Peter Achenbach, Psy.D. (HE/HIM)

Postgraduate Fellow

Peter Achenbach (PSB94026899) is a Doctoral Candidate from Antioch University of Santa Barbara where he also received his Master’s in clinical psychology. He previously trained at New Beginnings Counseling Center in Santa Barbara and at Ventura County Behavioral Health in Simi Valley. He has experience working with patients dealing with anxiety, depression, recovery from addictions, career goals, personal and relationship issues, spiritual development, and a range of other challenges. He works from a psychoanalytic and psychodynamic perspective, and believes that healing takes place within the therapeutic relationship. Within this relationship both therapist and patient can work together to understand how past experiences contribute to one’s current challenges and the experiences unique to that individual. Peter focuses his treatment with a culturally sensitive approach.

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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.

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Jenna Bennett, Ph.D. (SHE/HER)

POSTgraduate Fellow

Ji Choi, MA (SHE/HER)

PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern

Clarissa Dewhirst, Psy.D. (SHE/HER)

POSTDoctoral FELLOW

Savannah Giannini-Cocio, MSW (SHE/HER)

social work POSTGRADUATE FELLOW

Savannah Giannini-Cocio (ASW97411) received her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Southern California. She previously trained at Los Angeles Family Housing where she provided psychotherapy to a diverse population of those experiencing homelessness. In addition, she trained at Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative where she also provided psychotherapy to Veterans. She has experience working with those who are dealing with depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, sexual assault, post-traumatic stress disorder, interpersonal relationship challenges/difficulties, loss and grief, and many other areas. Savannah uses a variety of approaches with her patients such as psychodynamic, CBT, and mindfulness-based practices. She believes compassion should always be the center of a therapeutic relationship with her patients in order to build trust and provide them with a safe space where they are able to find their voice, purpose, self-love, and ability to heal.

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Nikki Harris, MA (SHE/HER)

PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern

Nikki Harris is a Doctoral Candidate at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles where she also received her master’s degree in clinical psychology. She previously trained in psychodynamic therapy at Airport Marina Counseling Services and worked for two years in the therapy office at Pasadena City College. Nikki enjoys working from a psychoanalytic model, which she integrates with a trauma-informed, intersectional approach. She seeks to provide an open, nonjudgmental space to process intense feelings, increase self-understanding and form a strong therapeutic bond.

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Parker Head (HE/HIM)

MFT Trainee

Katie Karsh, MSW (SHE/HER)

SOCIAL WORK POSTGRADUATE FELLOW

Katie Karsh (ASW102248) earned her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California, and holds a master’s degree in Education from Stanford University. Katie has worked with diverse populations across multiple settings, including in schools, residential treatment facilities, and in community mental health. Most recently, she worked with students at USC’s Counseling and Mental Health center where she worked with issues of trauma, grief and loss, addiction, depression, anxiety, sex and sexuality, and personal identity development. She believes therapy is the most impactful way to change the world for the better by helping individuals heal wounds, support them to connect to their true selves, and empower them to live authentically.

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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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Clare Knudson, MA  (SHE/HER)

Postgraduate Fellow

Clare Knudson (PSB94026819) is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Clare’s training in psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, and somatic therapies inform her collaborative and curious therapeutic style. She tailors her clinical approach to support her patients in better understanding themselves and their relationships. Clare has worked with a wide range of adolescents, adults, couples and families that struggle with depression, anxiety, relationships, PTSD, and life transitions. Clare recognizes that the roots of her patients’ issues are both interpersonal and societal. Clare also provides affirmative-based care that understands the nuanced, complicated and oftentimes fluid relationship her patients have with their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

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Alex Kuschner, MSW (SHE/HER)

SOCIAL WORK postgraduate fellow

Embracing psychoanalytic and psychodynamic perspectives to therapy, Alex 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, as Alex is an unwavering partner.

Prior to joining WILA, Alex worked at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington in Washington, DC as an inpatient clinical care coordinator where she supported adults and adolescents struggling with psychiatric illness, addiction, and cooccurring disorders. In a previous lifetime, Alex coached collegiate rowing, consulted for the government, and worked as an undergraduate admissions officer.

Alex Kuschner (ACSW105354) earned an M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University in 2021. 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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Heather Lilleston (SHE/HER)

PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern

Heather is a Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, and is in the process of completing her dissertation. She previously trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at Valley Community Counseling Clinic in North Hollywood, and has experience working with a variety of people from all ages and backgrounds, addressing anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, relationship challenges, trauma, somatic symptoms, loneliness and beyond. As a therapist, Heather combines her training in psychology with over twenty years of experience in the Hatha Yoga and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, both as a dedicated student and teacher, most of which took place in New York City. Her approach to therapy is welcoming and interactive, tailoring each session to a clients specific needs and pace. Heather believes that long term therapy is one of the most potent ways one can ensure psychological support in an overwhelming, fast paced world, and that its benefits come through consistency over time.

