Andrew F. Leuchter, MD, is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Associate Director of the Semel Institute. He also is Director of the Neuromodulation Division at the Semel Institute. Dr. Leuchter is a graduate of Stanford University and the Baylor College of Medicine who joined the UCLA faculty in 1986.

An expert on the treatment of mood disorders, Dr. Leuchter directs the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinical and Research Service. This is one of the largest academic TMS program in the country, which performs more than 6,000 treatments each year for patients with depression, pain, and other neuropsychiatric illness. He performs research to enhance TMS treatment effectiveness, as well as clinical trials to improve treatment of depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dr. Leuchter’s research aims to develop novel treatment strategies and predict which treatments are most likely to benefit individual patients.

Sidney Zisook, MD, is director of the University of California, San Diego Residency Training Program, and a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD. Dr. Zisook received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley and his medical degree from Stritch-Loyola, Chicago. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and was a clinical fellow of Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Zisook’s research centers around mood as both a primary and secondary manifestation/disorder. Much of his research has been focused on the natural history, differentiation from depression and treatment of grief and bereavement. Current research projects include: 1) treatment of bereavement – associated depression; 2) interventions for traumatic (aka complicated) grief; 3) interventions for treatment resistant depression; 4) predicting antidepressant response; 5) preventing physician suicide. Dr. Zisook also is Director of the Operation Core of the Advanced Interventions Center for Older Persons with Psychotic Disorders.

Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt uses a bio-psycho-social model to help patients with all types of mental health conditions and a variety of undiagnosed health problems, move onto a pathway for a healthful, creative, and meaningful life. She provides and oversees psychiatric assessments and treatment, a variety of psychological modalities of care, functional and integrative medicine, and traditional medical interventions, to deliver exceptional care to all of her patients. Dr. Oliver-Pyatt believes that the relationship between the patient and their doctor, therapist, and entire treatment team must be built on knowledge, compassion, and empathy.

Described by colleagues as warm and wise, Dr. Oliver-Pyatt is known for her holistic approach to psychiatry—an approach that marries compassionate care with scientifically sound, multi-dimensional treatment, that explores and heals the underlying factors that drive whatever the conditions are faced by her patients.

A clinician, educator, and advocate, Dr. Oliver-Pyatt discovered her passion for psychiatry her third year in medical school while treating a psychotic patient at Brooklyn King’s county hospital. Originally intending to be an OBGYN, she found herself assigned a young man who was suffering from hallucinations and delusions.

As she saw the stunning impact that treatment and psychotropic medication had on this individual and the relief his healing brought his entire family, Dr. Oliver-Pyatt discovered her true calling.

She later realized that it was her own experience healing from an eating disorder that fostered her deep sense of compassion for those facing psychiatric challenges and disorders and passion for helping them transition back to mental health.

Though deeply interested in the neurobiological basis of mental health conditions, Dr. Oliver-Pyatt recognized the importance of relationships, connections, and attachment to wellbeing, and, therefore, also placed great value on the role of psychotherapy. Thus, at a time when mental health professionals generally had to choose between being pharmacologists or analysts, Dr. Oliver-Pyatt wanted to find the meeting ground, where she believed the greatest healing could occur.

Dr. Oliver-Pyatt received her specialty training at New York University-Bellevue Hospital in New York City, where she served as Chief Resident. She has held faculty positions at New York University, Albert Einstein School of Medicine and University of Nevada School of Medicine.

She was the Medical Director for the State of Nevada Division of Mental Health and Disability Services where she created a holistic, whole-person approach to mental health care. She served as Medical Director and Chief of Staff of Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health and has received Senatorial Recognition for her work as a psychiatrist and commitment to the mental health community.

A leader in the field of eating disorders, Dr. Oliver-Pyatt, has developed innovative eating disorder treatment programs, served as the AED Advocacy Committee Chairman, and Co-authored AED Guidelines for Obesity Prevention. She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorder and Fellow of International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. She serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and is current Chair of the Board of Directors of the Binge Eating Disorder Association.

She founded Center for Hope of the Sierras, and is Co-Founder, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of Oliver-Pyatt Centers, which include: The Comprehensive Eating Disorder Treatment Centers for Women; Clementine Adolescent Treatment Program; and Embrace, the Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Program.

