Meet Our Specialized Men’s Mental Health Therapists
Andrew Merrell LMFT
Founder & Lead Therapist
Male Psychology, Identity, Anxiety, Addiction & Couples
Andrew Merrell LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in male psychology and male-centered therapy based in California. Andrew's specialization in men's psychotherapy centers on male psychology, male identity, relationships (with the self, others and things), power/control, addiction, achievement, primal wounds, trauma, insecurity, anxiety, the shadow, the inner child, anger, sex and sexuality.
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Since its founding in 2015, Andrew has amplified Aim Psychotherapy into a collective of mental health professionals who share a vision for collaborative, innovative and deeply personal therapeutic work that is individualized for each client’s unique needs.
While Andrew works exclusively with men, his clients are diverse in identity, age, life stage, and clinical emphasis. Andrew’s areas of concentration include males facing internal and/or external challenges and changes - often executives, actors, athletes, musicians or public figures encountering issues related to managing and integrating public/private personas, relationships, sexuality, wealth, notoriety, betrayal, stress, unhealthy habits, exhaustion, and the pressures of prestige.
Prior to receiving his Masters in Clinical Psychology, Andrew graduated with his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Sociology & Communications. Outside of the private practice setting his work has included inpatient residential and rehabilitation settings, a leading dual diagnosis PHP/IOP in Los Angeles, running mens groups in Men’s Central Jail, training elite collegiate sports teams, running male identity groups, leading customized leadership optimization (corporate), trainings and workshops (LAUSD, FBI, and the LAPD among others) and serving as a coach/mentor in some specific capacities for clients across the country and overseas.
In addition to Aim Psychotherapy, Andrew co-founded the Eos Program in 2018 at the Camden Center, a renowned dual diagnosis mental health facility in Los Angeles where he served as the Eos Program Chief. While a staff therapist at Paradigm Malibu, Andrew ran their Family Program and their Identity Program. Andrew also co-founded the Prism Institute an organization devoted to identity, and Ignis an innovative men's retreat workshop.
Daniel Franks
Admissions & Outreach Director
Daniel joins Aim as Admissions and Outreach Director, bringing 15 years of experience in relationship-building, client services, and communications through his background in marketing and sales. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with study abroad at Oxford University, Daniel is now channeling his mission into men's mental health and transformation, with a motto of "More Love."He's worked with brands like Nestlé and Breakthru Beverage, written for publications including Travel+Leisure, Expedia, and American Express, and co-founded BuyerBoard, a residential real estate app.
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His road to this work is deeply personal — over a decade of individual therapy, group work, coaching across multiple modalities and spiritual awakening, he took the slow, meaningful path of dismantling his shame about being a man and learning what it means to step into embodied presence. Today he stands proudly in his masculinity — as a husband, a son, a friend, and a man committed to his own continued evolution.
Service has always been at the center of how Daniel moves through the world. He grew up in his family's restaurants, where from a very young age he learned to listen, support a team, and understand what a real work ethic looks like. He came to recognize that true hospitality is its own kind of magic — the art of creating the conditions for someone to fully surrender to being taken care of. That early formation lives in everything he does today.
His personal practices include daily meditation, breathwork, journaling, and cross-training in boxing and Muay Thai. He's also developed a growing philosophical interest in AI — specifically in the exploration of building a conscious, collaborative relationship with it. When he's not working, you'll find him cooking, training, spending time in nature, and listening to soul-thumping good music, all of which he is grateful to share with his wife Amy and their three pups.
Josh Fingerhut LMFT
Attachment, Inner Child, Somatics, Addiction & Group
Josh Fingerhut, M.A., LMFT, is a deeply compassionate and empathetic therapist whose personal journey of transformation fuels his authentic and dedicated approach to helping others. Josh thrives with clients who are facing some kind of transition/change or stand in the aftermath of a hardship, combined with their desire to know themselves more deeply. He brings a unique blend of modalities — CBT, DBT, parts (inner child) work, somatic experiencing, attachment theory, and more — offering a multifaceted framework tailored to meet clients where they are. Josh is also one of the co-facilitators of our Men’s Process Group.
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Josh specializes in attachment work (psychodynamics), somatics (with an emphasis on breath work), addiction, and facilitating men’s groups. Certified in Polyvagal Theory and as an EMT, he integrates a deep understanding of both psychological and physiological safety into his practice. A skilled group facilitator and advocate of the mind-body connection, Josh incorporates active therapies like breathwork and boxing to foster resilience and healing, creating a space for curiosity, self-awareness, and growth. His approach is dynamic and always adaptable to the needs of his clients.
