Meet Our Therapists
WILA’s excellent training programs attract an impressively bright, curious, and motivated group of clinicians. Since our founding, over 650 graduate students, psychology interns, and postgraduate fellows have studied at WILA and become exceedingly competent and compassionate mental health professionals.
Monique Alden, MA (SHE/HER)
MFT Postgraduate Fellow
Monique (AMFT139982) earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Previously, Monique trained at Southern California Hospital, Culver City where she gained experience treating those living with schizophrenia, trauma, and a range of mood and thought disorders. Her therapeutic approach takes an integrative outlook that seeks to understand how resources, culture, childhood, the unconscious mind, and relationships work together to create the fabric of each client. Monique works with individuals, families, and couples.
Camila Argueta, MA (SHE/HER)
MFT / PCC Postgraduate Fellow
Camila (AMFT 135990 and APCC 13295) earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles and her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University. Working in community and private practice mental health settings, she has gained experience treating anxiety, depression, trauma, relational challenges, grief and loss and life transitions. She strives to cultivate awareness around the mind-body connection, the fluid realm of emotions, and how childhood, culture and society shape experience. Camila strongly believes everyone deserves a safe and non-judgmental space to explore and discover the deeper aspects of their lived experiences.
Gregory Bendau, MA
PRE-DOCTORAL CAPIC PSYCHOLOGY INTERN
Gregory is earning his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University, where he also completed his Master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. Throughout his education and training, Gregory has concentrated on deepening his understanding of psychoanalytic theory and technique. He previously trained at Airport Marina Counseling Service and Pepperdine University West Los Angeles Community Counseling Center, where he treated a wide range of psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, identity disturbance, relational issues, and self-esteem.
Gregory’s approach to treatment is grounded in a psychoanalytic model. He strives to help his patients come to know themselves and their minds more fully. By assisting patients in putting words to what was previously unsayable, Gregory aims to foster deeper understanding of unconscious thoughts and feelings, and to rework repetitive patterns and relational difficulties.
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Ben Chandler, MA (HE/HIM)
MFT POSTGRADUATE FELLOW
Ben’s (AMFT# 139362) curiosity and appreciation for the complexity of his clients’ unique experiences creates a trusting and open collaboration. This atmosphere of respect and understanding enables clients to explore the meaning of their experience and discover the root of their difficulties so that over time they may live with greater agency, flexibility, and ease. After a distinguished career in nonprofit management and philanthropy, Ben earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. He began his psychodynamic clinical training at Valley Community Counseling Clinic in North Hollywood and has worked with clients experiencing mood disorders, addiction, grief and loss, career & relationship transitions as well as issues relating to sexuality. Ben’s love of literature, art, and music enhances the creativity of his practice and allows his clients to discover the art of their own lives.
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Ji Choi, Psy.D. (SHE/HER)
PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern
Ji Choi completed her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles where she also received her Master’s in Clinical Psychology. She has received a diverse training experience on issues pertaining to the LGBTQIA+ population while at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. She also has a background in neuropsychological assessment, helping individuals with TBIs and neurodegenerative disorders. Ji has experience in a wide variety of issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship conflict, identity-related issues, and self-esteem, all with an understanding around the intersecting layers of identities and unique life experiences.
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Wendy Felson, MA (SHE/HER)
MFT POSTGRADUATE FELLOW
Wendy (AMFT 146938) received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, a Master’s of Public Health and a Master’s of Urban Planning from Columbia University and a B.S. in Social Work. Before joining WILA, Wendy provided psychotherapy at Counseling West. Wendy takes a psychodynamic approach in helping patients gain greater self-understanding and embraces the unique opportunities at each stage of life to work with patients to face their unconscious fears, defenses, and learned behaviors that disrupt living a fuller, more enriched life. Wendy always strives to help patients achieve better self-acceptance, and through a trauma-informed, attachment-based lens, works to address relational issues, life transitions, depression, anxiety, recurring patterns, individuation and identity development.
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Gisèle Goldwater-Feldman, MA (SHE/HER)
MFT Postgraduate Fellow
Gisèle (AMFT147533) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Occidental College, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from American Jewish University, and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Phillips Graduate Institute, where her Master’s thesis focused on the influence of couple therapy on individual psychotherapeutic progress.
Prior to beginning at WILA, Gisèle trained at the California Family Counseling Center in Encino, treating adults and couples. Gisèle comes from a long line of psychoanalytically informed psychotherapists, including her paternal grandmother who studied Jungian psychology at the doctoral level in Mexico City.
Gisèle approaches psychotherapy from a multi-faceted lens characterized by creativity and collaboration, rooted in relational connection and depth. She provides therapy in both English and Spanish.
Nikki Gruver, MA (SHE/HER)
PCC Postgraduate Fellow
Nikki (APCC #15531) earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Palo Alto University and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach. She has experience working with a diverse population facing various challenges such as trauma, depression, loss, anxiety, self-esteem, life transitions, and navigating relationships with others. Nikki is passionate about collaboratively discovering with clients how their past, culture, and relationships have impacted their strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between. Nikki strives to provide a safe, warm, nonjudgmental space for clients to process and understand feelings, heal wounds, make life-enhancing decisions, and connect with the deepest part of themselves.
