Meet Our Team

Dr. Nicole Chavez

Dr. Nicole Chavez is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified play therapist, and has specialized training in maternal mental health. She has been providing therapeutic and supportive services to children, adolescents, parents, and families since 2007. She has experience in providing therapy in a variety of settings to children ages 0-21, as well as working with pregnant and new mothers.  She strongly believes in prevention and early intervention in order to maintain individual well-being, to promote healthy family relationships, and to facilitate positive bonding and attachment between the child and caregiver. While she enjoys providing individual therapy, she is a strong believe in the importance of working with the whole family. Dr. Chavez enjoys working with parents individually to help them improve their confidence in their parenting skills.
  
Dr. Chavez is dedicated to providing quality services and personalized care to each and every one of her clients. She prefers to work collaboratively with her clients in which they are an active participate in their change. 
Aside from providing therapy, Dr. Chavez enjoys psychological testing. She is able to provide psychological testing for a variety of struggles, including ADHD, learning disabilities, and helping an individual clarify emotional struggles and learn personal strengths and weaknesses.  She is also skilled in early assessment and diagnosis of perinatal mood disorders and childhood mental health disorders. Dr. Chavez’s passion for psychological testing goes beyond the clinical setting, she also teaches psychological testing at the American School of Professional Psychology, and supervises unlicensed professionals and students in the area of psychological testing. 

Dr. Chavez earned her doctorate degree from the American School of Professional Psychology, Orange County in 2010. Dr. Chavez holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Clemson University. She also holds a certificate in Play Therapy from the University of California, San Diego Extension Program. She also has training in and use evidence based practices, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Functional Family Therapy when working with families. 

Dr. Chavez is licensed in the State of California as a clinical psychologist. PSY 24982

Dr. Parie Faridnia

I'm passionate about using humor, stories, and analogies to help my clients look at their challenges from a new perspective.
If you feel stuck in old patterns it may seem impossible to free yourself. Today is the day. All you need to start the therapy process is the willingness to make that first contact. Dr. Faridnia believes in the innate ability of her clients to transform themselves, their relationships, and their lives. Everyone encounters challenges whether it's depression, anxiety, loss, failed relationships, compulsions, or past traumas. Dr. Faridnia works collaboratively with her clients to develop self-awareness and self esteem, a key foundation of meaningful relationships. She enjoys acting as an empowering, knowledgeable guide along each client’s unique therapeutic journey. Dr. Faridnia is a strong supporter of prevention and early intervention to bring about and maintain healthy familial attachments, reduce incidence and severity of risk factors, and increase individual strengths. Dr. Faridnia is committed to helping children, teens, and their families improve their communication and relationships.

Dr. Faridnia is a certified expert in parenting and family therapy. She is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence based treatment model, where she provides education and live coaching to parents to strengthen the parent-child bond, promote healthy parent-child attachment relationships, and decrease maladaptive child behavior. Dr. Faridnia is also certified in Functional Family Therapy, an evidenced based short-term family therapy model for tweens, teens, and young adults (aged 10-21) to decrease risky behavior, blame, and negativity, and increase responsibility, warmth, and functional communication. She helps to engage and motivate teens and their families by decreasing intense negativity, reducing and eliminating problem behaviors, and strengthening familial relationships and communication. 
Dr. Faridnia has specialized training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, play therapy, and suicide assessment and intervention.She is passionate about helping individuals who are suicidal find another way to cope with overwhelming despair, pain, and suffering.  She utilizes a collaborative, short-term, evidence-based  intervention program for those presenting with thoughts and plans of suicide.  Dr. Faridnia believes that preventing suicide is a shared responsibility between her and her clients. Together, Dr. Faridnia works with her clients to develop their ability to label their emotions and create personalized strategies to calm themselves and keep themselves safe. She has developed a strong skillset in treating individuals in crisis and has specific training centered around the prevention and intervention of suicide. She acts as a community advocate for promoting best practices in the assessment and management of suicidal behavior.

She is a member and active supporter of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, a supporter of the Los Angeles County Perinatal Task Force, and a member of the American Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Faridnia has extensive experience working with adolescents, parents, and families since 2008.