Dr. Oliver-Pyatt served on the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations Technical Advisory Committee, has given frequent presentations at national and international eating disorder conferences, and has been featured on WebMD.

Katherine Woodward Thomas, M.A., MFT, is the New York Times Bestselling author of Conscious Uncoupling: 5 Steps to Living Happily Even After (2015) which was nominated for a Books for a Better Life Award, and Calling in “The One:” 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life (2004 & Revised Edition in 2021). She’s a licensed marriage and family therapist and teacher to thousands in her virtual and in-person learning communities. To date, Katherine has trained and credentialed thousands of people as Certified Conscious Uncoupling and Calling in “The One” Coaches.

Katherine is the originator of the Conscious Uncoupling 5-step process popularized by actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Katherine has had the honor of being interviewed by Maria Shriver on her Architects of Change series, and her teachings have been featured on The Today Show, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The London Times, The Guardian, People Magazine, Women’s Heath and countless podcasts, summits and media outlets.

Sheenie Ambardar, MD is a Physician specializing in Adult Psychiatry, with expertise in psychopharmacologic medication management as well as psychotherapy. Dr. Ambardar is the founder of The Happiness Psychiatrist®, an award-winning boutique psychiatry practice that has proudly served the Los Angeles area since 2012. Dr. Ambardar's unique treatment method blends modern medicine with ancient Hindu and Buddhist spiritual philosophies for the optimal benefit of her patients. She uses low-dose medications in conjunction with an eclectic blend of psychotherapeutic modalities including psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, walking therapy, journal therapy, meditation, and Kundalini Yoga.

Dr. Ambardar graduated from Stanford with Honors in Biological Sciences, received her MD from Baylor College of Medicine, completed a clinical research fellowship at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, and did her Psychiatry residency training at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan. As a practicing clinical psychiatrist, she has been awarded the Compassionate Doctor Award 5 times in a row, was thrice named a "Super Doctor Rising Star" in LA Magazine’s annual “Best of LA” edition, and has been named a “Super Doctor” in the field of Psychiatry in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Dr. Ambardar is also a mental health advocate, human rights activist, writer, and speaker. She has been published in the New York Times and the Huffington Post and has been interviewed by the Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Shape, Women’s Health, and other magazines. For more about Dr. Ambardar’s concierge private practice, please visit happinesspsychiatrist.com

Dr. Wyatt is a clinical psychologist, sex therapist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. She was the first person of color to receive an NIMH Research Scientist Career Development Awardee for 17 years. She has conducted national and international research since 1980, funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, state and private foundations.

Dr. Wyatt is Director of the UCLA Sexual Health Program, an Associate Director of the UCLA AIDS Institute and coordinates a core of behavioral scientists who consult with other researchers to recruit underserved populations and conduct research that effectively incorporates socio-cultural factors into HIV/AIDS research. The program also provides workshops on mentoring and investigation to conduct research and find success in academic settings. Dr. Wyatt has received numerous awards and honors for her scientific accomplishments, mentoring, and teaching. She has also testified before the United States Congress ten times on issues related to women's health and overall health policy. She was the first African-American woman to be licensed as a psychologist in the state of California.

Dr. Fong is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

Dr. Fong completed his undergraduate and medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He then came to UCLA and finished his residency in adult general psychiatry in 2002 and was the first accredited addiction psychiatry fellow at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (2002-2004).

He is the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program (UGSP). The purpose of this program is to examine the underlying causes and clinical characteristics of gambling disorder in order to develop effective, evidence-based treatment strategies.

Since 2009, he has been the director of the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship, a one-year accredited program that provides clinical training in addiction psychiatry.

Finally, he is part of the faculty leadership of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, a multidisciplinary effort to examine the full impact of cannabis on the body, mind and brain.

Dr. Merrill Sparago is a practicing Psychiatrist in Los Angeles, CA. He specializes in women’s mental health and adult psychiatry. He graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and went on to complete his residency at UCLA Medical Center.
Since 2008, Dr. Sparago has been treating women with depression during and after pregnancy. With his area of expertise combined with TMS therapy, Dr. Sparago has been able to help numerous women who struggle with depression during pregnancy, receive TMS therapy without fear of side effects to the mother or baby.

