50+ Practitioners, One Mission

Meet the Team

Every member of our team brings expertise, warmth, and a deep commitment to connection-centered care.

Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

3M+ Books Sold

Founder

Dr. Tina Payne Bryson

LCSW, PhD • Founder & Executive Director

New York Times bestselling author and internationally renowned expert on child development. Tina founded The Center for Connection to bring the science of interpersonal neurobiology into clinical practice.

NYT Bestselling Author PhD from USC Play Strong Institute

Learn More About Tina

Leadership & Administration

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD

LCSW, PhD

Founder/Executive Director

Scott Bryson

PhD

CFO

Deborah Buckwalter Bio 000

Deborah Buckwalter

PhD

Director of Wellbeing

Will Lacey

PhD

Clinical Director CFC-SB

Maura Cook

Director of Client Relations

Ayla Dillard

Director of Communications

Dan Enbysk 000

Dan Enbysk

Financial Administrator

Cathy Schaefer 000

Cathy Schaefer

PhD

Director of Assessment Division

Olivia Martinezhauge 000

Olivia Martinez-Hauge

OT

Co-Director CFCN & OT

Amanda Staples 000

Amanda Staples

OT

Co-Director CFCN & OT

Annalise Kordell Bio 000

Annalise Kordell

LCSW

Co-Director Mental Health

Jennifer Lovers Bio 000

Jennifer Lovers

LMFT

Co-Director Mental Health

Orli Lahav 000

Orli Lahav, Board Certified Educational Therapist

BCET

Director Educational Care

Desiree Misrachi 000

Desiree Misrachi

CCC-SLP

Director SLP Division

Infant, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health

Adrienne Hollingsworth 000

Adrienne Hollingsworth, AMFT

LMFT

Amanda Press 000

Amanda Press

PsyD

Amy Dinoble 000

Amy DiNoble

PhD

Will Lacey

PhD

Clinical Director CFC-SB

Barry Davis 000

Barry Davis, LMFT

LMFT

Georgie Wisen Bio 000

Georgie Wisen-Vincent

LMFT, RPT-S

Dahlia Bagnis 000

Dahlia Bagnis

LCSW

Kelly Hart 000

Kelly Hart

LMFT

Monica Borunda 000

Monica Borunda, LMFT

LMFT, SEP, CCTP

Cathy Schaefer 000

Cathy Schaefer

PhD

Director of Assessment Division

David Talavera

PhD

Rebecca Read 000

Rebecca Read

LMFT

Olivia Martinezhauge 000

Olivia Martinez-Hauge

OT

Co-Director CFCN & OT

Megan Watkins 000

Megan Sbrana (formerly Watkins)

LMFT

Annalise Kordell Bio 000

Annalise Kordell

LCSW

Co-Director Mental Health

Jen Kalusa 000

Jen Kalusa

MA, LMFT

Jennifer Lovers Bio 000

Jennifer Lovers

LMFT

Co-Director Mental Health

Mercedes Martinez Hannon 000

Mercedes Martinez-Hannon

LMFT

Maggie Moore 000

Maggie Moore

LPCC, ECMHS

Vincent Gonzales 000

Vincent Gonzales

AMFT

Volney Tavarez 000

Volney Tavarez

LMFT

Merushka Laceybisetty 000

Merushka Lacey-Bisetty, PsyD

PsyD

Katie Mukai 000

Dr. Katie Mukai

PhD

Evelyn Cumpian

MA, LMFT

Katelyn Montalvo 000

Katelyn Montalvo

AMFT

Associate Marriage & Family Therapist

Monica Elliott 000

Monica Elliott

AMFT

Euodia Choi 000

Euodia Choi

MA, AMFT

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Adult and Couples Psychotherapy

Adrienne Hollingsworth 000

Adrienne Hollingsworth, AMFT

LMFT

Amanda Press 000

Amanda Press

PsyD

Amy Dinoble 000

Amy DiNoble

PhD

Will Lacey

PhD

Clinical Director CFC-SB

Barry Davis 000

Barry Davis, LMFT

LMFT

Dahlia Bagnis 000

Dahlia Bagnis

LCSW

David Talavera

PhD

Monica Borunda 000

Monica Borunda, LMFT

LMFT, SEP, CCTP

Olivia Martinezhauge 000

Olivia Martinez-Hauge

OT

Co-Director CFCN & OT

Megan Watkins 000

Megan Sbrana (formerly Watkins)

