At the helm of Yellen & Associates, the Yellens are in their fourth decade of providing services in the Southern California area.

Associate Therapists

David Morrison, Psy.D., Psychological Assistant
As a Registered Psychological Assistant, Dr. Dave Morrison provides individual and group therapy. Dr. Morrison has over sixteen years of experience in the field of human services, working with both children and adults, and has more than ten year's experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. He is a member of the California Psychological Association and the Los Angeles County Psychological Association. Dr. Morrison has been with Yellen & Associates since 1999.

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., ATR-BC
Joyce Emmer is a licensed marriage and family therapist and board-certified 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.

Susan Baukus

Susan Baukus provides behavioral services for individuals with developmental disabilities. She is a graduate student working toward her Ph.D. in the Department of Education at UCSB, with an emphasis in Special Education. She is on the advisory board of PAUSE4kids, a non-profit organization which provides education and services for children with disabilities and their families. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association and of A.E.R.A.'s special interest group on special education. Susan is a published author with her work appearing in The Journal of Juvenile Law and Policy.

Janice Schneider, Psy.D.
Dr. Janice Schneider is a licensed psychologist who primarily works with children, adolescents and families. She has nine years of experience with this population including her focus on children and adolescents in her graduate studies. She provides individual, group and family therapy as well as psychological assessment. Dr. Schneider offers group therapy for many different issues including social skills for children ages 6 to 18, adolescents, and divorce. Recently, Dr. Schneider expanded her practice to include testing for children under the age of six. She believes that early intervention is key to success and healthy development for any child. For this reason, Dr. Schneider developed the concept of TRACK to assist parents in determining if their young child needs additional help or guidance in the academic setting. She employs a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques in her therapy, including play therapy, art, talk therapy, token economy and positive reinforcement. Dr. Schneider believes that it is important to involve parents and other primary caretakers in therapy, but it is most important to establish a safe and trusting environment for the child or adolescent.

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.

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Nicole E. Brown, M.A., Psychological Assistant.
As a Registered Psychological Assistant, Nicole Brown provides individual, couples and group psychotherapy. She holds a masters degree in psychology from Pepperdine University where she is currently a candidate for a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Nicole has over six years of experience in human services delivery working in a university setting with college students and has experience working with couples to improve communication skills and resolve conflicts. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles County Psychological Association and the Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association.

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Irit Bernstein, Psy.D.
Dr. Irit Bernstein is a licensed clinician with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and their families. She is bilingual and provides psychological services in both English and Hebrew. Dr. Bernstein has over eight years of experience providing services using various treatment modalities including individual, family, and group. She has experience facilitating parenting groups as well as working with parents individually on parenting skills. Dr. Bernstein worked within a large school system providing both counseling and behavioral intervention services for students at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

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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.

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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.

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Educational Therapists

Maria Luz (Malu) Maga, M.A.

Malu Maga is an educational therapist and a State of California credentialed Education Specialist instructor. She received her Master of Arts degree, with distinction, in Special Education (Mild/Moderate Disabilities concentration), and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Finance emphasis) from California State University, Northridge. Malu completed her internship concurrently at St. John's Hospital Child and Family Development Center and at Yellen & Associates, where she began working as an educational therapist in 1997. Her clinical experience with children and adults with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) includes intensive instruction, remediation, compensatory strategies, organizational and study skills, and executive functioning skills, college planning, and test preparation. Malu is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children, the International Dyslexia Association, and the American Business Women's Association.

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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.

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Peter Ferry, M.A.
Peter Ferry is a native of Los Angeles, California. He was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley in a family of educators. Pete received his undergraduate degree from Mt. St. Mary's College. After several years in business, Pete began his teaching career with a local school district. He went on to earn a Masters degree in Special Education and a Clear California Teaching Credential. Pete began working with the Yellen & Associates family in 2002. Having overcome a reading disability in the 1970s, Pete believes that each student can learn when taught through a multi-modal approach.

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Razmik Galoostian
Over the past 20 years, Razmik Galoostian worked with students in a variety of educational settings including the Department of Probation, the Department of Social Services, North Los Angeles County Regional Center, and a local school district. Razmik holds a Clear California Credential in Special Education and a California CLAD credential. He joined Yellen & Associates in 2003.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Karen Mandel, M.S., C.C.C., SLP
Karen L. Mandel is a licensed speech, language and voice pathologist who has been in practice for over twenty-five years. Ms. Mandel's practice includes children from the age of 2 years up through the geriatric population of 92 years. She provides assessments and therapy for this age range in the practice areas of language and articulation disorders, learning disabilities, Autism, cleft palate and other oro-facial anomalies, stuttering, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, stroke, brain injury, head, neck and brain cancer and a myriad of other neurological disorders. Ms. Mandel's philosophy focuses on treating each client as an individual with individual needs, concerns and issues. Her intervention strategies focus on assisting each client in order to reach his or her maximum communication potential while incorporating each client's familial, emotional and social concerns and needs. Karen believes very strongly in the need for educating her clients, their respective families and the community on how best to communicate and support clients who present with speech, hearing and voice problems.

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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

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Technical Specialist

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.