| At the helm of Yellen & Associates, the Yellens are in their fourth decade of providing services in the Southern California area. 
Heidi L. Yellen, M.A., B.C.E.T.,
Psychometry, P.P.S., L.H., R.S.T.,
Educational Therapy, Psychoeducational Diagnostics As a Board Certified Educational Therapist and Psychoeducational Diagnostician, Heidi Yellen is responsible for the educational component of Yellen & Associates. Both parents and professionals praise her ability to diagnose and treat learning disabilities, learning style differences, and gifted needs, and to coordinate educational efforts. Based upon her work in IEP and 504 proceedings, Mrs. Yellen earned the reputation of a hard line negotiator. More about Heidi L. Yellen
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Andrew G. Yellen, Ph.D.,
F.P.P.R., F.A.B.M.P., D.A.C.,
Clinical and Sports Psychology
Dr. Andrew Yellen is a licensed psychologist specializing in both clinical and sports psychology. He, along with his wife Heidi, is one of the founding owners of Yellen & Associates Psychological, Educational, Speech & Language Services, a private practice group with two offices in Southern California. Dr. Yellen lectures nationally and internationally on various topics including behavioral management, learning disabilities, and sports psychology. Additionally, Dr. Yellen offers presentations to Industrial and Organizational Psychology Seminars and to hospital staff, insurance companies, and school districts.
More about Andrew G. Yellen
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Associate Therapists
Janice Crawford, M.S., M.F.T.
 As a certified Marriage Family Therapist and Adapted Physical Education Specialist, Janice is responsible for assessments, individual behavioral intervention therapy and facilitating adolescent social skills groups. Janice Crawford is a current member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists in Ventura County. She is also a member of CAPHERD, the California Association of Physical Education, Health, Recreation and Dance.
Joyce Emmer, M.A., M.F.T., A.T.R.  Joyce Emmer is a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical art therapist providing psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families and facilitating social skills groups for children and adolescents. She has a Master's in Marital and Family Therapy (Clinical Art Therapy) from Loyola Marymount University and completed a two-year fellowship at Cedars-Sinai's Thalians Community Mental Health Center. Her clinical experience includes diagnostic evaluations, treatment, and case management at an inner-city community clinic, art therapy in Northridge Hospital's Inpatient Adolescent Unit and for Cedars-Sinai's Psychological Trauma Center Disaster Response Team, co-facilitation of student trauma/grief groups at Tarzana Elementary School, and clinical coordinator for the Sherman Oaks Hospital partial hospitalization program serving the elderly and chronically mentally ill. She has extensive experience working with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and their families and has guest-lectured about group therapy with that population for the Group Dynamics class at Loyola Marymount University. As an adjunct faculty member at LMU, Joyce lectured on clinical issues and professional ethics and supervises students currently enrolled in graduate studies. She is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the American Art Therapy Association, and the Southern California Art Therapy Association.
Vered Raanan, M.A., M.F.T.
 Vered Raanan is a licensed MFT and educator with a Master's in special education. Her 25 years of experience as a special education teacher, school director, volunteer in the community and psychotherapist benefits her clients who are facing transitions and crisis. Vered mainly works with young children, adolescents and young adults, helping them to improve their social skills in order to have meaningful relationships and to be able to function better in the community. Vered employs art therapy, play therapy and conversation skills, combined with warmth and encouragement.
Vered also specializes in grief therapy, parenting, pre-marital counseling and helping couples to improve communication to have a balanced, healthy family life. Her experience, professional background, and genuine dedication to her clients enable her to work with adults and families who encounter life's challenges.
Gilit Gat, M.A., A.T.R.
 As a clinical art therapist, Gilit specializes in the assessment and analysis of drawings. The interpretation of drawings may reveal parts of the unconscious mind. This may help individuals discover their own insights, develop awareness and understanding, facilitate change, maximize potential, and move toward personal development. Gilit provides individual, couples, and family therapy. Also, she facilitates social skills group training for children and adolescents. Gilit has been with Yellen & Associates since 2001. For over twenty-five years, Gilit was an art teacher and counseled children with special needs through art. She earned her Master's degree in Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Art Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. Gilit is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the American Art Therapy Association.
John Geirland, Ph.D., Psychological Assistant John Geirland has over thirty years experience as a behavioral scientist working in the areas of organization development and personnel research. He has consulted to a variety of industries and organizations, including Great Western Bank, the U.S. Navy and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. He is an award-winning science journalist whose work appears regularly in Wired Magazine, the Smithsonian Magazine and Los Angeles Times. He earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Claremont Graduate University and is a member of the American Psychological Association and a co-editor of Los Angeles Psychologist, a publication of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association.
Margaret Fichter, M.A., Psychological Assistant Margaret Fichter is a registered Psychological Assistant and holds a masters degree from Ryokan College where she is currently a candidate for a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Margaret has been a student of somatic psychotherapy for over fourteen years and now acts as a teaching assistant, member of the Advisory Council and lecturer for Integrative Body Psychotherapy. Margaret brings her passion and enthusiasm for the practice of psychotherapy together with her broad real world experience as a business executive and musical recording artist to treat children and adults in individual, couples and group therapy settings. She is a member of the Conejo Valley Mental Health Professionals Association and the California Psychological Association.