LMFT

Jennifer Lovers Bio 000

Jennifer Lovers

LMFT

Co-Director Mental Health

Mercedes Martinez Hannon 000

Mercedes Martinez-Hannon

LMFT

Maggie Moore 000

Maggie Moore

LPCC, ECMHS

Vincent Gonzales 000

Vincent Gonzales

AMFT

Merushka Laceybisetty 000

Merushka Lacey-Bisetty, PsyD

PsyD

Katie Mukai 000

Dr. Katie Mukai

PhD

Speech & Language Therapy

Arielle Pittluck 000

Arielle Pittluck

MS, CCC-SLP

Desiree Misrachi 000

Desiree Misrachi

CCC-SLP

Director SLP Division

Occupational Therapy

Justin 000

Justin Waring Crane

MS, OT

Kira Bender 000

Kira Bender

MS OTR/L

Kathleen Davidson 000

Kathleen Davidson

MA, OTR/L

Tiffany Manzini 000

Tiffany Manzini

MOT, OTR/L

Olivia Martinezhauge 000

Olivia Martinez-Hauge

OT

Co-Director CFCN & OT

Amanda Staples 000

Amanda Staples

OT

Co-Director CFCN & OT

Educational Therapy & Educational Support

Frances Yang 000

Frances Yang

MA

Alex Jospe 000

Alex Jospé, Ed. Therapist

MA

Kay de Veer

M.Ed., ET/P

Orli Lahav 000

Orli Lahav, Board Certified Educational Therapist

BCET

Director Educational Care

Neuropsychological, Psychological, & Developmental Assessments

Amanda Press 000

Amanda Press

PsyD

Jesse Fischer 000

Jesse Fischer

PhD

Will Lacey

PhD

Clinical Director CFC-SB

Cathy Schaefer 000

Cathy Schaefer

PhD

Director of Assessment Division

David Talavera

PhD

Katie Mukai 000

Dr. Katie Mukai

PhD

Consulting Psychologists

Deborah Buckwalter Bio 000

Deborah Buckwalter

PhD

Director of Wellbeing

Parenting Support and Consultations

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD

LCSW, PhD

Founder/Executive Director

Adrienne Hollingsworth 000

Adrienne Hollingsworth, AMFT

LMFT

Amanda Press 000

Amanda Press

PsyD

Barry Davis 000

Barry Davis, LMFT

LMFT

Georgie Wisen Bio 000

Georgie Wisen-Vincent

LMFT, RPT-S

Dahlia Bagnis 000

Dahlia Bagnis

LCSW

Cathy Schaefer 000

Cathy Schaefer

PhD

Director of Assessment Division

Olivia Martinezhauge 000

Olivia Martinez-Hauge

OT

Co-Director CFCN & OT

Annalise Kordell Bio 000

Annalise Kordell

LCSW

Co-Director Mental Health

Jennifer Lovers Bio 000

Jennifer Lovers

LMFT

Co-Director Mental Health

Maggie Moore 000

Maggie Moore

LPCC, ECMHS

Vincent Gonzales 000

Vincent Gonzales

AMFT

Merushka Laceybisetty 000

Merushka Lacey-Bisetty, PsyD

PsyD

Euodia Choi 000

Euodia Choi

MA, AMFT

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Groundbreaking Leaders

Diverse Fields — Connection-Based

The Center for Connection has gathered knowledgeable, dedicated practitioners from various fields—psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, neuropsychology, educational therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, parent education, assistive technology—with each practitioner offering a holistic perspective, grounded in the science of interpersonal neurobiology. Individuals and families who visit will receive multidisciplinary treatment that is consistent, well informed, relationally-based, and always aimed at helping them thrive.

Find Your Match

Not sure which practitioner is right for you? Our intake team will listen to your needs and match you with the perfect fit.

Request a Consultation (626) 385-6121

How Can We Help?

Choose the path that best describes your needs.

I'm here for my child

Therapy, OT, speech-language, educational therapy, assessments

I'm here for myself

Individual therapy, couples counseling, adult assessments

Help me decide

Not sure where to start? We'll help you find the right path.