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Meet the Team

A wide range of seasoned professionals to fit your individual needs.

Dr. Laura Escalona Barragan

CEO & Founder

Dr. Laura Escalona Barragan

A bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in community mental health, school-based mental health, and the private sector. Her experience ranges from children to geriatrics. Currently, she is only seeing teenagers and adults. She treats general mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, and life transitions.

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License

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker LCSW # 28612

Education

  • The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2016, PsyD

  • The University of Southern California, 2007, MSW

  • Mount St. Mary’s University, 2003, BA

Languages

  • Spanish

Availability

  • Virtual

  • Wait List

Lisa Kappaz, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Lisa Kappaz, LCSW

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker with private, county, and healthcare system experience. Her experience ranges from children to adults. She has specialized training in Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Currently, she sees teenagers and adults. She treats general mood disorders, anxiety disorders, postpartum, and phase of life.

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License

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker LCSW # 14812

Education

  • New York University School of Social Work, 1977, BSW, MSW

Availability

  • Virtual

  • Accepting Patients

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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Farinaz Khalilifard, LMFT

A bilingual (English/Farsi) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience in mental health. She is willing to help you with the things you want to focus on during your journey. She works with issues related to Addiction, Trauma, Family Issues, Stress, Grief, Loss, PTSD, Women's Issues, and Relationship Issues. Her approach to treatment is a humanistic which is client-centered. She specializes in motivational interviewing, CBT, and DBT. Via treatment, you will collaborate on the creation of mutual goals, which can be worked on both during and outside of sessions.

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License

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist LMFT # 51334

Education

  • Pepperdine University, 2007, MA, Psychology

  • Oglethorpe University, 2004, BA, Psychology

Availability

  • Virtual

  • Accepting Patients

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Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Supervised by Laura E. Barragan, Psy.D, LCSW

Meaghan Manos Ukra, MS

An Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with experience in the non-profit, school-based, and community mental health sphere. Her experience includes children and adolescents as well as adults of all ages. She possesses specialized training and experience working with trauma, adoption, and anxiety disorders.

 

License

  • Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT # 118124

Education

  • California State University, Northridge, 2019, MS 

  • California State University, Northridge, 2017, BA

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

  • Accepting Patients

Benjamin Gage, AMFT

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Supervised by Laura E. Barragan, Psy.D, LCSW

Benjamin Gage, MS

An Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, a Compassionate professional possessing diverse experience in the areas of mental health and substance abuse treatment. He is passionate about helping people who suffer from addiction, trauma, or any areas that are blocking them from living a fulfilled life.  His approach is to collaboratively identify and reach your therapeutic and life goals, by leveraging years of experience and working collaboratively with individual clients, and couples to aid them in reaching their potential.

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License

  • Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT # 131745

Education​

  • Antioch University, Los Angeles, 2021, MS

  • Cal State University, Northridge, 2017, BA

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

  • Accepting Patients

JudyAnn Sithiphong, ACSW

Associate Clinical Social Worker

Supervised by Laura E. Barragan, Psy.D, LCSW

JudyAnn Sithiphong, MSW

An associate clinical social worker with experience working with people experiencing homelessness in the non-profit sector. She is a certified domestic violence counselor and has worked with adolescents, adults, and older adults. Judy Ann is person-centered, empathetic, and trauma-informed. She understands intersecting aspects of people's lives play a huge role in the way they think, feel, and behave. Has experience with crisis intervention, harm-reduction, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and problem-solving therapy. She is solution-focused at heart and takes into consideration the diversity, equity, and inclusion of all people she comes across.

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License

  • Associate Clinical Social Worker, ACSW # 96039

Education​

  • The University of Southern California, 2020, MSW

  • Cal State University, Los Angeles, 2017, BA

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

  • Not accepting patients at this time

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Associate Clinical Social Worker

Supervised by Laura E. Barragan, Psy.D, LCSW

Jennifer Fierro, MSW

An associate clinical social worker with nine years of experience assisting individuals within non-profit and community mental health settings. She utilizes an empathetic and person-centered approach to facilitate adults of all ages in achieving their therapeutic goals. Jennifer specializes in depression, anxiety, general mood disorders, relationships, and adults. She has experience in crisis intervention, harm-reduction, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused therapy.

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License

  • Associate Clinical Social Worker, ACSW # 103390

Education​

  • Cal State University, Bakersfield, 2021, MSW

  • University Of California, Santa Barbara, 2013, BA

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

Diego Fernandez

Admin Coordinator

Diego Fernandez

Diego, an accomplished graduate from Mt. San Antonio College, where he earned three distinguished associate degrees in Communications, Journalism, and Film. Currently, he is pursuing his higher education at Cal State Fullerton, specializing in Journalism to further enhance his expertise. Diego's insatiable curiosity for community service, the arts, and the wonders of nature fuels his passion and sets him apart. 

