Susan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 18 years of experience as a private practice therapist, certified mediator and clinical and program director. She has Masters Degrees in both Counseling Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University and Human Resource Management from Pepperdine University.

Susan specializes in providing program development and clinical management for adult and adolescent mental health and addiction treatment programs.

Susan has served on numerous board of directors for professional organizations and for nonprofit agencies that provide services for families affected by poverty, domestic violence, mental illness and addiction. She was inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame for her numerous contributions to the community.

Dr. Raafat W. Girgis is a psychiatrist in Newport Beach, California and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Loma Linda University Medical Center and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. He received his medical degree from Cairo University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Briana Eckels received her Master’s in Social Work in May of 2018 from the University of Southern California. She is currently an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) for adolescents at SoCal Adolescent Wellness in Lake Forest. Briana’s passion for working with youth began as a childcare provider. She has worked with youth with autism spectrum disorder and their families as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapist from September 2018-to September 2019. Briana is passionate about eradicating the early cycles of problematic behaviors so that they do not continue as our youth grow into adults. She honors providing a safe, supportive, and empathetic environment when providing therapeutic services. Working under the supervision of a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) at So Cal Adolescent Wellness, Briana is excited to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with youth who have experienced trauma and abuse. For self-care. Briana enjoys reading, spending time with loved ones, and watching a movie while enjoying a pint of Ben &Jerry’s ice cream.

Sarah is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has worked with adolescents across cultures and socioeconomic classes. Sarah has training in EMDR, CBT, groups, and family counseling. She has worked with adolescents since 2018, spending most of her career in community mental health.  She has a B.S. in Sociology from CSU San Marcos and an M.S. in Counseling from CSU Fullerton. Sarah has a passion for working with adolescents. She believes empathy, genuineness, and teamwork are the fundamental skills in empowering adolescents to heal and become the best version of themselves.

Jim is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. He is Group Facilitator at SoCal Adolescent Wellness and has a private practice. Previously, Jim worked with patients a families for several years in a hospital-based chemical dependency recovery program. Jim takes a holistic approach to working with clients, integrating psychodynamic, CBT, DBT and the mind-body connection. He is the creator of a video series entitled, Out & INformed on TherapyCable.com targeting mental health issues in the LGBTQ Community. Jim’s other passions include Qi Gong, gardening, camping and getting out into nature.

Jean-Marc Tardieu is a Music Therapist as well as a singer and writer, born and raised in the twin island republic of Trinidad & Tobago in the southern Caribbean. He is a graduate of the internationally acclaimed Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he majored in Music Therapy, received a minor in Psychology.

Jean-Marc is also the Associate Producer for the award winning and internationally acclaimed performing arts group “The Love Movement” in Trinidad & Tobago. He has written, co produced and sung on their albums. He currently works with Get in Tune Music Therapy and several other companies doing Music Therapy sessions at various Hospitals and Rehabilitation centers throughout Southern California.

Rupa Ward has an MA in Psychology with Marriage and Family emphasis from Chapman University.  She is an EMDR certified therapist who specializes in treating trauma related issues.

She utilizes different therapeutic techniques, including CBT, ACT, EMDR, voice dialog, assertiveness training, Gottman Couples Therapy and strategies derived from mindfulness practice and body-mind integration theories. She has extensive experience in facilitating recovery from grief and loss.

She has taught yoga and meditation in the community for years and offers regular workshops on mindfulness.