Before earning his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Josh earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Theatre from Northwestern University. He pursued a career in acting before facing struggles with addiction, anxiety, trauma, and depression. A near-fatal crisis marked a turning point, inspiring him to channel his pain into purpose and dedicate his life to guiding others toward healing and self-discovery.
In addition to his one-on-one work, Josh has over five years of experience facilitating groups at addiction and dual-diagnosis treatment centers across Los Angeles, where he creates spaces for collective growth and emotional integration. With his authentic presence, equanimity, and steadfast ability to support clients in their darkest moments, Josh empowers them to uncover their inner strength and navigate life’s challenges with resilience.
Alex Douglas, LCSW
Addiction, EMDR, Fatherhood, High Achievers & Group
Alex Douglas brings to Aim Psych his specializations in male addiction and recovery, EMDR, fatherhood (and dynamics of parenting), and the ‘worried well’ of high achieving and creative men who have underlying dissatisfaction, frustration or pain. Quick to build strong and authentic bonds with clients, Alex is straight-forward, dynamic, instinctual and candid. Alex is also one of the co-facilitators of our Men’s Process Group.
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Alex has a passion for working with men who are recovering from addiction (substance and/or process) or may be curious about experimenting with sobriety but have not yet found the courage to take that first step. In addition to experience working with those struggling with addiction in both the residential and private practice settings, Alex has personal experience with substance use. He is intimately aware of how it can negatively affect all aspects of one’s life, including professional and personal relationships, sense of self, and loss of hope. Yet he is also aware of how reaching out for support can lead to baby steps toward reclaiming one’s life and purpose which, over time, are what leads to meaningful change.
Among his areas of concentration, Alex Douglas LCSW works with men who appear to have life figured out; they are often high achievers with a polished external life, yet under the surface they are struggling internally. He is skilled in addressing challenges such as anger management, intimacy and sexuality, anxiety, career vs identity, and the impact of life transitions on a man’s mental health and sense of masculinity.
He is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) through an EMDRIA-approved program. EMDR is an evidence-based treatment incredibly helpful for traumas such as car accidents and assaults, childhood abuse, anxiety, phobias, physical pain and addiction. When an event is too disturbing, it overwhelms our brain’s natural process of filing its memories safely into the “past.” They become stuck in the “present,” where they are continually triggered by similar experiences. EMDR allows us to explore a traumatic memory without reliving it — as if you are watching a movie of it. And, like a movie, we then re-edit the memory into a healthier perception of the events.
A parent of two children, himself, Alex has specific expertise in working with new fathers. He helps men address the challenges of balancing personal identity, family roles, and fatherly responsibilities. Alex empowers men to embrace their roles as fathers with confidence and authenticity, helping them become more connected to themselves and their loved ones.
Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Alex spent over two decades as a creative in the Entertainment Industry. He has a deep knowledge of that life’s challenges, including burnout, perfectionism, isolation, and anxiety.
Douglas Rosen, LMFT
Spirituality, Addiction, Anxiety, Relationships & Parenting
Douglas brings years of experience helping teens, young adults and adults navigate the unique challenges they face. In a world filled with high achievers, finding one's place can be particularly difficult. Some of his areas of concentration are on anxiety, addiction, relationships, family/parenting and spirituality. Douglas is kind, honest, and humanistic in his approach, guiding his clients toward discovering purpose and meaning in their lives.
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For over 20 years, he has been delivering impactful speeches to teens and parents on the topics of addiction and spirituality through Beit T’Shuvah, a Jewish treatment center in Los Angeles. With a deep understanding of the obstacles young people encounter today, especially the transition from childhood to adulthood, Douglas draws on both his personal experiences and his knowledge of current trends in drug use and addiction. His message resonates with thousands of teens, helping them find clarity on how to live well. He speaks to national audiences of adolescents and their communities, providing education on self-awareness, coping strategies, dealing with peer pressure, and tools for making healthy, informed choices.
Douglas also shares a meaningful message for parents on the importance of raising resilient children—ones who can handle adversity and disappointment. He teaches parents the critical difference between "good" parents, whose first instinct may be to rescue, and "responsible" parents, who empower their children by allowing them to fail and learn how to get back up. Through this, children gain the confidence and resilience needed to navigate life's challenges.