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Education:

  • Mt. San Antonio College, Class of 2023

    • Associate of Arts in Communications

    • Associate of Arts in Journalism

    • Associate of Science in Film

Raul Barragan, MBV

Managing Partner, Career Coach

Raul Barragan, MBV

His focus is on early to mid-career professionals and entrepreneurs, parents returning to work, and professionals looking to pivot in their careers.

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Education​

  • The University of Southern California, 2014, M.B.V, Master of Business for Veterans

  • Mount St. Mary’s University, 2012, B.S., Business Administration

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

  • Accepting Clients

Evelyn Escalona, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Evelyn Escalona, LCSW

A bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 8 years of experience in community mental health, school-based mental health, and within the healthcare system. Her experience ranges from children to adults. She has specialized training in the treatment of children 0-5, Family Dynamics, and Parenting. She treats general mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, and life transitions.

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License

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker LCSW # 77514

Education​

  • The University of Southern California, 2013, MSW

  • Cal State University, Northridge, 2010, BA

Languages

  • Spanish

Availability

  • Virtual

  • Not accepting patients at this time

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Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Grisel Esparza, LCSW

A bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience. Her experience ranges from helping clients with relationship issues, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, and depression. You are the expert of your story and encourages you to utilize your strength to assist you in overcoming your challenges. Grisel has a wealth of experience in the field of medical social. She treats general mood disorders, anxiety disorders, life transitions, grief and loss, end of life, and stress. She looks forward to support and empower you in your journey. 

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License

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW #89644

Education​

  • University of Southern California, 2009, MSW

  • San Diego State University, 2006, BA

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

  • Accepting Patients

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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Alina Gonzalez, LMFT

Alina Gonzalez, MS, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over five years of experience in community mental health providing therapy to infants, children, teens, and adults. She works with issues related to trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, family issues, life transitions, grief, and loss. Alina also has specialized training in the treatment of children 0-5 and their caregivers using treatment modalities such as CPP, play-based therapy, and Infant Massage to address concerns related to trauma exposure, parenting/co-parenting difficulties, attachment/bonding, childhood anxiety/mood disorders, developmental delays, behavioral issues, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Alina is passionate about supporting her clients to utilize their strengths to meet their goals by providing a safe space that is affirming and inclusive of one’s lived experiences and intersecting identities. Her therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, reflective, collaborative, and strength-based.

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License

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist LMFT # 136600

Education

  • Cal State University, Northridge, 2019, MS, Counseling Psychology

  • Cal State University, Northridge, 2015, BA, Psychology

Availability

  • Virtual

  • Accepting Patients

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Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Supervised by Laura E. Barragan, Psy.D, LCSW

Denise Delaney Harris, MS

Denise works from a strengths-based approach to empower clients to use their strengths and abilities to cope with life’s problems and respects that the individual is the best expert on themselves. “There are all times when we need a new perspective, someone to hear us and help us sort out life’s issues and challenges and leave the old story behind.” Denise has worked in community mental health and with domestic violence survivors. She utilizes multiple modalities, including CBT, Solution Focused, Inner Child, and is trained in Brainspotting. Her specialties include depression, anxiety, phase of life issues, family and couples, grief /loss, and trauma.

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License

  • Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT # 130695

Education​

  • Brandman University, 2021, MA

  • Brandman University, 2015, BA

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

  • Accepting Patients

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Associate Clinical Social Worker

Supervised by Laura E. Barragan, Psy.D, LCSW

Christina Rodriguez, MSW

A bilingual (English/Spanish) Associate Clinical Social Worker with over twelve years of experience in the child and family welfare and school based-field. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults facing challenges related to trauma, abuse/addiction, parent/child relationships, and crisis intervention. Through an empathetic and person-centered approach, she creates a safe space for clients to explore, identify and understand personal challenges and barriers while identifying individual strengths to help reach therapeutic goals.

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License

  • Associate Clinical Social Worker, ACSW # 113925

Education​

  • Cal State University, Northridge, 2016, MSW

  • Cal State University, Northridge, 2009, BA

Availability

  • Virtual

  • In-person

Cynthia Buendia

Admin Coordinator

Cinthya Buendia, B.S.

Cinthya Buendia recently graduated with her bachelor's in Speech, language, and hearing sciences from San Diego State University. She is working towards getting her master's in speech pathology to eventually become a speech-language pathologist. Her passion is learning about voice disorders, orofacial myofunctional disorders, and swallowing deficits. In her free time, she enjoys finding new places to eat with friends and loves watching Marvel and Disney movies. 

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Education​

  • San Diego State University, 2022, B.S.

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