Dr. Shaywitz is a Board Certified Psychiatrist. He received his BA with Honors from Brown University and received his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Shaywitz completed his residency at UCLA where he was selected chief resident for the Anxiety Disorders Program. Dr. Shaywitz was the Director of the Anxiety Disorders Program at Cedar Sinai, the Medical Director at Glendale Memorial Hospital, the Medical Director of Behavioral Health at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach and Mission Hospital Mission Viejo and Medical Director of La Casa Psychiatric Facility. Dr. Shaywitz was also the Director of Practice Development for Community Psychiatry. He was awarded the Circle of Friends Honor at Cedar Sinai and has published book chapters and journal articles on the treatment of behavioral health disorders and is particularly interested in anxiety disorders and affective disorders. He has completed fellowships at NIMH and Columbia University. He is also the co-author of the 2nd edition of the best selling book published by Knopf "Overcoming Dyslexia".

Polly Young-Eisendrath, Ph.D., is a Jungian analyst, psychologist, and psychotherapist in private practice. She is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont and the founder and director of the Institute for Dialogue Therapy. She is past president of the Vermont Association for Psychoanalytic Studies and a founding member of the Vermont Institute for the Psychotherapies. She is the author, co-author, or editor of eighteen books, ranging from parenting, adult development, intimate and parental love, Buddhist theory, Jungian psychology to women’s development, couple therapy, couple development, and various paths to awakening/enlightenment from meditation to personal love. These books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Her most recent works are The Self-Esteem Trap: Raising Confident and Compassionate Kids in an Age of Self-Importance and Love Between Equals: Relationship as a Spiritual Path. She is the co-author, with Jean Pieniadz, Ph.D., of Dialogue Therapy for Couples and Real Dialogue for Opposing Sides: Methods Based on Psychoanalysis and Mindfulness. She hosts the popular podcast ENEMIES: From War to Wisdom that provides a fresh look at human hostilities and what to do about them. Dr. Young-Eisendrath is a lifelong Buddhist practitioner in Zen, Tibetan, and Vipassana lineages and brings decades of leadership in mindfulness practice within the Buddhist context as well as integrated into her clinical work.

Dr Ross is a Past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. He is the author of 36 books and 250 peer-reviewed papers. He has spoken widely throughout Europe and North America and in China, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia.

Yekusiel Kalmenson is the Founder and CEO of multiple behavioral healthcare companies in Southern California and Arizona.
Among these is Renewal Health Group, a family of comprehensive addiction treatment centers, Montare Behavioral Health, a dynamic brand of mental health treatment centers, and Zenith Behavioral Health, a collection of high-quality psychiatric hospitals and adolescent treatment facilities.

In addition to these responsibilities, Kalmenson hosts a bi-monthly podcast for Montare Media called Discover U, which highlights complex mental health and chemical dependency issues in interviews with industry professionals, experts, and renowned authorities in various behavioral health fields. The podcast is available on all platforms.
Always interested in broadening and deepening the industry standard, Kalmenson is the creator of a cutting-edge diagnostic tool for chemical dependency issues called “Discovery Model.” He is partnering with Yale University to assess its efficacy.
Kalmenson is a Yale Chabad Scholar, a skilled facilitator, teacher, counselor, and speaker, who has previously provided chaplain services to prisons, local groups and remote villages throughout the world. His diverse experience as a rabbi, chaplain, and CEO has inspired his passion and deep understanding of the necessity for effective mental health treatment and long-term sobriety.

Robyn began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last twenty-four years she has developed her own private practice in Beverly Hills, CA, where she specializes in medical conditions, disordered eating, eating disorders, Health at Every Size, pre-pregnancy nutrition, and people in recovery. Robyn is a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian and Supervisor from IAEDP. She serves as a Nutrition Consultant for the Celiac Disease Foundation. For the last eight years Robyn was the Nutrition Counselor for the Susan Krevoy Eating Disorders Program at The Wright Institute Los Angeles, led eating disorder and body image groups at various sober livings in Los Angeles. She is a contributing author and is a nationally known registered dietitian nutritionist. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Fix, Shape Magazine, Fitness, Oxygen, Pilates Style, Diabetes Forecast, BH Weekly and Life & Style. She has been on national television as the eating disorder expert on The Insider. Robyn is the author of the new book The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones and the host of the podcast The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast.