Douglas holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Film from the University of Colorado and an Masters from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Brian Shiers LMFT
Mindfulness, DBT, Somatics & Embodiment
Brian is the resident mind-body master at Aim Psych. Using a broad range of skill and experience, Brian is an attentive shepherd to men’s development of their relationship to their bodies and nervous systems, and the pursuit of a harmonizing of internal and external sense and experiences. Brian utilizes a combination of mindfulness, meditation techniques, breath work, somatics, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and psychodynamics to help clients achieve their goals. Brian is also a skillful and seasoned practitioner of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
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He believes that everyone has within them a fundamental aspect of mind that instinctively seeks safety, clarity, autonomy, connection with others, purpose and meaning. For many of us, this part of the mind is obscured, distorted, or in some cases has never even been recognized. Brian is also passionate about translating mindfulness practices for people from diverse cultural and organizational backgrounds who are searching for inner balance, bridging the gap between science and experience, practice and everyday life.
With degrees in Kinesiology and Psychology / Interpersonal Neurobiology setting the foundation for embodied awareness, Brian also completed the year-long Certified Mindfulness Facilitator training at UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center in 2011 under the direction of Diana Winston, Dr. Marvin Belzer, Dr. Susan Smalley, and Dr. Dan Siegel.
As a senior member of UCLA Mindful, Brian is an IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teacher - Professional Level, serving as an authorized ESRT (Enhanced Stress Resilience Training) Instructor, providing training to surgery interns at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine under the leadership of Dr. Carter LeBares, MD., ESRT creator and Director of UC San Francisco’s Center for Mindfulness in Surgery
Brian has intensively studied embodied awareness methods since 1993, including Buddhist shamatha, vipassana, and Dzogchen practices, and has completed nine week-long retreats, acquiring over 4,000 hours of both sitting and moving meditation. He has brought mindfulness to organizations such the UCLA Bruin Women's Varsity Volleyball Teams, Disney Animation Studios, Nestle', Mattel Inc., Salesforce.com, NASA / JPL, and the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team.
Brian also leads silent 3-day retreats for law enforcement in the Pacific Northwest, and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy at Westside DBT and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy through Journey Clinical.
Jake Rose LMFT
Male Identity, Anxiety, Relationships, Addiction & Recovery
Jake Rose LMFT specializes in working with men who are ready to bridge the gap between the life they are living and the potential they know they possess. He understands the specific burden many men carry; the pressure to appear composed and successful on the outside while grappling with a quiet friction on the inside. Often, this disconnect manifests as a "shadow" life containing hidden anxieties, addictive patterns, or a sense of hollowness that goes unnoticed by the world but slowly erodes a man's focus, relationships, and self-respect. Jake provides a space not just to talk, but to drop the mask and confront the reality of where he is.
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Jake operates on a philosophy of ownership, believing that starting over is not an admission of failure but a declaration for reclaiming control. His practice integrates the depth of relational therapy with the principles of exposure work. He believes that many men suffer in isolation, and the therapeutic alliance serves as a training ground to break that silence. Simultaneously, he uses exposure strategies to help clients stop numbing out and start leaning into the discomfort. By facing the very things they have been avoiding, men can safely dismantle the habits that keep them small and replace them with conscious, value-driven choices.
In session, Jake balances radical honesty with brotherhood and accountability. He challenges his clients to stop sleepwalking through their days and engage with life intentionally, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth. This is not about merely surviving the week; it is about building emotional resilience and integrity. With Jake’s guidance, men gain the tools to stop running from their battles and start creating a future that is aligned, authentic, and truly their own.
Jake Rose, M.A., LMFT, anchors his practice at Aim Psych with extensive experience in navigating men's mental health and recovery. Educated at Antioch University Los Angeles with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology, his approach is centered on helping men understand how their relationships, behaviors, and addictive patterns influence present-day struggles. His practice integrates core expertise in addiction treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Exposure Therapy to effectively address the core issues driving anxiety and misalignment, while encouraging strong relational connection, honesty, and self-respect. This comprehensive framework emphasizes setting clear, actionable goals and ensuring consistent follow-through, alongside deep, integrative work to facilitate lasting life changes for his clients.
