Nicole Z. Stelter, PhD, MFT - Founder:  Dr. Stelter has an M.S. degree in marriage, family and child counseling and a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology.  Her clinical specialties include cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused approaches working with relationship issues, anxiety, depression and career/work issues. Part of Dr. Stelter’s practice focuses on organizational consulting including organizational change, mergers and acquisition, and employee assistance programming.  Dr. Stelter’s consulting work has focused on leader diversity, employee assistance programs, and organizational assessment practices. She is the author of several research articles and a book on leadership development, leader assessment, and women’s leadership issues. Prior to forming IPG, Dr. Stelter was the Director of Training and Development for a benefits consulting firm in Los Angeles . She has been in clinical and consulting practice since 1993.

Nicole Burik, MFT – Director, Clinical Operations:  Nicole has an M.A. degree in marital and family therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute.  She has previously worked as an elementary school counselor and at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center , Miracle Mile Community Practice, Journey Counseling Services and in private practice.  Nicole is a certified PAIRS educator and a certified PREPARE/ENRICH counselor. She specializes in couples therapy, including pre-marital and pre-commitment counseling and skills-based training for couples.  To learn more about Nicole, please visit her website at www.NicoleBurik.com.

Tamera Benedict – Manager, Practice Development:  Tamera is a graduate of USC and has worked in the psychiatric/behavioral medicine industry for 20 years. She has worked for both private and public sector agencies. She’s managed marketing and development for private psychiatric inpatient and outpatient programs and been involved in direct patient care, intake services, emergency evaluations, and developing community partnerships for the mentally ill and their families. She has extensive experience within the managed behavioral healthcare system administering mental health contracts for physician's associations.

Dawn L. Beechner, LCSW - Dawn received her Masters degree in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. Her treatment area specialties include crisis and acute symptom stabilization, women’s issues, grief and loss, anxiety, depression and personality disorders. For the past 5 years, Dawn has also worked as a consultant for an adult day health care. 

Tim Butler, MFT:  Tim has an M.A. degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University .  He has counseled in private practice since 1993 and is a director for a campus and community counseling services program that serves over 90 Orange County schools.  Tim's private practice specialty is treatment of clients suffering from anxiety and depression triggered by chronic physical illness.

Mary Catone, MFT:  Mary has an M.S. degree in clinical psychology from California State University , Fullerton .  For the past five years, she has been providing therapy for a community counseling services program, working with individuals of all ages, couples and families.  Mary specializes in relationship and communication issues, phase of life transitions, as well as anxiety and depressive disorders.  She has worked with individuals dealing with chronic illnesses and disabilities at St. Jude Medical Center and Mt. San Antonio College, Disabled Student Services.  In addition to her private clinical practice, Mary has been teaching psychology at CSUF since 2004. 
 

Gilberto García-Torres, LCSW:  Gil has an M.S.W. degree from California State University , Long Beach . He specializes in working with children, adolescents and families.  He has worked with Orange County Mental Health, working with severely emotionally disturbed children and chronically mentally ill adults.  Gil has been in clinical practice since 1993.

Don Gershberg, MFT:  Don has a M.A. degree in counseling psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara , CA .  Don has worked in a variety of settings including Kaiser Permanente's Addiction Medicine department, the Los Angles Gay and Lesbian Center , and Tarzana Treatment Centers.  He specializes in working with individuals, couples, and young adults who are dealing with issues of substance abuse and dependency, anxiety, depression, mid-life issues, sexual identity issues, men's issues, spirituality and HIV/AIDS.

Betty Hammond, PhD:  Dr. Hammond has a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology from United States International University . She specializes in work with anxiety and depression.  Dr. Hammond worked with College Hospital ’s Partial Hospitalization Program for several years, working with the severely, chronically mentally ill and has been in clinical practice since January 1993.

Jean L. Jones, LCSW:  Jean has worked in a variety of clinical settings including Alpha Treatment Centers , County Mental Health, and Brea Neuropsychiatric Center .  Jean received her M.S.W. from the University of Southern California . Her specialties include treatment for depression, anxiety, marital issues and childhood abuse/trauma.  She works with adults, adolescents and children. Jean also works as a clinical program consultant and supervises other psychotherapists. She has been in clinical practice since 1991.

