As Lead Therapist and Director of Clinical Development Susan brings tremendous wisdom, experience and expertise in each and every person, opportunity and endeavor she engages in. Susan is also the Director of the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Hope International University, as well as a consultant to other university psychology/counseling programs around the country. She is continually engaged in developing high levels of skill and expertise throughout the profession and within the team. She is constantly empowering therapists around her to be better people and do better work.

Susan has extensive experience in treating trauma in individuals from 5 years old to 85 years old. As an EMDR expert, she is able to move people from debilitating impacts of trauma and pain to greater places of healing and emotional freedom. Along with the “head knowledge” she brings to the therapy room Susan works with her clients at a deep “heart level.” She works with client to overcome life’s most painful moments and experiences, Susan brings a deep level of personal engagement that is matched by her professional expertise.

Outside of the all her professional endeavors Susan loves good coffee, great conversations with friends and watching Angels games.

George's relentless passion to guiding others into greater healing and health is evident in everything endeavor he's engaged in. Whether he is teaching graduate students, training other therapists or caring for his clients George's brings strong support and genuine commitment in helping other discover healing, health and the best version of themselves.

George has strong expertise in working with children with emotional and behavioral struggles. In working with children and their parents he helps bring clarity to the struggles, tools for creating stronger connections and tools for working through life's difficult moments. George's also has extensive experience working with people struggling with anxiety, grief and loss, depression, and men's issues. George provides a process for people to experience calm in the midst chaos, discovery of their inherent worth and strengths, as well as a champion for their best self.

When George is not in the office or classroom he loves spending time with his wife and dogs, golfing or playing basketball.

Zak is passionate about working with people who are hurting, addicted, abandoned, confused, or lost. He believes that people are wired for connection, and he considers it an honor to provide a safe space for others to heal and learn what it is like to authentically connect with themselves and others.

Zak has extensive experience helping others recover themselves from addiction and underlying trauma, having worked in numerous dual diagnosis rehabilitation facilities across Orange County for three years. Zak learned about the personal and relational dynamics that maintain addictive processes and provided family and couple therapy to help the entire family engage in healing and health. Zak is passionate about guiding others into freedom from self-destructive patterns, recovering and developing a strong sense of self, and practicing being that self to have healthy, authentic relationships. Due to his own personal journey, Zak is also interested in teaching about the relationship between developmental trauma and spiritual development, and has seen how emotional immaturity contributes to an unhealthy spirituality. He enjoys helping others grow spiritually and emotionally, experience freedom from shame and self-condemnation, and learn to find rest and security in the love of God or the Sacred.

Outside of the office, Zak enjoys riding his Harley, reading, watching San Francisco Bay Area sports teams, being a prayer counselor with his church, and listening to thrash metal and hardcore punk.

Daniel’s empathic, honest and humorous approach to therapy enables him to welcome individuals, children, couples, and families alike into a therapeutic partnership where they can find help maneuvering through difficult life challenges and grow in healthy relationships with others.

His own life experience has allowed him to gain a better understanding when it comes to trusting the therapeutic process and working towards becoming emotionally healthy and relationally strong. His personal faith journey has served as a reminder not to judge others and helps him stay emotionally grounded during difficult times.

Daniel has clinical experience in working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as working with family and couples struggling with conflict and patterns of relational dysfunction. He is passionate about providing a safe environment and strong guidance to help people move through their pains and frustrations and into greater connection with themselves and the people around them.

Beyond the office, Daniel enjoys watching movies, working out, listening to music, and recording podcasts and advocating for mental, emotional and relational health.

As a therapist who works with teens, individuals and couples her first priority is to work toward establishing safety and security. Through her warm, intuitive and creative approaches she brings deep understanding to what is happening inside the mind and body. She helps her clients unveil underlying issues to bring clarity to the source of their pain while providing new pathways for healing, growth and fulfillment. Her goal is to provide a way forward through solutions and open communication that strengthens the bonds and increases confidence.

Katie has extensive experience working with adolescents with emotional, relational and mental health challenges in schools throughout Orange County. She has also worked extensively with people struggling with complex traumatic experiences and impacts of past abuse. Katie’s passion for providing strong guidance and care for adolescent girls can easily be seen in her years as a youth leader in her church, working in schools and leading transformation groups.