Nikki Harris, Psy.D. (SHE/HER)
Postdoctoral fellow
Nikki Harris completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. Her training is in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and she previously practiced at Airport Marina Counseling Services and Pasadena City College. Nikki works from a psychoanalytic model, which she integrates with a trauma-informed, intersectional approach. She enjoys treating adults and couples, with particular interest in young adults in their 20s and 30s. She seeks to provide an open space to process intense feelings, increase self-understanding and form a strong therapeutic bond.
Aila Hauru, MA (SHE/HER)
PRE-DOCTORAL CAPIC PSYCHOLOGY INTERN
Aila Hauru is a Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She holds master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology and Public Administration and is interested in the intersection between mental wellbeing and broader issues related to social, economic, and environmental justice. Aila previously trained at Valley Community Counseling Clinic in North Hollywood, where she provided psychoanalytically informed psychotherapy for individuals dealing with various mental health challenges. As a therapist, Aila helps patients gain deeper self-awareness, uncover unconscious fears and motivations, explore relational patterns, and derive meaning from their life experiences.
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Baraneh Kazemi, MSW (SHE/HER)
SOCIAL WORK POSTGRADUATE FELLOW
Baraneh Kazemi earned her Master’s degree in Social Work at UCLA, with a concentration in child and family well-being. Baraneh offers a warm and collaborative space where clients can safely face challenges, reconnect with their strengths, and identify resources to live with more ease in body and mind. In her work with children, adolescents, and adults, Baraneh supports clients as they navigate anxiety, self-esteem, relationships, grief, loneliness, identity questions, intergenerational trauma, career goals, life transitions and other opportunities for self-understanding. Her curious and compassionate clinical approach is informed by her training in trauma-informed, psychodynamic, culturally-sensitive, attachment-based care with elements of cognitive behavioral and somatic therapy. She brings a deep awareness of the various systemic forces that impact our sense of self and is committed to providing equitable and empathetic care for all beings. She encourages clients to bring their whole nuanced selves into the room in order to reconnect with their core and connect more authentically with others.
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Alex Kuschner, LCSW (SHE/HER)
SOCIAL WORK postgraduate fellow
Embracing psychoanalytic and psychodynamic perspectives to therapy, Alex Kuschner (LCSW122717) helps patients work through past and present challenges, deepen their self-awareness, and lead happier, more fulfilling lives. Alex meets patients where they are, moves at their pace, and provides empathic support throughout this transformative, and at times difficult, journey. Patients are never alone in this process; Alex is an unwavering partner who believes the therapeutic relationship underpins meaningful change. Alex enjoys working with adults and couples, and has experience in a range of issues including trauma, relationships, addiction, body image, depression, anxiety, and life transitions.
Concurrent to her third year of training at WILA, Alex is a psychoanalytic candidate at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. She also has a private practice in West LA.
Alex earned an M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University. She also holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University and a B.A. in History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University.
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Cat Lake, MSW (SHE/HER)
SOCIAL WORK Postgraduate Fellow
Cat (ACSW122799) completed her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Southern California. She has previous experience working with diverse populations across multiple settings and believes that the intersecting layers of our identities play a role in how we experience the world. Most recently, she worked at USC Telehealth, providing psychotherapy to adults and adolescents working through relationship issues, intergenerational trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, sexuality, and life transitions. Using an integrative approach informed by psychoanalytic, attachment, and cognitive behavioral theories, Cat offers a nonjudgemental and collaborative space that allows for reflection on experiences and relationships, with the goal of developing insights that provide clients more agency and freedom in their lives.
Martín Lasa, MSW (HE/HIM)
social work POSTGRADUATE FELLOW
Martín (ACSW122827) is a Social Work postgraduate fellow with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California. He also holds an MBA. With a multicultural background, Martín’s diverse experience includes providing individual and group therapy to vulnerable populations and offering psychotherapy in both English and Spanish to adults and adolescents at the USC Telebehavioral Health Clinic. He has worked with individuals facing depression, anxiety, PTSD, life transitions, addiction, identity and relationship issues.
Martín’s therapeutic approach is trauma-informed and emphasizes building a strong, trusting relationship to foster growth and openness. He provides a contained, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore challenges, gain insight, and develop coping skills. Taking into account the intersecting identities of each client, Martín integrates psychodynamic and behavioral methods to address immediate struggles while exploring deeper, unconscious influences, guiding clients toward healthier, more fulfilling lives. In his words, “let’s talk.”
