Welcome! I am a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY34459) who specializes in the assessment of children and adults. My assessments can answer a broad range of questions, including those pertaining to neurodevelopmental disorders (such as ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism) and psychological issues (such as anxiety, depression, oppositional defiance, bipolar disorder, and OCD). I am very passionate about the therapeutic benefits of assessment, and I pride myself on using a strengths-based, collaborative, and integrative approach to evaluation. I focus on understanding the whole person and the nuances of their unique strengths and challenges.

I was fortunate to grow up in Santa Barbara, and am an alum of SBHS (Go Dons!). I am even more fortunate to have been able to move back and continue to call this beautiful place home. 

I attended the California School of Professional Psychology in Alhambra, CA where I received my doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in Health Psychology. I then completed my APA Accredited Internship at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, where I had the opportunity to work with patients of all ages for psychotherapy and testing. I also trained at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and a number of clinics including private practice, community mental health, and outpatient psychiatry. In addition to my clinical work, I have been an adjunct professor of assessment and biopsychology in the clinical psychology doctoral programs at Cal Lutheran University and Pacifica University. 

Hello, my name is Annalise and I am currently completing my doctorate in clinical psychology at California Lutheran University. I found my passion for relational interventions and crisis management at Casa Pacifica, working with foster and at-risk youth in residential treatment. I continued practicing psychodynamic and trauma-informed care at CLU’s community counseling clinic working with patients from children to older adults. I pursued a specialty in treatment and psychological assessment of children at VCBH’s Youth and Families clinic in Santa Paula. 

My approach to therapy is individualized based on each patient’s unique self and context. I aim to create a secure therapeutic space to walk besides my patients while we explore their deeper self and help make lasting changes. Through psychological assessment, I value collaboratively helping patients answer their complex questions and provide them a voice to express themselves. When my time allows, I enjoy backpacking, writing poetry, and learning to play guitar.

Ciara Giordani (she/her) is a fourth-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at California Lutheran University. 

Ciara is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and has experience working in a community mental health clinic providing individual therapy, group therapy, individual skills coaching, and phone coaching to patients of all ages. Ciara has also worked in a college counseling center providing short-term, skills-focused individual therapy, group therapy, and crisis sessions to patients, with an emphasis on working with nursing students. Ciara has seen patients with symptoms of anxiety, depression, significant life adjustments, and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Ciara received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Music Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In her free time, Ciara enjoys cooking, singing, dancing, and looking for dogs to pet.

Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.  He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at California Lutheran University.  His research background includes several published works regarding experiences of marginalization in minority and LGBTQ+ emerging adults, Indigenous community members’ interactions with educational institutions and law-enforcment in the settler states, and in health psychology, regarding the experiences of cancer patients.  His clinical work has included helping patients from children to seniors in a community psychology clinic and at a local university psychology and counseling centre.  

Michael’s clinical work has been, and continues to be, greatly informed by his research experiences, in that he is always excited to hear more unique perspectives from unique individuals to find workable solutions for as many patients as possible.  Thus, his clinical practice makes use of behavioural and solution-focused interventions rooted in the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).  His particular clinical interests lie in assessing and working with adolescents and emerging adults to address issues from anxiety and depression to ADHD and Autism.  Michael’s work focuses on building long-term, generalizable skills to help growing patients learn how to successfully navigate the challenges they face in the present while also preparing to navigate challenges in the future.