school, and community settings. He also provided parent training for families, helping them learn (and practice) essential skills to effectively respond to a wide range of issues while supporting their child throughout the treatment process. He completed his Graduate School Practicum at the Eli Home for Abused and Neglected Families, where he provided individual and group therapy to victims of domestic violence. Matt also taught the shelter’s “Safe People” class, which focuses on forming boundaries and creating long-lasting relationships.

Among his other accomplishments, Matt participated in research at the University of California Irvine (UCI) that measured the relationship between Betamethasone intake during pregnancy and infant temperament. He helped the program facilitate its “Stranger Danger” situation scenario. He also collected research data at UCI and participated in weekly program updates and video coding adherence for therapists.

HIS TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine
• Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology
• Intensively trained in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
• Intensively trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)
• Comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE) by Dr. Melanie Harned, Ph.D.
• Intensively trained in DBT for Children (DBT-C) by Dr. Francheska Perepletchikova, Ph.D.
• Intensively trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) by Sue Johnson, Ph.D
• Intensively trained in Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) by Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz, Ph.D
• Intensively Trained in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) by Dr. Daniel Moran
• Comprehensively trained in Exposure-Response Prevention for OCD by Dr. Jonathan Abramowtiz, founding editor and chief of OCD Medical Journal
• Trained in Attachment-Based Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Guy Diamond at Drexel University

HIS SUMMITS

• Registered member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician™, 2019
• Created Compass’ Electronic Medical Record system

HIS TRUE NORTH

Throughout early adulthood and his education, Matt knew that he wanted to work with teens to help them when they are at their most vulnerable. Compass has provided him the ability to not only do that, but to also to work with technology and use it to help those around him. Therapy and helping people use their tech together as a dream job!

RESIDENTIAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR

As clinical director of the RTC, Dr. Leonard oversees clinical services and programming; recruits, trains and supervises staff; and ensures quality assurance and licensing compliance.

HIS STORY

Dr. Leonard began his journey in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) working in a research capacity on the first randomized control trial studying the efficacy of DBT for Adolescents led by Dr. Marsha Linehan. Dr. Leonard completed his doctorate at the Ph.D. program in clinical-community psychology jointly offered by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and the University of Alaska Anchorage. There, he began his clinical training in DBT under Dr. Mike Worrall and was a founding member of the UAF DBT program. Dr. Leonard completed his pre-doctoral internship at Yale School of Medicine as a DBT fellow and was trained by Drs. Seth Axelrod and Emily Cooney. Dr. Leonard completed his post-doctoral residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center as a CBT fellow where he was further trained by Dr. Lynn McFarr. Dr. Leonard has extensive experience in providing DBT and CBT. He has also provided didactics, seminars and supervision to mental health clinicians in CBT and DBT in both Alaska and California and has facilitated implementation of DBT skills groups in various outpatient settings.

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology, honors in both majors, from California State University, Dominguez Hills
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage
• Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical-Community Psychology jointly offered by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Anchorage
• Comprehensively trained in DBT through a pre-doctoral fellowship at Yale School of Medicine
• Comprehensively trained in DBT and CBT through a post-doctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

HIS SUMMITS

• Diplomate and certified CBT Therapist, Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
• Published in peer-review journal, Mindfulness, on clinician mindfulness facilitating therapeutic effectiveness
• Seminar developer for Alaska Behavioral Health’s CBT training program
• Research staff on the first and largest randomized controlled multi-site study (UCLA, University of Washington, and CHOC Seattle) showing the efficacy of DBT for Adolescents led by treatment developer Dr. Marsha Linehan

HIS TRUE NORTH

As a member of the DBT community, Hugh experiences a rewarding sense of purpose and fulfillment as he helps others in solving their problems and working toward their lives worth living with clarity, precision and compassion. Hugh also enjoys being active and spending time in nature with his family and their Sheepadoodle, Mosby.

RESIDENTIAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR

As clinical director of the RTC, Angel oversees clinical services and programming; recruits, trains and supervises staff; and ensures quality assurance and licensing compliance. Angel also conducts individual and family therapy sessions in addition to co-leading Saturday Family Groups.

Angel Amaro joined Compass Behavioral Health in June of 2019 as a Program Clinician. As of May 2023, Angel is beginning a new journey with Compass as the Residential Clinical Director. He is a graduate of Columbia University’s School of Social Work (CSSW) and was intensively trained in Dr. Andre Ivanoff’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Lab at CSSW. Prior to his academic work, Angel worked for over nine years at a non-profit organization in Santa Monica assisting homeless individuals diagnosed with a mental illness.

HIS TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at City University of New York – Lehman College
• Master of Science in Social Work at Columbia University’s School of Social Work in New York
• Completed 65 hours of Intensive DBT Training offered by Behavioral Tech trainers Randy Wolbert and Gwen Abney-Cunningham
• Completed Online DBT Trainings by Behavioral Tech on Skills Training, Therapy Interfering Behaviors, and Exposure Therapy
• Intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Dr. Melanie Harned
• Trained in Behavioral Activation through Oxford’s Center
• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) by treatment developer Dr. Franscheska Perepletchikova
• Intensively Trained in DBT with Family, Parents, and Couples Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Alan Fruzetti
• Trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Sue Johnson through Psychwire Training Institute
• OCD A to Z: Diagnosis, Assessment, & Treatment for OCD by Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz
• Intensively Trained in Attachment-Based Family Therapy by Drexel University

HIS TRUE NORTH

Angel loves spending time with his two fur-babies named Max (Maltipoo) and Dodger (Terrier Mix). When not spending time with his dogs, you can catch Angel enjoying himself at Disneyland or watching anything Disney and Marvel-related as well as enjoying Los Angeles Dodgers games. Angel’s main goal in life is to focus on building a life worth living for himself, family, friends, and clients’ alike.

PROGRAM CLINICIAN

Erin works directly with patients and their families as program and skills group clinician. Her psychological interests include anxiety, eating disorders and hypnosis.

HER STORY

Dr. Bray started her career in San Diego before moving back home to Orange County. While her doctorate is in Clinical Psychology, she had issues with the therapy she was taught. Dr. Bray was excited to practice DBT as the skills and the collaboration between client and therapist that is espoused by DBT was what she felt was missing from her education. At Compass, she can use her backgrounds in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT and Psychodynamic theory to help her clients. Dr. Bray also does testing at Compass. In addition to the assigned testing classes in graduate school where she learned how to give, score, and interpret intelligence and personality tests, Dr. Bray took extra semesters of electives to learn how to provide a better case formulation using testing.

HER TRAINING

• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) through Compass Behavioral Health
• Intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Melanie Harned, PhD
• Intensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) though Oxford University’s Center for Research on Eating Disorders
• Intensively trained in Behavioral Activation through Oxford University
• Trained in Emotion-Focused Family Treatment by treatment developer Sue Johnson, PhD through Psychwire Training Institute
• Intensively trained in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) by Daniel Moran, PhD and treatment developer Steven Hayes, PhD
• Comprehensively trained in Exposure Response Prevention for OCD by Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD, founding editor and chief of OCD Medical Journal
• Trained in Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT) by treatment developer Guy Diamond, PhD

HER SUMMITS

• Dissertation “Body Dissatisfaction and Ideal Body Internalization in Heterosexual Men and Women”
• Has completed 3/4 steps towards DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Individual Clinician Certification™

HER TRUE NORTH

Erin enjoys reading non-fiction, traveling to places with historical significance and animals with fur. She is also co-champion of trivia in the Compass family.

Katina provides individual and group therapy, skills coaching, and phone coaching to Compass patients and their families.