Dr. Faridnia earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2012. Dr. Faridnia earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2009. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from the University of California, Davis in 2007.

Dr. Faridnia is currently licensed as a clinical psychologist in the state of California. PSY 26838. ​

Coreen Schwartz

I am committed in helping clients discover their self-worth, using empathy and a collaborative setting. My goal in therapy is to help my clients reach an authentic and meaningful life. 
Coreen is doctoral trainee, under the supervision of Dr. Parie Faridnia, Psy.D., Coreen received her Bachelor’s of Arts in psychology, as well as, a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC). She is currently working towards her doctorate in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Coreen’s experience includes working with a variety of issues, including, anxiety, depression, family dynamics, problems with jobs and schools, and trauma.  She has also worked with teens who were experiencing family, relational problems, anxiety, and depression issues. Coreen has led group therapy sessions, with teens and adults, dealing with self-esteem, depression and anxiety, as well as art therapy. She has practiced with at-risk youth, within the LAPD program, to prevent gang affiliation. Coreen is committed to helping clients discover their self-worth and to help lead them to a better future.

Sandra Artar Bayindir ​

I believe that the process of psychotherapy is a shared experience between the therapist and the client. Within the therapy process, whether a child, adolescent or adult, one starts acknowledging their feelings and thoughts, and starts connecting these to their behavior and difficulties. Examining one’s relationship patterns, and reflecting on these, makes one gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their behavior and their life process.
Sandra Artar Bayindir is specialized and experienced in working with infants, children, adolescents and families. She earned her masters degree in Clinical Psychology with special emphasis in child & adolescent psychotherapy. Sandra, has developed and guided parent-infant attachment groups, conducted extensive research on breastfeeding and attachment, worked on outreach programs involving child abuse, parenting and education; administered cognitive, emotional and developmental tests to children; led group therapies; and worked on projects for the World Association of Infant Mental Health.

​ Sandra, has been providing therapeutic services to children and families for over ten years in various settings; and has been working in the clinical setting since 2014. She uses child-centered play therapy with children and psychotherapy with adolescents and parents. She has extensive experience in working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties; as well as working with expecting or new parents on their infant-parent relationship. Her background and experience includes several theoretical approaches that she uses holistically and flexibly based on her clients’ needs.
 

Anne Brunson

I actively participate while listening to my clients to let them know they are not alone. I walk alongside my clients and encourage them to open up when they are ready.
Anne is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, under the supervision of Dr. Parie Faridnia. Anne graduated from UC Irvine with a BA in Psychology and Social Behavior and a  Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis of Marriage and Family Therapy, from Pepperdine University.

Anne is passionate about the work she does and works to ensure her clients feel safe, heard and understood in a compassionate and empathetic manner. She enjoys building strong relationships with her clients by providing a safe space to allow for healing and growth. “Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful parts of us.” David Richo

She adds in elements of her own personality along with humor to make the therapy experience more enjoyable and less daunting. Anne also incorporates spirituality and faith-based interventions into her work upon the client’s request. A collaborative approach is used in her work to ensure the clients get the best care and their needs are heard and met during their time in therapy.

Anne has worked in different areas of the mental health field, including working with adults who have acquired brain injuries and at a Catholic non-profit organization. She has experience with all ages treating anxiety, depression, stress, communication issues, and those experiencing life transitions. 

Jessica Laird

My goal as a clinician is to provide my client a safe space to explore their feelings and find growth. I believe everyone deserves a strong support system, and I am to provide the support to all my clients.
Jessica is doctoral trainee, under the supervision of Dr. Parie Faridnia, Psy.D., Jessica received her Bachelor’s of Arts in psychology, as well as, a Master’s Degree in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP). She is currently working towards her doctorate in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Jessica’s experience includes working with a variety of issues, including, anxiety, depression, family dynamics, children with behavioral difficulties, and trauma.  She has also worked with children and adolescent who experience significant emotional and behavior difficulties as well as relational problems. She has practiced with diverse children and family, including race, gender, sexual orientation, and social economic status. Jessica is committed to helping clients build their self-esteem and to be a part of their growth.