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DEFT Institute Faculty

The following clinicians have completed one or more levels of the DEFT Institute Training Program. This list represents only those participants who have applied to be included on the website.



Ella Begelfor, LMFT

21241 Ventura Blvd #262

Woodland Hills, CA 91364

(818) 207-1191

email: schoolofsoul@earthlink.net

ellabegelfor.com


Ella helps her clients understand their thoughts and emotions, enabling them to recognize their behavioral patterns; once these patterns are identified, clients are given the tools to be their own healers! Ella works with individuals, couples and families. Her Practice is in Woodland Hills.


Dr. Jan Bowman

19 Glen Eden Ave.

Oakland, CA 94611

510.594.9569

janbowmanpsychotherapy.com



Fallynn Cox, Psy.D.

745 S. Marengo Avenue,

Pasadena, CA  91106

Phone: (626) 298-1047

email: Mail@DrFallynn.com

drfallyn.com


Dr. Cox is committed to helping people address their symptoms and difficulties compassionately and effectively. She has specialized experience with both chemical and process addictions, couple's therapy, OCD (dermatillomania, trichotillomania), depression, anxiety, bi-polar illness, and relationship difficulties. Please contact Dr. Cox for an initial consultation.  She is also available for Skype consultations and therapy sessions.


Donna Fraser, LMFT

801 Portola Dr. #205

San Francisco, CA 94127

(415) 664-6500

email: donnafraser@earthlink.net


Donna practices in San Francisco providing psychotherapy services to individuals and couples.


Nancy Gunzberg, LCSW

(805) 450-1652

Santa Barbara, CA

email: nancygunzberg@cox.net

nancygunzberg.com


Nancy works with individuals and groups and practices psychotherapy in Santa Barbara, California.



Lisa Hauck Loy, LMFT

1346 4th Street, Ste. 7

San Rafael, CA 94901

415.459.3117

Phone: 415-459-3117  

lisahauckloy.com


Lisa Hauck Loy specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression and relationship issues, helping individuals find self-compassion, authentic expression, and empowerment over self-destructive thoughts and behaviors. She assists couples in discovering the relief of non-defensiveness, in making effective repairs, and in enlivening their relationships.



David Kerrigan, Ph.D., LCSW

143 Figueroa Street

Ventura, CA 93001

805-794-3165

dkerrigan@intensivechanges.com

intensivechanges.com


David works with children, adolescents, adults, and their families, specializing in attachment and trauma. He integrates spirituality with psychotherapy to address the whole person. With nearly two decades as a licensed clinician, he has worked in a range of settings, from inpatient psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment centers to private practice. He served as Executive Director of the Center for Spirituality and Social Work at the National Catholic School of Social Service and has presented on attachment and other mental health issues at local, national, and international conferences.


Melissa Klaskin, Ph.D., LCSW

204 S. Beverly Dr. # 107

(310) 559-7315

email: Melissa@Klaskintherapy.com

klaskintherapy.com


Dr. Klaskin has been in private practice in Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles for more than twenty five years.  She specializes in the treatment of patients with anxiety and depression disorders, physical, psychosomatic and eating disorders, trauma, relationship and intimacy problems. She has a wide clinical background and specializes in ISTDP and DEFT.



Su Lim, LMFT

1328 Westwood Blvd #16

Los Angeles, CA 90024

310 717 0332

sulimtherapy@gmail.com

sulimtherapy.com


Su has a private practice in Westwood, and works with individuals and couples both in person and on Skype. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, trauma, depression and relationship issues, and brings to her work the empathy and experience of her own diverse past, having resided and worked in Europe and Asia as well as the US. Su has an eclectic approach that borrows from both long and short term techniques, with a significant part of her work incorporating DEFT/ISTDP interventions.



Eve Martin, LMFT

Phone: 818.903.3934

Email: eve_martin@sbcglobal.net


Eve's clinical philosophy is one of pragmatism sprinkled with humor, based on treating each client as an individual with specific needs and empowering clients through education as well as introspection. She works with each client to better understand and resolve challenges in their lives, whether they require short-term intervention or longer-term treatment. By utilizing complementary therapy approaches and techniques along with a positive alliance with each client and colleagues, she works to transform and rework significant emotional experiences and family issues that may be holding clients back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. She specializes in treatment of substance abuse and utilizing EMDR to treat trauma. Eve has a private practice in Encino.  



Carolyn Okazaki, LCSW

1416 Westwood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA  90024

(310) 650-0520

Carolyn specializes in self-esteem, identity, intimacy issues, anxiety and severe depression in a compassionate and confidential setting.



Idit Roth, LMFT

30497 Canwood St.

Agoura Hills, CA 91301

email: iditroth@gmail.com



Vincent Staraci, LMFT

2333 Ashland Ave.,

Santa Monica, CA 90405

email: vjfs@me.com



Miven Trageser, LMFT

864 S. Robertson blvd, Ste. 304

Los Angeles, CA 90035

310-284-3600

www.losangeleschildtherapist.com


Miven works with adults using DEFT to address relationship issues that lead to depression, anxiety, and loss of meaning in life. She integrates spiritual issues and faith-based approaches. She works with couples and parents and specializes in play therapy for children coping with trauma, stress and divorce.  