Social Facilitation and Biofeedback
Illana Katz, Social Facilitation Consultant  As the individual responsible for the process of Social Facilitation for Yellen & Associates, Illana Katz works with clients having Autism, Asperger's, and other developmental disabilities as well as their parents or caregivers to ease their way in life. Illana Katz is a renowned author, lecturer and researcher, and the recipient of the Authors' and Celebrities' Award of Excellence. She is the author of many children's books, including Joey and Sam, Sarah, and Hungry Mind-Hungry Body, and the co-author along with Dr. Andrew Yellen of Social Facilitation in Action, a book geared toward parents and caregivers.
Illana serves as the biofeedback technician. Her success rate with anxiety has been excellent.
Educational Therapists
Yaffa Sidikaro
 Yaffa Sidikaro began her tenure as an educational therapist at Yellen and Associates in 1993. Her clinical experience with children and adults with learning disabilities, ADD, and ADHD includes intensive instruction in reading intervention, remediation, compensatory strategies, organizational, survival, and study skills. She trained as a teacher in Israel and started her practice as a teacher and counselor for teachers while serving in the army. Yaffa came to the United States to pursue her studies in child psychology and continued her work as a teacher and headmaster in different parts of the country. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Child Psychology from Indiana State University and is working on her Master of Arts in Special Education. Yaffa is a member of The Association of Educational Therapists, International Dyslexia Association, and Hadassah Zionist Women Organization.
Estelle Murawski, M.A.
 Estelle Murawski has been a teacher for more than forty years in general education and special education settings. She enjoys teaching in the primary grades and being part of the learning-to-read process. Estelle has a Master's degree in Reading Improvement and a Reading Specialist Credential, as well as a Life Multiple Subjects Credential and a Resource Specialist Certificate. Estelle turned to special education and helping the learning disabled as it became more evident that she wanted to meet the needs of all her students. She has worked with Yellen & Associates since 1983. Estelle strives to make a difference in the lives of those with whom she interacts and to accentuate the strengths of students by assisting them in reaching their goals and becoming successful learners.
Patricia Dern, M.A.
 Patricia Dern is a native of Los Angeles, California. Patricia received her Undergraduate Degree and B.A. from Mt. St. Mary’s College. She went on to earn her Lifetime Teaching credential from California State University Fresno, a Clear Special Education Credential as well as a Masters Degree in Special Education from California State University Northridge. She spent six years teaching 8th grade, took a break to volunteer with a social outreach organization, then proceeded to teach for an alternative school serving active gang members in South Central and East Los Angeles. For sixteen years she has worked with children and teenagers with emotional and learning disabilities. She joined Yellen & Associates in 2006.
Elyse Block, M.A.
 Elyse Block earned her BA in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on environmental studies at Sonoma State University In Northern California. She earned her Multiple subject CLAD/ Clear credential at California State University Northridge She is also a State of California credentialed Education Specialist Instructor. Elyse spent time teaching English in Japan between earning her Multiple Subject CLAD credential and her Education Specialist Instructor credential. She has taught in various schools throughout the Los Angeles area ranging from Public, Non Public as well as Charter schools. Elyse began working for Yellen and Associates in 2006.
Speech & Language Therapists
Wendy Bergman, M.A., C.C.C., SLP  Wendy Bergman has over twenty eight years of experience as a licensed speech and language pathologist. Throughout her career, she worked in both public schools and private practice. Her services include diagnosing and implementing therapeutic plans for clients ranging from three years old to adults. Wendy's areas of specialty include language development, articulation, stuttering and voice disorders. She helped many with a variety of problems including cerebral palsy, Autism, developmental disorders, traumatic brain injuries and hearing loss. In the Beverly Hills School District, she helped establish the Speech and Language Department. Also, Wendy participated in a mentorship program where she taught communication skills in over 20 classrooms, developed a district wide in-service and presented workshops on improving communication skills to teachers, families and the community. As part of her mentorship, she wrote a manual entitled Learning to Listen: A Manual for the Classroom Teacher. She served as a member of the leadership team, trained as a school site reviewer and currently is a member of the Child Study Team. Wendy supervised speech pathologists during their clinical certification practicum year and supports new teachers through the Beginning Teachers Support Program. Wendy believes strongly that each person she serves has the ability to achieve their individual potential through a strong therapeutic plan with support from family, community and teachers. With a positive attitude and much enjoyment, she helps her clients to realize their potential and feel empowered as they develop new communication skills.
Neurologist Thomas Schweller, M.D.
 Dr. Thomas Schweller is a licensed pediatric and adult neurologist with a specialty in Electroencephalography. He is practicing in Southern California with offices in San Diego and Northridge. While in his own private practice, Dr. Schweller is a consultant to Yellen & Associates. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California at San Diego. He has a particular interest in childhood brain injuries and the effect of vaccines on brain function. More about Dr. Thomas Schweller
Technologist Tom Ward
 Tom combines his expertise in electronics with his expertise in computers to gather neuroelectrical information from patients by means of our DESA. His innovative techniques and attention to detail assist in providing the most accurate patient data to be analyzed. Additionally, he is responsible for all information technology in the offices. Tom began his tenure with Yellen & Associates in 2000.
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