Greta Angert is a psychotherapist, Eating Disorder Consultant, Trauma/EMDR Specialist and MFT Intern Supervisor. She received a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from California State University Northridge. She completed her clinical training at the Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, CA and has worked at every level of care including outpatient, inpatient and residential eating disorder programs as a primary therapist.

Greta is a member of the EMDR International Association, the Academy for Eating Disorders, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and was a Founding Board Member and Treasurer of the Los Angeles County chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. She is a certified EMDR Level 3 and Trauma Resiliency Model practitioner.

Greta is an Eating Disorder Consultant to many of Southern California’s most highly respected drug and alcohol treatment programs, providing eating disorder education, staff training and in-services. She is a Media Expert on eating disorders and a frequent professional resource for press inquiries. She has presented extensively on eating disorders and body image on a local and national level. Greta has maintained a private practice in Beverly Hills for nearly 20 years.

Dr. Lauren is licensed psychologist, relationship coach, consultant, author, educator, activist, and international speaker. Dr. Lauren has dedicated herself to Women’s Empowerment, the field of LGBT-Affirmative Psychotherapy & is a pioneer in Lesbian-Affirmative Therapy. Her first book: Lesbian Love Addiction: Understanding the Urge to Merge and How To Heal When Things Go Wrong is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can get a free excerpt at lesbianloveaddiction.com. She has a private practice in Beverly Hills and Woodland Hills and is currently offering Online Master Classes for Lesbians looking to find their Soulmate. She is also on West Hollywood's Gay and Lesbian Advisory Board serving the City of West Hollywood. Articles written by Dr. Lauren have been featured in numerous mental health magazines. She is currently working on her second book about Internalized Misogyny and How to Heal the Trauma of Growing Up in a Sexist World. Her most recent passion is her podcast which she cohosts with community activist, Alana Roshay called The Consciousness Salon where they look at social justice issues from a psychological lens. Her website is drlaurencostine.com.

Dr. Alandy-dy is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Nevada and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Dr. Alandy-dy has specialized background in conducting neuropsychological testing and treatment of patients diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, specific learning disorder(s), communication disorders) and comorbid socioemotional syndromes including but are not limited to depression and anxiety. Dr. Alandy-dy has worked with a diverse age group and clientele including families, children, adolescents, and adults conducting behavior therapy in the form ABA and CBT as well as family therapy.

Mark Edwards MS, MFT is a psychotherapist, trainer, teacher and clinical consultant. He has been in private practice in San Rafael, CA for 20 years and works with a broad client group of children, adolescents and adults.

Mark has been an adjunct professor for the Master’s Degree program in Counseling at Sonoma State University since 2007 and has a wide range of clinical experience including as former Assistant Clinical Director at the Community Institute for Psychotherapy in San Rafael and as a member of the forensic interview team for the Marin County District Attorney’s office.

Mark also supervises and teaches post Master’s and Pre-Doctoral interns for agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Paul Sunseri is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and TEDx speaker, as well as the Director of the New Horizons Child and Family Institute. He is the developer of Intensive Family-Focused Therapy, an innovative family-based form of mental health care for suicidal, self-harming, depressed, anxious, or oppositional children and adolescents. Dr. Sunseri is the author of Family-Focused Treatment for Child and Adolescent Mental Health: A New Paradigm (Routledge) in which he argues that the mental health community is not adequately responding to the current mental health crisis in children, as well as offering the evidence to support why family-based treatments will play a key role resolving this crisis. Finally, Dr. Sunseri is the chief architect of the first of its kind National Conference for the Advancement of Family Therapies, which brings together the very best minds in contemporary evidence-based family treatments.

Dr. Dana McNeil is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the founder The Relationship Place, a group practice located in San Diego, California. Dr. Dana’s practice specializes in couples’ therapy and utilizes an evidence-based type of couples’ therapy known as the Gottman Method. Dr. Dana is a certified Gottman Method therapist and Bringing Home Baby instructor. Dr. Dana works with all types of relationship issues from pre-marital counseling, dealing with the aftermath of extramarital affairs, partners working through addiction recovery, military deployed families, parents of special needs children, LGBTQ, and polyamorous clients.

Dr. Dana has been featured on many relationship podcasts and in publications such as the Business Insider, Authority Magazine, Bustle, Parade, Oprah Living, Martha Stewart Living, Ladders, Reader’s Digest, AARP, and is the resident relationship expert on the Cox Communications show “I Do.”

