Directors
WILA’s leadership team exemplifies and actualizes community service through psychoanalysis. With decades of experience in therapy and social work, directors and staff realize a new vision for the future of psychoanalytic therapy which responds to pressing needs in our community.
michele gomes, psy.d.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Michele is a psychologist and psychoanalyst who splits her time between her two passions: working with a diverse group of adults and couples in her private practice and leading WILA. Michele is a graduate of WILA’s two-year Postgraduate Fellowship and has remained committed to WILA’s mission ever since. She served as WILA’s Clinical Director for 5 years before becoming Executive Director in 2016. Her unique background in Psychoanalysis, Multicultural Community Psychology, Women’s Studies, and Computer Programming reflects the range of interests and skills she brings to her work. Prior to her clinical practice, Michele worked at the UCLA School of Public Health assisting with epidemiological research on sexual and racial minority health disparities. Michele became a Psychoanalyst at the New Center for Psychoanalysis. At NCP, she teaches, sits on the Board of Directors, and is active on many committees including being a founding Co-Chair of the Committee on Diversities and Sociocultural Issues. Michele is committed to a non-profit way of life and hopes to expand the reach and role of psychoanalytic ideas in the community.
424-371-5191 x102 | EMAIL | WEBSITE | LINKEDIN
CLAUDIA FELDMAN, PH.D.
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Claudia is Clinical Director and a Core Faculty member at WILA. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the California Graduate Institute and a Ph.D. from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In her doctoral studies, Claudia researched gender identity, testosterone, and memory expressions. She presented her research at the American Psychological Association in Toronto, Canada and at the National Academy of Neuropsychology Convention in New Orleans. After graduating, Claudia completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at WILA then went on to train at the New Center for Psychoanalysis where she is a Full Member and Psychoanalyst. Claudia has a special interest in family dynamics, individual differences, intimacy, and relatedness. Claudia continues to see patients in her private practice. She is fluent in Portuguese and English.
424-371-5191 x105 | EMAIL | WEBSITE | LINKEDIN
MARIO GOMES, B.S.
BUSINESS DIRECTOR
Mario directs WILA’s Business Office keeping our finances in order and our compliance with state policies and procedures up-to-date. He has decades of experience as well as a passion for finance and economics. Mario is a graduate of the UCLA Personal Financial Planning Program. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Horticulture. Mario is proud to support WILA’s mission.
424-371-5191 x101 | EMAIL
ALLEN YASSER, PH.D.
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Allen, along with Hedda Bolgar, Elizabeth Cooley and Nancy Wood founded WILA in 1974. Allen was initially Director of the WILA Psychotherapy Clinic. In 1981 he was appointed Director of WILA’s Postgraduate Center, which incorporated our Postdoctoral Fellowship program, the WILA Internship and the Psychotherapy Clinic. In 1987 he became WILA’s Executive Director and in 2016 WILA’s Director Emeritus. Allen received his Ph.D. from SUNY at Buffalo. He completed a two year postdoctoral fellowship in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Allen is also a graduate of the training program in psychoanalysis at LAISPS (The Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalysis). His long time professional interests include the practice, teaching and supervision of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy and institutional development and administration.
424-371-5191 x103 | EMAIL
Administrative Staff
rocio moran, b.a., head of operations
Rocio is the Head of Operations at WILA, the firsthand support for the organization in all office mechanics and projects. Her skillset and background in Customer Service as well as fast-paced Administrative environments have helped her to successfully assist in the management of WILA’s therapists and patients in various roles since 2016. She is very honored to be a part of WILA’s mission and has found working in the non-profit sector extremely fulfilling and humbling. She possesses a fervent empathy and compassion for those who endure personal struggles and seek to better themselves through therapy. Rocio holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art from the University of California Santa Cruz and has exhibited her work for several years in cafes and shows from various cities, where she has won numerous accolades for her creativity. As a certified Level 1 Reiki Practitioner, she often uses this as a form of self-healing including the healing of animals. In her spare time, you can find Rocio relaxing at coffee shops immersed in worlds she creates with a pencil and paper for her Etsy Shop or playing with her furever friend, Pinto!
424.371.5191 x110 | EMAIL
sylvia schiff, b.a., data manager
Sylvia began at WILA in 2008 and has worn many hats over the years, including maintaining WILA’s Accounts Receivable for over a decade. In 2021, she took on an important new role serving as WILA’s Data Manager. She is in charge of regularly auditing our clinic data to keep all of our important information up-to-date and accurate.
ANTOINETTE FRANCIS, INTAKE COORDINATOR
As WILA’s Intake Coordinator, Antoinette is the initial point of contact for prospective patients and works closely with the therapists and staff to ensure the daily functions of the organization run smoothly. Antoinette is originally from Queens, New York, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, however she considers herself an Angelino. Outside of the office, you’ll often find her teaching Salsa, playing chess, learning a new language, or singing.
424.371.5191 x100 | EMAIL
Program Staff
aimee martinez, psy.d., director of clinical relations & TIPD TRACK FACILITATOR
Aimee completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at WILA. In addition to her private practice, she acts as the Director of Clinical Relations for WILA and facilitates institutional and trainee development in professional marketing. She co-facilitates the Therapeutic Identity and Professional Development track aimed at giving trainees unique opportunities to utilize creativity and make psychoanalytic thought more accessible to the community. Currently, Aimee is a Clinical Associate in psychoanalytic training at the New Center for Psychoanalysis. Prior to pursuing clinical training, Aimee worked in entertainment sports and event marketing, skills she now applies to develop clinical referral relationships. Although she possesses extensive marketing experience, her true passion lies in the creativity of psychoanalytic clinical work. She is particularly drawn to working with emerging adults supporting post-collegiate anxiety and identity formation, those in creative industries, mental health clinicians and former college athletes.
424-256-6242 | EMAIL | WEBSITE | LINKEDIN
eva patrick, psy.d., bLOG COUNTESS
The WILA Blog is brought to you by the heart and expert wordsmithing of our Blog Editor (and Countess), Dr. Eva Patrick. Eva works in private practice in Encino with adults and couples. She embraces considerations from mostly a relational orientation, along with implementation of psychodynamic and behavioral concepts. She is specifically interested in utilizing her clients’ stories about self and life (their personal myths) – as a vehicle to discover new possibilities for thought and action. Eva is passionate about writing, blogging, and exploring new ways of being, doing and telling stories in the world. Eva is also an ardent dissertation and project coach. She assists individuals to clarify their goals, set objectives, and complete their projects with accountability, follow-through and heart.