HER STORY

Katina has practiced as a marriage and family therapist in a wide variety of settings with diverse populations. She has provided therapy to individuals with severe emotional dysregulation, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, and Borderline Personality traits at Pacific Clinics, a county-contracted community mental health agency. She has also worked with children and their families in public elementary schools through the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove. She has in-depth experience in cross-cultural and spiritual issues having worked at Asian-American Christian Counseling Service and Lake Avenue Church Counseling Center. She was also trained in an insight-oriented, attachment approach at the Center for Individual and Family Therapy. Katina is passionate about the intersection of spirituality and mental health. Prior to being a therapist, Katina taught English-as-a-second language to teens and adults in China, Newport Beach, and Berkeley.

HER TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley
• Masters of Science in Marital & Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary
• Comprehensively trained in Restoration Therapy by Dr. Terry Hargrave
• Comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) by Cherie Mills, LMFT, DBT-LBC Certified Team Leader
• Intensively Trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by Dr. Melanie Harned

HER SUMMITS

• Registered member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• Has completed 3 of the 4 steps towards DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician™

HER TRUE NORTH

Katina is passionate about her family, friends, God, and all kinds of art. She and her husband are expecting a (long-awaited) baby girl and are overjoyed to start a new adventure of being parents. Katina is guided in all aspects of life by a passion for helping others find their way to joy, peace, and the fullest life possible.

PROGRAM CLINICIAN | CLINICAL SUPERVISOR | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

Megan provides evidenced-based treatment to adolescents and their families. She also provides clinical supervision to pre-licensed clinicians and practicum students.

Megan began her clinical career providing individual therapy to middle school students during her undergraduate internship through San Francisco State’s highly-acclaimed School of Social Work. She earned Bachelor of the Arts degrees from SFSU with highest honors in Psychology as well as Social Work. As an undergraduate student, she was a teaching assistant for statistics, research methods and cognitive psychology courses and participated in Dr. Ben Zeev’s research lab, studying Stereotype Threat and Perceived Fraudulence (The Imposter Syndrome).

Megan went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from John F. Kennedy University where she completed her MFT traineeship as a group and individual therapist in a San Francisco-based Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse program. Since graduating, Megan has provided group and individual therapy for children, adolescents, adults and families in a variety of settings. School-based, residential, intensive outpatient and clinic experience all contribute to Megan’s style and approach to therapy.

She is very proud of her former role as Head of Service for Children’s Residential Intensive Services for teens and adolescents in the Child Welfare systems of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Francisco State University
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from San Francisco State University
• Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from John F. Kennedy University
• Comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE) protocol by treatment developer, Dr. Melanie Harned
• Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) by treatment developer, Dr. Francheska Perepletchikova
• Completed trainings in DBT Family Therapy with Dr. Alan Fruzzetti and DBT Skills Training for Adolescents with Dr. Michael Hollander
• Foundational training in Attachment-Based Family Therapy with treatment developers Dr. Guy Diamond and Dr. Suzanne Levey
• Completed an Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy through the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy

DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™

• Contributed to the DBT Bulletin Vol. 6, Issue 2, 2022 (“Help! I Need Somebody: The Role of Attachment in Contingency Management”)
• Poster presentation at the Yale/NEA-BPD Conference 2023 (“Assessing the role of caregiver trauma and attachment-based vulnerabilities when exploring life-threatening behaviors among adolescents.”)
• Professional Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), Clinical Fellow Designation
• Lifetime member of the Psi Chi Honor Society for Psychology
• Lifetime member of the Mu Beta Honor Society for Social Work

HER TRUE NORTH

Megan lives in beautiful Big Bear with her husband, daughters, and extended family. She is pursuing her life-worth living as a doctoral student at Loma Linda University studying Systems, Families, and Couples. Her research interests include DBT family therapy, family involvement in the residential level of care, as well as program evaluation and development.

PROGRAM CLINICIAN

Naoki provides individual therapy, skills groups, phone coaching, skills coaching, residential guide supervision, and team consultation for both the outpatient and residential settings.