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Sophia Makal, MA (SHE/HER)

MFT POSTGRADUATE FELLOW

Sophia Makal (AMFT135485 and APCC12559) earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and she also holds a Master’s in Psychology from The New School and a B.S. in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. While her most recent M.A. was focused on Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling, Sophia’s first M.A. was focused on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling, which has led her to develop an integrative treatment style that focuses heavily on a safe, trusting, and collaborative therapeutic relationship. Sophia completed her graduate training and continues to serve at Cancer Support Community Los Angeles, where she provides individual and group treatment for people of all ages (5-90+) and backgrounds (genders, sexualities, races/ethnicities, religions, etc.) who are either living with, or are a loved one of someone with, cancer. The most common themes that Sophia has encountered in her training involve grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, relational issues, and coping with uncertainty. Sophia was the prior Intake Coordinator at WILA, and she is very excited to be expanding her work with an organization that shares her mission to promote equitable access to psychotherapy. Sophia is particularly passionate about working with traditionally marginalized populations, and she is both LGBTQ+ and sex positive.

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Paul Mancillas, MA (HE/HIM)

PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern

Paul is a Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Anaheim where he also received his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Paul has a wide range of clinical experience from performing neuropsychological assessments, working as a therapist in an outpatient and inpatient psychiatric hospital, and at a psychoanalytically based community mental health center. Paul works from a psychoanalytic model, where he aims at building the therapeutic relationship to allow individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings in depth and free of judgment. The journey of this process is based on working together to foster awareness, build authenticity, expand consciousness, and develop long lasting growth within oneself to enhance the quality of one’s experiences and relationships in life. 

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Steve Mason, MA (HE/HIM)

PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern

Steve is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He also holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Humboldt State University. Steve has worked in community, university and inpatient settings with individuals, couples and groups. He has a special interest in working with persons struggling with addiction and interest in personality and identity work. Steve takes a relational and process-oriented approach to therapy and believes that the healing work of integration is a life-long process.

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Colin Mattingly, MA (HE/HIS)

PRE-Doctoral CAPIC Psychology Intern

Colin Mattingly is a Doctoral Candidate at Antioch University Santa Barbara. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California Santa Barbara and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Santa Barbara. Prior to being at WILA, Colin trained at Community Counseling and Education Center and New Beginnings Counseling Center. Over the course of his clinical training, Colin has worked with a diverse array of individuals struggling with a variety of mental health challenges. Cognizant of the vulnerability psychotherapeutic work requires, Colin’s therapeutic style is rooted in nonjudgment, curiosity, compassion, and respect.

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Bill McCrary, MA (HE/HIM)

PRE-DOCToral CAPIC Psychology Intern

Bill completed a PhD in classics at UCLA and became passionate about psychology and psychoanalysis while doing research for his dissertation. This led him to pursue his doctorate in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. Bill works with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families and has experience working with a range of issues (from ADHD to occupational difficulties), especially anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges. Although Bill uses a variety of theoretical approaches, his primary approach is psychodynamic. He feels that the therapeutic relationship, with its strong bond between patient and therapist, is the most consistent and powerful mechanism of change. He believes this makes psychodynamic work immediate, powerful, and exciting for patient and therapist alike.

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Charlotte Pradié (SHE/HER)

MFT Trainee

Charlotte is a Master’s Candidate in Counseling Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute and holds 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.

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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.

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Ebony Towner, MA (SHE/HER)

LPCC pOSTGRADUATE FELLOW

Ebony Towner (APCC12171) recently completed a Masters in clinical mental health counseling from Adams State University in Colorado. She also has a Masters in special education from San Francisco State University and a Bachelors in Psychology from UC Berkeley. Ebony believes in the capacity of relationships to bring about change and healing. While working as a play therapist with children on the autism spectrum, she came to see how a relationship with a caring, empathetic clinician supported exploration, learning, and growth. In her work, Ebony provides a therapeutic space for people to explore and clear mental and emotional blocks so that they can live a life that is more true to themselves and deeply fulfilling. Ebony has a special interest in working with people with polyamorous/non-monogamous relationship styles, kink/BDSM lifestyles, and other non-conforming folk. Ebony also works with the New Center for Psychoanalysis in Los Angeles where she coordinates psychoanalytic lectures, workshops, and trainings for mental health clinicians. 

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Tiffany Vlaanderen (SHE/HER)

MFT Trainee

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Brege von Bleicken, MSW (SHE/HER)

SOCIAL WORK Postgraduate fellow

Brege von Bleicken (ASW105139) received her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers University and her B.A. in Psychology at the City University of New York at Hunter College. Brege is excited to join the WILA team as she strongly believes in the core mission of equitable access to psychotherapy. She considers herself a lifelong learner and believes the best therapeutic relationship develops through trust, empathetic understanding, and teamwork. Brege has experience working with individuals of various backgrounds aged 14 to 85. The most common therapeutic themes she’s encountered in her training surround management of anxiety, depression, relational issues, phase of life changes, ADHD, eating disorders, grief, and trauma.

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