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Anna Lipton, MA (SHE/HER)
MFT POSTGRADUATE FELLOW
Anna received her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in psychological trauma from Antioch University Los Angeles and holds a B.A. in sociology from Occidental College. Prior to joining WILA, Anna worked as a high school mental health counselor and provided psychotherapy at ACTS (Antioch Community Therapy Services). Her clinical areas of interests include anxiety and depression, trauma/abuse/PTSD, relationship issues, substance abuse, grief and bereavement, phase of life transitions and identity issues. Anna encourages her clients to replace their self-judgment with curiosity and compassion. She believes that therapy is most effective when it is collaborative and supportive.
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Jennie Ostendorf, MSW (SHE/HER)
social work POSTGRADUATE FELLOW
Jennie (ASW122859) completed her Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in adult mental health and wellness at the University of Southern California. Before WILA, she trained at USC’s Counseling and Mental Health center and St. Joseph Center’s access center for individuals experiencing homelessness. In addition to her clinical practice with adults, Jennie works at Experience Camps, a non-profit organization supporting children who have experienced the death of a primary caregiver or sibling. Offering a safe, collaborative therapeutic space, Jennie supports clients in exploring emotions, processing trauma, making meaningful change, growing in relationship with themselves and others, and navigating pivotal life transitions and challenges. Jennie believes that therapy is a place for self-exploration and discovery, which can ultimately help us better understand and cope with the world around us. Jennie brings a culturally humble approach to therapy and has experience working with diverse client populations ranging in age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
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Charlotte Pradié, MA (SHE/HER)
MFT Postgraduate Fellow
Charlotte Pradié (AMFT146937 and APCC16837) received a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and a B.A. in Media Studies from Pitzer College. Before joining WILA, Charlotte provided psychotherapy at Being Alive, a Los Angeles non-profit organization serving people with HIV/AIDS. Charlotte brings an awareness of the many layers of psyche, culture, and identity that shape our way of being. She is interested in how people can better understand themselves, their relationships, and the world around them through deep inquiry and curiosity.
Erika Recordon (SHE/HER)
MFT PrACTICUM TRAINEE
Erika Recordon is currently pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch University Los Angeles. She practices from a psychoanalytic and psychodynamic framework, believing that we have all been shaped by our early emotional experiences. Her goal is always to support her clients with compassionate curiosity, helping them to mine their unconscious materials on the path to personal growth. Erika has a special interest in working with couples in crisis, those who work in creative fields, and new parents. With a longstanding love of the literary arts, she is passionate about the power of stories and looks forward to helping you to tell yours.
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Roseli Ribeiro, MA (SHE/HER)
PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern
Roseli is a Doctoral Candidate at the Pacifica Graduate Institute and a licensed clinical psychologist in Brazil. She has trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches such as transpersonal and analytic psychology, among others. These experiences aid in Roseli’s ability to work with the diverse needs of her patients. She values a multidisciplinary perspective on the human condition including cultural context, social and economic particularities, and social justice. Roseli has a particular interest in fostering creativity in her clinical practice by helping her patients develop ways of creative living. Roseli feels creativity to be a universal aspect of the human potential to experience life and health as a state of being alive.
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Joan Rodney, MSW (SHE/HER)
MSW Postgraduate Fellow
Joan (ACSW 120486) earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and holds a B.A in Sociology and Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. She has worked in development and fundraising for various non-profits as well as in grant management for a family foundation focused on supporting social justice initiatives. Joan also comes from a diverse clinical background having worked in psychiatric in-patient and out-patient community mental health settings, the Veterans Hospital, and more recently, at a psychotherapy private practice in Manhattan. Her experience working with multicultural populations informs her approach to therapy and is one that is non-judgmental and collaborative, helping to create an environment where one can feel safe to be their true self, tell their story, and explore new ways of being.
Jack Sample, MA (HE/HIM)
PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern
Jack is a Doctoral Candidate at CIIS and holds a MA in visual anthropology from USC. Jack previously provided community based psychoanalytic psychotherapy in the Bay Area at RAMS Inc. and Envision Education. His experience ranges from the treatment of anxiety, mood disorders, psychosis, posttraumatic stress, and personality disorders. He has special interest in the exploration and integration of social, cultural, and spiritual experiences. Jack values an open, playful, and respectful approach to psychotherapeutic dialogue. He is committed to therapy’s potential to facilitate novel understanding, creative expression, and a greater sense of aliveness and agency.
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Navvab Tadjvar, MA
PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern
Navvab is a Doctoral Candidate at California Institute of Integral Studies and holds a Master’s in philosophy from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining WILA, Navvab worked at Richmond Area Multi Services Inc and Psychological Services center in San Francisco where he practiced psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Navvab is interested in how the process of psychotherapy can increase our sense of agency and bring us to understand and absolutely accept who we already are.
All therapists at the Hedda Bolgar Psychotherapy Clinic at Wright Institute Los Angeles are pre-licensed Psychology Interns and Postgraduate Fellows under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals on the WILA Faculty. Our therapists hold either a Doctorate in Psychology or a Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy. All therapists are registered with the California Board of Psychology or the California Board of Behavioral Sciences or at WILA as part of a CAPIC Accredited Internship.