HIS STORY

At the Columbia University School of Social Work, Naoki was part of a year-long extensive DBT training and lab program directed by Dr. Andre Ivanoff. During this time, he received intensive training by Behavioral Tech in DBT. Naoki is dedicated to utilizing DBT to support adolescents and young adults who are struggling with emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, anger, substance abuse, and other mental health vulnerabilities.

After graduating from New York University, Naoki began his career in clinical work as an Assistant Behavioral Intervention Specialist to support people with profound Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Delays in residential and hospice settings. After going back to graduate school in social work, he interned at an at-risk high school providing weekly individual counseling and psychoeducation workshops. Additionally, he worked as a DBT-informed family therapist in a community-based aftercare team to support foster care youths in their goals of family reunification and independent living.

A team of DBT adherence coding professionals reviews his therapy treatment plans and clinical sessions, and he receives expert consultation from Dr. Clive Robbins, Professor Emeritus at Duke University.

HIS TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at New York University
• Master of Science in Social Work at Columbia School of Social Work in New York City
• Completed 65 hours of Intensive DBT Training offered by Behavioral Tech trainers Randy Wolbert and Gwen Abney-Cunningham
• Completed Online DBT Trainings by Behavioral Tech on Skills training, Therapy interfering behaviors, Exposure therapy, and Mastery of Anxiety and Panic for Adolescents
• Completed a 4-day Advanced Case Conceptualization in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by Dr. Shari Manning
• Intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by treatment developer Dr. Melanie Harned
• Trained in Behavioral Activation through Oxford’s Center for Research on Eating Disorders
• Trained in DBT with Parents, Couples, and Families by treatment developer Dr. Alan Fruzzetti
• Trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Sue Johnson through Psychwire Training Institute
• Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• OCD A to Z: Diagnosis, Assessment & Treatment for OCD by Dr. Jon Abramowitz
• Attachment Based Family Therapy Introductory Workshop by Dr. Guy Diamond
• Mindfulness Self Compassion Core Skills Workshop by Dr. Kristen Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer

HIS TRUE NORTH

Naoki enjoys playing competitive soccer and practices rigorously to improve his game. He loves discovering new music and creating samples and mixes, and is currently working on polishing up his blues and jazz guitar skills.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | CLINICAL SUPERVISOR | PROGRAM CLINICIAN

Dr. Zaha’s role at Compass includes providing individual DBT treatment and skills coaching sessions, conducting DBT skills group, participating in weekly team consultation and supervision, and developing the teen residential program.

Dr. Zaha mentors post-doctoral psychologists through Compass’ Comprehensive DBT Fellowship training program. She has also provided individual, group, skills coaching, and family therapies at residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient levels of care and supervision to residential staff at Compass Behavioral Health since 2017. Dr. Zaha was intensively trained in DBT, CBT, ACT, and CBASP during her practicum at Harbor-UCLA in 2008-2009, under the direction of Lynn McFarr, Ph.D. Dr. Zaha’s internship was completed at Metropolitan State Hospital (APA Accredited), in Norwalk, California, in which she helped to train and develop an inpatient DBT team, and provided DBT services to patients on a specialized unit.

Her graduate studies focused on Family Psychology and Adolescent Identity Formation and emphasized multicultural and spiritual integration. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University (APA Accredited) with her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2010. She worked as a Psychological Assistant at Clearview Residential DBT Program in Los Angeles, California for six years during which she aided in transitioning the residential program from a psychodynamic model to DBT. She trained staff members in DBT interventions, including skills coaching, and crisis intervention along with serving as an individual and group therapist. She has been directly supervised and intensively trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure by developer Melanie Harned, Ph.D. and has a special interest and experience in assessing and treating trauma.

In addition, she has received advanced training in DBT for specific populations, including for substance use, eating disorders, adolescents, and emotionally dysregulated families. She has been formally trained in Behavior Activation, as well as Mindful Self-Compassion by developers Kristin Neff, Ph.D. and Chris Germer, Ph.D. and in Exposure and Response Prevention by developer Jonathan Abramowitz, Ph.D. Dr. Zaha also currently works as a Qualified Medical Evaluator and provides psychological evaluations for adults with industrial injuries.