Kelley Kennedy, LCSW:  Kelley has an M.S.W. degree from the University of Southern California .  She works with children, adolescents and families.  Kelley specializes in counseling families and children suffering from Autism and Asperger’s.  Kelley has worked with Orange County Mental Health, Community Family Center , Rossier School , and Alpha Treatment Centers/Foster Family Agency.  She has worked in clinical practice since 1993.

Allison Landes-Stordahl, MFT:  Allison has a Master's degree in marriage, family and child counseling from Chapman University . Her specialties include cognitive-behavioral techniques working with relationship issues, anxiety, depression and family issues including parenting and children. Allison has worked with children, adolescents and their families for over ten years.

Marsalee Malatesta, LCSW:  Marsalee received her M.S.W. from Cal State University , Long Beach in 1999.  Prior to IPG, she worked for the Rehabilitation Institute of Southern California as the Program Director for the Adult Day Health Care program. Marsalee has worked with the elderly, severely mentally ill, head trauma survivors (including stroke and traumatic brain injury/TBI), those with developmental disabilities and caregivers. Prior to her graduate studies, Marsalee worked with the chronically mentally ill in Santa Barbara at the Phoenix House. She specializes in adult, adolescent and family therapy.
 
Charlotte Modahl, PhD:  Dr. Modahl is a licensed clinical psychologist. She earned a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Boston University Medical School . Her post-doctoral training in neuropsychology at Boston City Hospital included pediatric, adult and geriatric patients. Afterward, she became an Assistant Professor for the University of California , Irvine College of Medicine. She was a member of the UCI Hospital Staff and the UCI Physicians Group at the UCI Medical Campus in Orange , CA. Dr. Modahl's practice focuses on neuropsychological evaluation for a variety of ailments. Her therapeutic techniques include educational and environmental planning, behavioral therapy, guided imagery and other techniques for change.

Bob Orkin, PsyD:  Dr. Orkin has a doctorate in psychology from Alliant International University .  He specializes in couples counseling and individual therapy for depression, anxiety, personality disorders and severe mental illnesses.  Dr. Orkin also specializes in psychological testing, including evaluation and empirically based treatment planning for ADHD. Prior to coming to IPG, Dr. Orkin worked for a community counseling organization, College Hospital Partial Hospitalization Program, and the Institute of Psychopharmacological Research .

Roberta “Bobbie”  Schuler, MFT:  Bobbie has an M.A. degree from Chapman University and a Professional Certificate in Gerontology from California State University , Fullerton .  She specializes in work with adults, couples, issues of grief and loss, and working with both individuals and family members in recovery from substance abuse. Before coming to IPG, Bobbie was the clinical coordinator at a residential substance abuse center in Anaheim and served as a staff therapist on the inpatient behavioral health unit at La Palma Intercommunity Hospital .  She has been in clinical practice since 1987.

Michael Silverman, LCSW:  Michael has a M.S.W. degree from California State University , Long Beach .  Michael works with adolescents, adults, couples, families and the GLBQ community. Michael has been in clinical practice since 1995 focusing on adults, children and adolescents dealing with depression and anxiety, HIV/AIDS, ADHD, grief and loss, sexual identity, substance abuse, and adoption/foster care issues.

Linda Slauson, MFT:  Linda has an M.A. degree in psychology from California State University , Long Beach .  She has experience in a variety of clinical settings treating adults, families, and teens, including Community Service Programs, Inc. and Healthcare Agency in Orange County .  Linda specializes in working with individuals and families in transition, couples, parenting concerns, substance abuse/recovery, and lesbian/gay issues.  Linda has been a licensed MFT since 1991.

Heather Valentino, LCSW:  Heather received a Masters in Social Welfare from UCLA. Her specialties include treating eating disorders, depression and anxiety, trauma/abuse, personality disorders, and family and relationship issues.  She worked for five years at The Guidance Center in Long Beach/Long Beach Unified School District, where she gained experience treating severely mentally ill teens and their families.  Prior to moving into private practice, she focused on the treatment of eating disorders for two years at Center for Discovery in Whittier .