Reed Farrer LMFT
Anxiety & OCD
Reed Farrer LMFT is Aim Psychotherapy’s leading provider in the realm of anxiety, obsession, compulsion, rumination, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, and OCPD. Reed is clear, kind and deeply compassionate in his working relationships. He is driven by personal experience, practical directness and pragmatic outcome. A skillful conceptualizer, Reed looks at understanding each client through multiple lenses of assessment to craft an optimal individualized treatment plan.
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A cut above the rest, Reed is holistic in his conceptualizations, savvy in his assessments and treatment planning, and a rigorous steward of effective client journeys toward relief and management of OCD and related behavioral and psychological symptomology. Reed is practical and tactical in his clinical approach without sacrificing a rich relationship with his clients. Highly trained and skilled in ERP, ACT, TRM – Aim Psychotherapy is very lucky to include this exceptional shepherd in our collective.
Reed Farrer is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT #122656) and certified mindfulness teacher (CMT). Reed received a B.A. in Anthropology from UCLA and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Reed has trained in various clinical settings, including community mental health, residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment. Past employers and training sites include Sandy Segal Youth Health Center, Visions Adolescent Treatment Center, Anxiety Therapy L.A., and UCLA's Dual Diagnosis IOP. Reed has trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), mindfulness meditation, and The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM). Reed is in private practice in West Los Angeles and is primarily interested in the treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD.
Lowell Winer LMFT
Midlife, Couples & Health Challenges
Lowell brings to Aim Psych a specialization in the struggles of midlife, including issues related to purpose, intimacy, and health. Working with men as well as couples, Lowell’s approach is goal-directed, depth-oriented, and mind-body. He also brings a wealth of life experience to his work, including a harrowing journey with cancer and a career spanning Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and now psychotherapy. Lowell is passionate about helping clients get to the root of symptoms like anxiety, depression, and relational conflict in order to create lasting change.
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Male clients value Lowell’s comradery in exploring what it means to be both strong and vulnerable. Couples who work with Lowell are drawn to the compassion, safety and insight he provides in helping them move away from conflict and towards understanding & intimacy. Lowell’s clinical work often traverses a variety of topics, including authenticity, identity, self-worth, health, loss/grief, agency/empowerment, career, purpose, embodiment, and family. Lowell’s approach is influenced by Depth Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Non-Violent Communication, Mindfulness, and Somatics.
Lowell collaborates closely with clients to create understanding and awareness, facilitate conscious choices, and empower action towards growth and healing. This process often involves softening wounded, maladaptive tendencies and strengthening access to one’s own intuitive wisdom and guidance. Lowell believes therapy is a process of coming home, in other words, excavating aspects of self that became hidden but were never lost.
Lowell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). His academic background includes an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, an MBA from UC Berkeley, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to becoming a therapist, Lowell had successful careers in Investment banking (Lehman Brothers) and as an innovation and business development executive in the technology industry (AOL, Sprint/Boost, and Livifi).
Almost two decades ago, while in his mid-30’s, Lowell was diagnosed with lymphoma. A 4-year fight for survival ensued. This existential health crisis sparked Lowell's own journey of emotional growth and healing. Years later, after bucking the odds and becoming cured, Lowell decided to become a therapist. Having witnessed the extraordinary benefit of emotional work with trusted guides, he felt called to help others navigate their own emotional journeys.
Dr Richard Oelberger
Healthy Masculinity; Purpose, Performance, Potential
Dr. Richard Oelberger is a licensed psychologist, men’s group facilitator, and coach who has dedicated nearly two decades to helping men reclaim purpose, resilience, and authentic connection. His work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change begins with personal responsibility, self-awareness, and the courage to confront the patterns that keep us stuck. He is also the author of two books, including The Zero Method, which explores self-empowerment, personal ownership, and the process of healing from within to reach one’s highest potential.
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For more than 17 years, Dr. Oelberger served within Los Angeles’ public mental health system, working with some of the community’s most vulnerable populations. His experience includes supporting individuals experiencing homelessness on Skid Row, as well as providing psychological services within California’s Level IV maximum-security prisons. Across these settings, he has helped men navigate trauma, addiction, emotional dysregulation, identity, and the search for hope and meaning in the face of profound adversity.
Over the past five years, Dr. Oelberger has focused extensively on men’s groups and individual coaching, guiding men through challenges related to anger, addiction, relationships, and life transitions. His work emphasizes developing emotional strength, healthy masculinity, deeper relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose—helping men move beyond limiting beliefs and create lives defined by integrity, adventure, and connection.