Her true north and greatest joy is her new baby Farah.

HER TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Minor in Religious Studies), Cum Laude, Azusa Pacific University
• Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, specialty in Family Psychology, Azusa Pacific University
• Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, specialty in Family Psychology, Azusa Pacific University
• Comprehensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Intensively Trained in DBT-Prolonged Exposure
• Comprehensively trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Intensively Trained in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) by Dr. Daniel Moran
• Comprehensively trained in Exposure-Response Prevention for OCD by Dr. Jonathan Abramowtiz, founding editor and chief of OCD Medical Journal
• Trained in Attachment-Based Family Therapy by treatment developer Dr. Guy Diamond at Drexel University

HER SUMMITS

• DBT- Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™

HER TRUE NORTH

Dr. Zaha’s passions and personal interests include yoga, family, ukulele, dancing, writing, and mindfulness meditation.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNT MANAGER

Ashley works diligently on behalf of Compass families to ensure they pay the lowest possible out-of-pocket costs.

HER STORY

After graduating with honors from American Career College, Ashley began her billing career with Compass Behavioral Health, joining the family in October of 2016. She is developing and mastering valuable skills in insurance verification, denials and billing.

HER TRAINING

• Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding, American Career College
• Associates Degree in Human Services from Cypress College
• Fully trained as Residential Floor staff/guide

HER TRUE NORTH

Ashley is going to continue her education in pursuing ways to help those in need.

Corine works closely with insurance companies to ensure full insurance reimbursement and correct any claims issues families may experience.

HER STORY
After graduating with honors from American Career College, she began her billing career with Compass Behavioral Health in October 2017. She comes to Compass Behavioral Health with over 15 years of collections and customer service skills.

HER TRAINING

• Diploma in Medical Billing and Coding, American Career College

HER TRUE NORTH

Corine plans to continue her education to become a Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

ASSISTANT BILLING DEPARTMENT MANAGER / CERTIFIED MEDICAL BILLER 

Elizabeth effectively manages the day-to-day operations of the Billing Department, ensuring seamless functionality and adherence to standards. In addition to her managerial role, she serves as Medical Biller, skillfully translating complex healthcare services into billable claims. Elizabeth collaborates closely with clinicians to guarantee precise billing to insurance, thus contributing to the overall efficiency of the healthcare billing process. 

HER STORY

A native of Orange County, Elizabeth has spent the majority of her life immersed in the wonders of the outdoors, exploring nature with her family. Her upbringing, filled with hikes and outdoor adventures, has cultivated both a deep love and profound admiration for the natural world. 

HER TRAINING

• Diploma in Medical Billing and Coding, American Career College
• After graduating from American Career College, Elizabeth began her billing career with Compass Behavioral Health in January 2019.
• AAPC Behavioral Health Coding Certified (2022)

HER TRUE NORTH

Elizabeth’s diverse interests continue to shape her evolving list of hobbies. From the exhilaration of rock climbing to the tranquility of reading and the joy of spending quality time with her three canine companions, Elizabeth finds fulfillment in a variety of pursuits. Her passion for the outdoors remains unwavering, and she is currently striving towards conquering the iconic Mount Whitney in California, with aspirations to scale even more mountains in the future. 

In addition to her personal endeavors, Elizabeth is driven to expand her expertise in Medical Billing, particularly in the realm of Behavioral Health. With unwavering dedication, she aims to deepen her understanding of this specialized field while continuing to explore the boundless wonders of nature. 

Beyond her immediate goals, she aspires to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights in Alaska, encapsulating the spirit of adventure and discovery that defines both her personal and professional journey.

Bridget works closely with insurance companies to ensure full insurance reimbursement and correct any claim issues families may experience.

HER STORY

​Bridget attended American Career College and completed her externship here at Compass Behavioral Health. Bridget with honors and began working as Claim Analyst in 2021, starting her career in the medical billing field.