Eveline Wu, MFT

444 34th ST Oakland, CA 94609

2950 Camino Diablo, Suite 320, Walnut Creek, CA 95497

(510) 780-6960

email: eveline@evelinewupsychotherapy.com

evelinewupsychotherapy.com


Eveline works with people with anxiety and mind body issues like chronic pain or headaches. She also works with multiracial couples, and Asian Americans and children of immigrants on working on self empowerment, intergenerational family conflict, and scapegoating.

Susan Warshow, LCSW, LMFT

(Developer of Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy, Trainer, Supervisor)

Phone: (818) 703-1145  

email: swarshow@me.com

warrenwarshow.com


Susan Warren Warshow, LCSW, LMFT, is the founder of the Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy (DEFT) Institute, which offers a monthly training program for psychotherapists and a webinar series. She is the author of A Therapist's Handbook to Dissolve Shame and Defense: Master the Moment. Her second book, Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy: A Casebook on Shame Sensitivity, will also be released by Routledge. She is a Certified IEDTA Teacher/Supervisor and has published several articles in professional journals. She has a private practice treating individuals and couples and offers clinical supervision,


She has presented at conferences and workshops nationally and internationally (IEDTA, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Brief Therapy Conference, the LA County Psychological Association, and the National Association of Social Workers). She has been a guest lecturer at several California universities and professional schools. Formerly, she was a supervisor and Coordinator of Continuing Education at the Department of Psychiatry at Northridge Hospital. She produced over 100 public presentations on child abuse and neglect in L.A. County and was media director for L.A.'s first child abuse hotline.



Donn Warshow, Ph.D.  

(Psychologist, Trainer, Supervisor)

Phone: (818) 703-5953  

Fax: (818) 704-1986

email: dwarshowphd@yahoo.com

drdonnwarshow.com


Dr. Warshow has been pivotal to the development of the DEFT Institute and its training programs

and contributes to teaching segments. In his private practice, he treats adults, adolescents, children and families in Woodland Hills, CA. He is an ADHD expert and his presentations to many groups of teachers, parents, pediatricians and internists have focused on current trends in ADHD treatment. He specializes in DEFT, ISTDP, SE and EMDR. At an attachment conference at UCLA, his video presentation showed work with a man who suffers with recurrent major depressive episodes. Dr. Warshow is a current member of LACPA, APA, IEDTA and the CA Society for ISTDP.



Bridget Quebodeaux, LMFT

(Faculty, Training Program Coordinator)

10780 Santa Monica Blvd. Ste. 470

Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 403-3540

emotion-focused.com


Bridget is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Feldenkrais practitioner and the DEFT Institute Training Program Coordinator. She has a private practice in West Los Angeles and has been working with people who suffer from chronic illnesses and unexplained pain as well as presenting to groups on topics related to movement, mindfulness and mental health since 1998.



Jon Rizk, LCSW

61 Virginia Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 644-1095


Jon Rizk is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in CA. He has a private practice in Pasadena and specializes in treating addiction. He also works as the primary therapist at Ridgeview Ranch, a residential treatment center for addiction. Jon is also a fully trained EMDR therapist and brings over two decades of personal recovery experience to his work. He has been an active contributor to the DEFT Institute training group in Los Angeles since its inception and offers presentations on the fundamentals of the model throughout Los Angeles County. He is deeply passionate about sharing DEFT with other professionals because it is a collaborative, flexible, compassion oriented and strengths-based approach. In his remaining time Jon enjoys performing as professional musician.



Dr. Jamie Barnier

3/552 Waterdale Road

Heidelberg Heights VIC 3081

03 9068 7832

https://www.drjamie.com.au

admin@drjamie.com.au


Dr Jamie Barnier is a clinical psychologist and supervisor with 15 years experience across public, private and not-for-profit sectors. He has held senior level positions in inpatient psychiatric wards, early psychosis teams, child and youth mental health (inpatient and outpatient), medical and palliative care. Jamie has held certification with the Psychology Board of Australia as a supervisor since 2014 and continues to supervise a range of mental health professionals including psychologists, psychiatric registrars, social workers, occupational therapists and mental health nurses. He has a private practice in Melbourne, Australia with a focus on adults with complex trauma, attachment difficulties, and interpersonal problems. Additionally, he supervises a number of psychologists interested in experiential dynamic therapies including DEFT and those who are passionate about increasing their outcomes and feeling fulfilled in their work.



Hannah Alderete, MA, LMHC, HHC

hannahalderete@gmail.com

heartfeltonlinetherapy.com 


Hannah Alderete is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in helping adult individuals recover from the effects of narcissistic abuse and complex trauma utilizing the core principles of DEFT, emotion focused techniques, and somatic therapies. Hannah also specializes in treating individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) break out of debilitating cycles of doubt, anxiety, and rumination. As a passionate learner, Hannah is working toward her PhD in Integral Psychology at the California Institute of Human Sciences and is pursuing a hypnosis credential to add to her practice. Outside of her clinical practice, Hannah enjoys reading, hiking in the many Canyons that Los Angeles, CA has to offer, and spending time with her loved ones.  