Dr. Oelberger earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Saybrook University and holds a certification in Sport Psychology, where he trained in high-performance mental conditioning to help athletes overcome emotional barriers and optimize performance. His master’s research examined the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, with a focus on its historical and cultural evolution and implications for clinical care.
Dr Kei Takahashi
Burnout, Mid-Life & Transitional Stress, Insomnia, Anxiety/OCD, Ethnicity & Identity
Kei brings over a decade of experience working at UCLA, supporting high-achieving individuals as they navigate the complex intersection of mental health challenges and high-performance expectations. With his calm, compassionate, and caring approach, he helps clients move past burnout and regain a sustainable sense of peak performance. Kei teaches clients to replace patterns of self-criticism with healthier, more effective forms of motivation. Having grown up across Argentina, Trinidad, Japan, and the U.S., Kei offers a deeply personal understanding of life transitions, cultural shifts, and the experience of loneliness. He works collaboratively with clients to build connections and uncover a strong sense of purpose and direction in their lives.
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Dr. Kei Takahashi is a licensed clinical psychologist who earned his B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University and his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. His clinical training reflects a strong foundation in evidence-based care across diverse settings and populations.
Kei completed his doctoral internship at the Sepulveda VA, where he specialized in trauma-informed care, health psychology, and neuropsychological assessment. During this time, he received advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) under Dr. Jennifer Martin, former president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2022–2023). He went on to complete his postdoctoral fellowship at WISE & Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, a community mental health center focused on supporting older adults. Kei’s lifespan-focused training has been especially valuable in supporting individuals through major life transitions, with particular depth in midlife concerns.
Across his work, Kei has developed a thoughtful perspective on how societal messages shape self-perception and motivation. While these messages can sometimes be helpful, he believes that when followed without reflection, they can become limiting and undermine a person’s sense of self and engagement in life. His therapeutic approach is grounded in third-wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which supports clients in identifying unhelpful learned patterns while reconnecting with their core values to guide meaningful, values-driven action.
Working at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services for over a decade, Kei specialized in the treatment of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using exposure-based interventions drawn from the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. In addition to his clinical work, he supervised and trained emerging clinicians in evidence-based practices and contributed to the development of group therapy programs incorporating compassion-focused CBT and mindfulness strategies. These approaches are designed to help individuals move away from avoidance and disengagement, and toward building resilience, confidence, and a fuller experience of life. He also facilitated a group intervention, “Progress Not Perfection,” which helped individuals address perfectionism-driven procrastination and reconnect with motivation in high-pressure environments.
Kei brings particular sensitivity to the experiences of individuals navigating complex or intersecting identities. People of mixed backgrounds often receive messages that they are “not enough” of any one identity, which can contribute to a sense of isolation even in the presence of others. As a biracial man of Japanese and Italian heritage, Kei understands these challenges firsthand. He works to both validate these experiences and highlight the unique strengths that come from navigating multiple cultural perspectives, helping clients build a more integrated and empowered sense of self.
Rachelle Cohen LMFT
Bipolar Disorder & Mood Disruption
Rachelle Cohen, LMFT, is Aim Psych’s bipolar specialist. She supports men navigating the complexities of bipolar disorder while maintaining demanding professional or creative lives. Many of the men who find Rachelle struggle quietly with loneliness, stress, and a persistent sense of “not enough”. Bipolar disorder can further destabilize a person’s core identity, one day feeling capable and confident, the next feeling unrecognizable. Rachelle takes a nuanced, integrative approach that recognizes the genetic, biological, and environmental components of the condition, supporting both symptom stability and a deeper understanding of how early experiences shape its expression.
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Bipolar disorder brings an emotional, mental, and physical unpredictability that can make life incredibly difficult to manage. Mood and energy shifts, disrupted sleep, and an inconsistent sense of self can interfere with career, relationships, and daily functioning, often leading to a profound sense of powerlessness. In treatment, Rachelle helps clients to stabilize these fluctuations by increasing tolerance of intense internal states, helping to make sense of an inconsistent inner world, and integrating care with other providers when appropriate. With this approach, clients frequently find that symptoms soften, self-trust grows, and life begins to feel more manageable.