HER TRAINING

• Diploma in Medical Billing and Coding, American Career College

HER TRUE NORTH

Bridget enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys being active outside, playing disc golf. She has two dogs, who she loves spending time with and caring for. She enjoys going on long walks and playing tug-of-war and fetch with them.

PROJECT SPECIALIST

Melody takes great pride in assisting all departments with their special project needs as well as assisting with various Human Resources tasks.

HER STORY

Gifted the name “Mama Mel”, Melody helped open Compass Behavioral Health in 2014 after working with Executive Director Cherie Mills for a year. Melody has been married over 26 years and has two wonderful children and two silly puppies.

HER SUMMITS

• Opened and ran two successful businesses.

HER TRAINING

•  Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Chapman University
• Various positions within Marriot Hotels and Resorts International
• HR Project Coordinator, PacifiCare

HER TRUE NORTH

Melody is a proud Southern California native and enjoys hanging out with her family, eating sushi & watching Netflix. She is eagerly anticipating her lifelong dream of traveling throughout Europe.

Sarah is the first point of contact for new families, and responsible for the day-to-day business operations.

HER STORY

Sarah joined Compass Behavioral Health after a decade as a medical assistant and insurance specialist for Memorial Care Medical Group. Her passion for medical care inspired her to undertake a medical mission to Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

HER TRUE NORTH

Sarah takes great pride in all her work here at Compass simply because it’s what she loves to do and is a believer that when you love what you do you never work a day in your life.

Johanna assists in document and file management, administrative tasks, and event planning. She is committed to building community at Compass and has been known to leave encouraging post-it notes on staff desks.

Before moving to southern California, Johanna spent several years in Washington where she enjoyed theater and experiencing the beautiful nature of the Pacific Northwest.

HER TRAINING

• Management training, scheduling, inventory and ordering maintenance, filing weekly store reports, and maintaining a safe work environment.

HER SUMMITS

• Promoted to Store Manager of two franchises with in the first year of employment, managing 12 employees at the age of 19.
• Working at Compass Behavioral Health.

HER TRUE NORTH

Johanna is pursuing her Associates of Arts degree at Santiago Canyon College. Johanna would like to obtain a master’s in business administration to better assist Compass as the future CEO.

SUPPORT CREW

Madonna is a Maltese-Terrier mix with an unknown age (about 8 years old)! She provides comfort and self-soothe to those in need. She helps others accumulate positives by playing fetch, doing tricks for treats, or playing with toys. She also helps clients practice mindfulness skills. Sometimes Madonna is in the mood to play and sometimes she is in need of rest.

HER STORY

Madonna was rescued in March 2015 and required a lot of TLC. She had an ulcer in her eye, an ear infection, and a hurt hip from giving birth. Madonna wants to contribute to others in their healing journey. Her favorite hobbies include playing with toys, following her mom around the clinic (who has warmly nicknamed her Shadow!), watching other people eat yummy human food that she’s not allowed to have, and getting her belly and ears rubbed. Madonna is most happy when people let her smell their hand first so that she can get to know their scent and warm up to them.

HER TRUE NORTH

Madonna has built mastery at sitting, handshakes, laying down and rolling over. She’s currently building mastery at jumping through hoops—for treats of course!

SUPPORT CREW

Mochi’s main skill is tactile self-soothe for the Compass kids that hold and pet him

HIS STORY

Mochi was born at Compass! His mom was taken in as a foster cat by Compass and in the middle of her first night here, she gave birth to a litter of 5 kittens. He is most-likely a Norwegian Forest cat, as he is so “chill.” He likes laser pointers and people’s laps. Mochi typically “trills” (a high-pitched, chirp-like noise in cats signaling hello) more than he meows.

HIS TRUE NORTH

Mochi has spent almost every workday at Compass since his birth comforting, entertaining, and loving on Compass kids—in fact Compass kids gave him his name and his purpose.