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, behavioral issues, 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. 

Clarissa Dewhirst is a post-doctoral Registered Psychological Associate who provides psychotherapy to adults, adolescents, families, and couples. Her clinical work is informed by a psychodynamic approach, with a focus on understanding how early experiences, relational patterns, and unconscious processes influence present-day emotional difficulties and relationships.

Clarissa offers a collaborative and reflective therapeutic environment where clients can explore longstanding patterns, develop deeper self-understanding, and work through emotional and relational challenges. Through attention to insight, emotional experience, and the therapeutic relationship, she supports clients in fostering greater emotional awareness, flexibility, and more satisfying connections with themselves and others.

Clarissa received her PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Antioch, and completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Wright Institute Los Angeles (WILA). 

I am Melanie (she/her/hers),  post-doctoral psychological associate under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Carter. I was born in Singapore, grew up and studied in Los Angeles, and later lived and worked in London for several years before returning to Los Angeles, which I now happily call home. Having lived in three different countries, I’ve had the opportunity to experience different cultures and ways of seeing the world, and that perspective continues to shape the way I approach my work with patients.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Philosophy, from Loyola Marymount University and later completed a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology at City University in London. My background has taken a few unexpected turns along the way—including working in recruitment and psychometric assessment for MI5, the British Security Service. After returning to Los Angeles, I spent several years raising my family before finding my way back to psychology and pursuing my doctorate at Pacifica Graduate Institute. I was drawn to Pacifica because of its emphasis on depth psychology and its belief that there is often more going on beneath the surface of our everyday experiences. My research and dissertation focused on the impact of childhood sexual abuse on the psyche of adult survivors, reflecting my interest in how our early experiences can continue to influence the way we see ourselves, navigate relationships, and move through the world.

As a therapist, I approach my work with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. I believe therapy should be a place where you can feel comfortable being yourself and exploring the parts of your life that may be difficult, confusing, or even hard to put into words. I’m interested not only in what is happening in your life now, but also in understanding the experiences and relationships that have shaped you. I don’t believe there is a single way to understand a person, and I try to meet each patient where they are rather than fitting them into a predetermined framework. My goal is to create a genuine, collaborative relationship where we can make sense of what you’re experiencing together, develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and work toward meaningful change. Ultimately, I see therapy as a space for curiosity, self-discovery, and the possibility of living with greater freedom and authenticity.