In addition to her bipolar work, Rachelle helps men cultivate healthier relationships and find more fulfillment in their lives. She works intersubjectively, creating a space where emotional conflicts and relational wounds naturally emerge in the room and are worked through in real time. As the process unfolds, clients find that their relationships feel deeper and more satisfying, their internal compass is rooted in self-knowing instead of self-criticism, and their lives begin to align with who they are.
Rachelle is published in intersubjective psychotherapy, and her private practice has been featured in Voyage LA. She works with men, including trans men, who are looking for a therapy that goes deeper and leads to long-term change.
Dr Brian Hurley MD, MBA, FAPA, DFASAM
Psychiatry
Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, FAPA, DFASAM, is Aim Psychotherapy’s affiliate psychiatrist. His expertise in diagnostics, psychopharmacological medication management and holistic client conceptualization makes Brian an invaluable resource to Aim Psych’s clients. Conservative in his medication management, Brian brings humanity and compassion to psychopharmacology while being mindful that many clients are prioritizing a short term supportive experience with medication (with a goal of eventually being medication free) and not a life-long commitment.
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He works with first-timers with warmth and clear contextual conversation about psychopharmacology and any veterans of psychiatry will be impressed by his skillful, conservative approach to medication management and and easy, sincere rapport.
Dr. Hurley is a leader in his field. As an addiction psychiatrist with additional training in health services and policy research and implementation science, he earned an undergraduate degree with a double major in biochemistry and neuroscience and a minor in political theory from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He received his medical degree and Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Brian completed the UCLA Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program implementation science research fellowship, an addiction psychiatry fellowship at New York University, and a general psychiatry residency at Harvard University's Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital.
Brian served as the President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) between 2023-2025, and previously served as the national president of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) from 2008-2009. He was a 2010-2013 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Public Psychiatry Fellow, where he served on the APA Board of Trustees, was a 2012 American College of Psychiatrists Laughlin Fellow, and was a 2015-2017 Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry Fellow. He has led public health programs in Los Angeles County focused on the provision of addiction medication, overdose prevention, and harm reduction services. He is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.
Dr Reed Vierra
Addiction, Personality Disorders (BPD/NPD), Neurodivergence (ADHD/Autism), Physiological Optimization, Differential Diagnostics
Dr. Reed Vierra is a male-centered clinical psychologist with areas of emphasis in neurodivergence, addiction, personality disorders, differential diagnostics and the intersectionality of physiology and psychology. Dr Reed likes to focus on whole-self vitality by combining his extensive experience harmonizing physical and emotional health. Among his areas of concentration, Dr Reed works on improving associated health behaviors (such as exercise and improving sleep) and when appropriate navigating the emotional impact of chronic and serious medical conditions.
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Dr. Reed utilizes various assessment methods, including psychological testing, to provide diagnostic clarification to those seeking a better understanding of the etiologies of their psychiatric distress. Additionally, he brings his years of experience working with active duty service members and first responders in both in-patient and out-patient settings in tackling the affective impact of personality disorders, neurodivergence, and addiction.
Dr. Reed Vierra is a licensed clinical psychologist with a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. After earning his bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology at UCLA, Dr. Vierra went on to continue his studies at Antioch University, Santa Barbara before earning his doctorate in 2020 by completing a dissertation focused on incorporating exercise as a part of psychotherapy and relevant motivational theories and processes.
During grad school, Dr. Vierra was trained to use psychodynamic therapies to treat patients at a low-fee clinic based in Santa Barbara, CA. Dr. Vierra went on to complete a pre- and post-doctoral APA internship at Aurora Behavioral Health Care where he was trained in utilizing Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to treat active duty service members with suicidality, addiction, and trauma. While there, Dr. Vierra treated numerous service members, primarily males, with traumas that included physical, combat, sexual, and childhood traumas. Throughout his training and post-licensure life, Dr. Vierra was trained in utilizing a variety of assessment techniques, including the MMPI, WAIS, MCMI, and neurocognitive batteries, to provide diagnostic clarification primarily looking at personality disorders, neurodivergence, and bipolar disorders.
Outside of work, Dr. Vierra enjoys running, reading, going to Disneyland with family and friends, anything involving Star Wars, and watching the latest movies and television shows.