Her contacts:
Website: www.danamcneil.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrDanaMcNeil
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdanamcneil/

Dr. Martin is a neuroscientist and chief scientific officer for Alter Health Group where he leads a team of researchers focused on the development of evidence-based virtual mental health care. He is also a professor in clinical psychology at Azusa Pacific University where he has taught and conducted research over the past 16 years. He has published in a broad range of scientific journals with research focused on social behavior and a range of psychological disorders.

John Sovec, MA, LMFT is a nationally recognized expert on the topic of creating affirmative support for the LGBTQ community and is the author of Out: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting You LGBTQIA+ Kid Through Coming Out and Beyond. He is the clinical consultant for The Life Group LA , adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute and guest lecturer at Alliant University, Cal State Fullerton, and USC School of Social Work. In 2019, John was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

John Sovec, is a highly sought after speaker and media expert, and provides training for corporations, community agencies, schools, non-profits, and professional consultation on LGBTQ competencies.

John is a nationally recognized expert on creating affirmative LGBTQ support with his work featured on The Riki Lake Show, OWN, FOX, The Advocate, Bravo, LA Talk Radio, The Washington Post, and columns for Huffington Post, Medium, and Good Therapy. He is the host of OutTalk, a monthly web series for OutCare Health.

Kristen Zaleski PhD LCSW is a nationally recognized author, researcher, and psychotherapist on trauma related disorders and an expert in sexual trauma within both civilian and military culture. Dr Zaleski is the author of two books, multiple research articles, and is a consultant and trainer on trauma disorders and survivorship to entities such as Facebook and the Department of Defense. Dr. Zaleski came to the Mental Health Collective after a decade long tenure at University of Southern California as Clinical Associate Professor for the Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work. Doctor Zaleski continues to be affiliated with USC as an adjunct professor and Director of the Human Rights Clinic which is a pro-bono organization offering forensic evaluations for survivors of international human rights abuse.

Currently, Dr. Zaleski is the Clinical Director of the Mental Health Collective, a primary mental health treatment center in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Zaleski sits on the board of two Orange County non-profits- Center for Law and Military Policy and HOPE 365- where she advocates for survivors of human trafficking, sexual violence, and forced marriage around the world and within the United States military. She also consults with production companies in Hollywood on how to represent mental health realistically within television media.

Dr. Zaleski has specific training on neurobiology and modem day attachment theory. Her area of expertise centers around somatic and body-based treatments to heal trauma holistically. Dr. Zaleski has previously worked at UCLA Rape Treatment Center, Veterans Administration Healthcare Center in Long Beach, and Las Encinas Psychiatric Hospital. She also has a private practice in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Jennifer Lewis is an experienced mental health clinician with a passion towards transdisciplinary care. She is adept at conducting and teaching neurobiologically informed evidence- based practices. She translates those clinical skills to develop, implement and evaluate innovative mezzo level programs within health care organizations and creates innovative solutions to wicked societal problems. She and recently published a book, Organizing for Suicide Prevention: a case study at the Golden Gate Bridge (2020) San Diego, CA. Cognella Inc and was recently named as a Fulbright Specialist doing work internationally on suicide prevention and reducing access to lethal means.

As a professor in the Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work she promotes integrated social work curriculum and has been a leader in the vertical and horizontal mapping of the school's curriculum as Vice Chair of Curriculum Council, Chair of the Adult Mental Health and Wellness Department Curriculum Committee, University Task Force on Interdisciplinary Communities and as a Center for Excellence in Teaching Fellow. She currently serving as a Co-Director at the Institute for Addiction Science.

Before entering academia, Lewis was the Chief of Social Work at University of California, San Diego, Health System Department of Pediatrics Infectious Disease where she authored and implemented a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grants for HIV-positive mothers who are abusing substances to prevent the abuse, neglect and abandonment of children. She was Program Director at Southwest Center for HIV and AIDS, where she authored and oversaw Ryan White funding for programming for HIV-positive men, women and youth. She worked for the O’Connor House with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the Avon Program for Women and Justice addressing interpersonal violence. She was the Director of Mental Health and Social Services at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, New York City's only LGBT health clinic. She is the owner of Mosaic Psychotherapy, LLC, a psychotherapy practice that provides consulting and counseling services to individuals and families. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, trauma, interpersonal violence, HIV and addiction.