Jessica Cerutti, LCSW

850 Colorado Blvd., Suite 104

Los Angeles, CA 90041

(626) 559-0552

contact@jessicaceruttilcsw.com

jessicaceruttilcsw.com


Jessica Cerutti is a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, California. She works with individuals experiencing mood disorders and seeking a deeper connection to themselves and provides clinical supervision to therapists working toward licensure. Jessica incorporates DEFT interventions with clients to increase insight, overcome barriers, and deeply connect to feelings. She views this work as a collaborative exploration and is honored to support others on their journey to a deeper understanding of themselves.



Dr. Rob Clayton, Psy.D.

Phone: (805) 550-5756

dr.robclayton@gmail.com

SanLuisPsychotherapy.com


A clinical psychologist practicing on the Central Coast of California, Dr. Clayton came to the field after a career in law and politics, culminating in serving as Assistant Counsel to Vice President Al Gore at the conclusion of the Clinton Administration. After spending a year teaching English in Thailand, he returned to school at the George Washington University, earning a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.  Additional training included a year in the Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy Program of the Washington School for Psychiatry and a one-year fellowship at the Washington Center for Psychoanalysis. He joined the DEFT community in 2012 and completed his three-year DEFT training in 2016. 


Staying engaged in his local and professional community has remained important for Dr. Clayton. He has served as chair of the City of San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission, vice president of the Cal Poly faculty union, and president of the Central Coast Psychological Association, and is active in a local Buddhist center. He has been married to his partner Julie for 26 years and has a terrific 19-year-old son.


Dr. Clayton has been inspired by the deeply supportive and committed community Susan has created and is honored to be a part of the DEFT Institute.



Chheng Ear, LCSW

Rooted and Rising: Child Counseling & Family Care

(408) 320-9235

info@chhengcounseling.com

chhengcounseling.com


Chheng Ear is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in providing therapeutic services to children, youth, and the adults responsible for them. She operates a private practice in California and brings experience and expertise in child development theory and research. She uses relationship, nervous system-informed and brain-based modalities for comprehensive treatment. She has had special interest and training in working with young children and has been trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy, a relationship and play-based therapy with a strong evidence-based foundation for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma and family stressors. Additionally, Chheng uses Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy and Neurorelational Framework for an integrated approach. She is a skilled reflective practice supervisor and parent consultant.



Jon Frederickson, MSW

3000 Conn. Ave. N.W. #400

Washington, D.C. 20008

(202) 986-4575

jfrederickson@istdpinstitute.com

Founder, ISTDP Institute

ISTDPInstitute.com


Jon Frederickson, MSW, is the Founder of the ISTDP Training Institute and the co-chair of the ISTDP training program at the Washington School of Psychiatry; chair of the ISTDP Core Training for the Norwegian Society for ISTDP; and on the faculty of the Laboratorium Psykoeducaji in Warsaw and the Italian EDT Society. He is the author of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Learning to Listen from Multiple Perspectives and Co-Creating Change.



Morgan Hart, LCSW

(323) 325-5505

morgan@morganhart.net

morganhart.net


Morgan is a psychotherapist with a private practice in Berkeley, California. She has 20 years of experience working with adult individuals and couples, and she specializes in anxiety, depression; relationship, intimacy and attachment issues, and trauma. Morgan provides in-person and online therapy for California residents, as well as clinical consultation for therapists. Morgan is also a certified PACT therapist (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy); and provides coaching, case consultation, and teaching assistance for PACT Institute Trainings.

Former employment includes clinical social worker at California Hospital Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles for 15 years, with long term assignments in maternal and child health and NICU departments; ICU and Palliative Care,  and Emergency medicine.

Morgan is passionate about practicing and sharing DEFT with other clinicians because it is a collaborative, shame-sensitive and compassionate approach that fosters security in the therapeutic relationship. The DEFT approach offers clients a path to increased internal awareness, improved self activation, self-regulation, and authentic expression.



Alma Morales Risse, LCSW

13033 Penn St., Suite 800

Whittier, CA 90602

(562) 479-0144

almamoralesrisse.com

amrisse.lcsw@gmail.com


Alma Morales Risse is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been in private practice in Whittier, CA since 2012.  She offers therapy services to adults, families, and children in English and her native Spanish.  She specializes in treating anxiety, self-esteem, depression,  relationship and life transition issues.  She received her post master’s clinical training as a school-based therapist for The Whole Child serving the greater Whittier area with a focus on family systems and play therapy. Alma began her social work career as a child protection emergency response team member in South West London, England.

Susan Warren Warshow

Dr. Jamie Barnier

Jon Frederickson

Jon Rizk

Dr. Donn Warshow

Bridget Quebodeaux

Chheng Ear

Alma Morales Risse

Jessica Cerutti

Morgan Hart

Hannah Alderete

Dr. Rob Clayton

Debora Rabinovich