Outside the office Katie loves spending time exploring the outdoors with her husband and dogs, and discovering new vegan restaurants.

Ashley brings a sense of serenity, passion, connection, and discernment to her work with clients. Ashley's goal is to empower and encourage healing and recovery, by helping to restore what was lost and to gain something new. Ashley's driven by her creative yet artistic lens, that gives way to discovery, self-awareness and enlightenment. She works closely with her clients to assist in transforming their lives and guiding them to greater mental, emotional and spiritual renewal.

Ashley's zeal and commitment to helping others heal through experiential and restorative engagement, has given way to her extensive experience working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Varying skill and vast knowledge within addictive populations, unhealthy relational dynamics and identity diffusion. Ashley has worked with children, adolescents, and adults having had the chance to significantly develop her clinical capabilities, creative yet artistic abilities, alongside great leadership skills. Ashley strives to help women through daily life transitions within and outside of the workforce as well as promoting healthy sustaining connections with oneself and community. Ashley's intentional commitment to those who are suffering and wavering in their decision to stop prolong use of substances, is where her compassion and empathy is both warm and challenging to help create healthier thriving people.

As an east coast native from New Jersey, Ashley's coastal and cultural upbringing has offered a dynamic yet unique perspective of the contrasting differences of human connection and relatability. When Ashley is not preparing for transformative therapeutic experiences, she is deepening her relationship with God, traveling the world and experiencing culture at her fingertips, dancing the night away, cycling to some of the most iconic songs and catching up with family and friends.

Emily is passionate about creating a strong connection and comfortable place where her clients can feel safe and open in therapy. She knows taking those first few steps towards change are often the most difficult. In therapy she helps begin to uncover and understand their emotional experience while also working to create new ways of interacting with others.

Emily primarily works with children and their families struggling with behavioral and emotional challenges. She helps young families form stronger connections with tools for greater confidence and peace in the home.

Emily's diverse background, including growing up in Eastern Africa, helped her be able to connect with different people in their unique personality and experiences. Emily approaches her work nonjudgmental, open minded, and culturally sensitive with her clients. Her experiences traveling have helped her to see the inherent dignity and value of every person regardless of their current struggles or difficulties.

Emily works with teenagers, individuals, adults, and couples struggling with problems such as anxiety, depression, suicide and trauma.

In her spare time Emily enjoys watching silly videos with her friends, shopping in international grocery stores, and picking up new hobbies.

David provides a deep sense of belonging for everyone who walks through his door. His nonjudgmental and empathetic nature enables clients to feel understood and accepted exactly as they are. When working with clients, David’s goal is to help people find and befriend their true self and begin to make life-impacting changes. He believes that all his clients have an innate capacity for healing and cherishes the opportunity to walk alongside each client as they recover from painful life circumstances and recognize their inherent strengths.

Many years of working with adolescents and adults struggling with severe anxiety, depression, and various forms of addiction have taught David that each person’s struggle is unique to their specific context and requires intentional care. Learning this while working with others has enabled David to help his clients feel safe and comfortable sharing the deepest parts of their lives as they pursue genuine healing. In addition to being a therapist, David’s passion for helping others is evidenced by his time spent as a youth pastor and volunteer in his community.

When David is not seeing clients, he is likely reading, camping with his wife and dog, playing hockey, or spending quality time with close friends.

JD brings a calm presence to the therapy room, creating a safe space where clients can see and share their stories without feeling shame or judgement. He collaborates with couples, families, and individuals to find health and growth, and discover both resiliency and peace as they address the challenging struggles of anxiety, trauma, grief and painful relationships.

JD’s vast experience in working with people from many different backgrounds and has shown that life does not go as planned and there are many roadblocks that can occur which leaves people feeling stuck and frustrated. JD empowers his clients to work through roadblocks, develop tools to navigate tough challenges and rediscover authentic joy and life-giving connections.

JD possess a deep personal and professional understanding of the complexities and impact of faith and spirituality on overall wellness. JD guides people into more meaningful and greater experiences of their relationship with themselves, others and God.

When not at the office, JD can be found at home playing with his kids, out on a great adventure with his family, or at home watching a football game.