Jake Paschke LMFT
Identity, Sex & Intimacy, Authenticity, LGBTQ+ & Bisexual Men’s Group
Jake Paschke, LMFT is a relational therapist focusing on issues surrounding intimacy, sexuality, identity development, and authentic connection. His work centers on one belief: meaningful change begins with meaningful connection. Jake creates a therapeutic environment grounded in warmth, curiosity, humor, and emotional depth—an environment where clients can explore parts of themselves that have long felt hidden, muted, or misunderstood.
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Jake often works with creatives, high-achieving professionals, and young adults who have achieved external success but feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or unfulfilled internally. His clients are often able to identify their struggles logically but find that insight alone hasn’t created the change they seek. Jake helps his clients look into these struggles, supporting them as they gain a deeper understanding of self and create a path towards the life they envision.
His approach is active, collaborative, and experiential–helping clients slow down, understand emotional patterns, and build relationships rooted in authenticity rather than expectation.
A central focus of Jake’s work is supporting bisexual and questioning clients. As a bisexual man, he brings an affirming, nuanced perspective for those navigating identity, desire, and belonging. He also facilitates Between Spaces, a process group for bisexual men focused on connection, identity, and community.
Jake draws from humanistic, relational, parts-oriented, and emotionally focused frameworks, integrating mindfulness and humor to support emotional awareness, self-compassion, and deeper connection. At the core of his work is the belief that therapy is a relationship—a place to feel seen, understood, and supported.
Jake is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and is a graduate of Antioch University with a Masters in Clinical Psychology.
Dr Markus Rogan
Experiential & Adventure Therapy
Dr. Markus Rogan’s role within Aim Psychotherapy is in the innovative provision of experiential and performance psychology. Tailored to each client’s unique presentation, conceptualization and goals, Dr. Rogan will craft an experience that challenges, provokes, confronts and transforms an aspect of the client’s work.
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Whether its mountaineering, race track driving, shark diving or ice swimming, Dr. Rogan will incorporate clinical savvy with the physical/natural world to awaken what’s dormant, subdue what’s raging or alter self-perception and limitation.
Dr. Markus Rogan is a licensed psychotherapist and holds his PhD in Performance Psychology.
Among his many distinctions, he was the United Nations Medal of Honor for Civil Courage in 2005 and competed in the 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London) Olympic Games. Markus was the director of sport psychology for the Brazilian Olympic Team at their home Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, 2016. The team won the most medals in the history of their country. After graduating from Stanford University, Markus spent three years at UCLA’s department of psychology researching performance psychology. He was then the director of a residential depression and addiction rehab center before starting his private practice.
Adam Nisenson, LMFT, CSAT
Infidelity; Masculine Betrayal Trauma Coaching
Adam B. Nisenson, known as The Betrayal Shrink, is a pioneering expert in masculine betrayal trauma, focusing exclusively on helping men who have experienced partner infidelity. Licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, Adam combines extensive clinical expertise with his own personal journey of navigating partner betrayal, offering men a supportive space to confront and recover from the rarely acknowledged trauma of infidelity.
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With a Master’s Degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Counseling Psychology, Adam’s work addresses a significant and often misunderstood issue: the profound impact of partner betrayal on men. Adam is helping to change the societal tendency to overlook male vulnerability and discourage men from discussing their experiences with infidelity which has created a gap in mental health support. Adam bridges this gap by shedding light on the unique pain men endure after partner betrayal, challenging stereotypes and empowering men to openly process their trauma.
In his groundbreaking book being released in January 2025, A Man’s Guide to Partner Betrayal, Adam provides a much-needed resource for men grappling with the emotional and psychological fallout of infidelity. The book introduces the seven stages of Masculine Betrayal Trauma Recovery™, guiding readers from the initial shock of betrayal to reclaiming self-worth and redefining personal and relational values.
Adam’s approach empowers men to reconnect with their core values, fostering resilience, growth, and self-discovery. As he reminds his clients, “The journey to healing is about becoming a man of value.” Through his work, Adam is redefining how men navigate betrayal trauma, helping them emerge stronger, more self-aware, and ready to move forward with confidence.
Dr. Christopher Hawkey
DBT, CBT, PE/Trauma & LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy
Dr. Christopher Hawkey brings to Aim Psych his deep expertise in evidence-based treatment with particular emphasis in providing high-fidelity DBT. Christopher believes that every client has access to their own wisdom and that it is his duty to teach clients the skills to unearth and activate their own inner wise mind.
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Dr. Hawkey trained at world-renowned clinical psychology programs focusing entirely on evidence-based interventions. Trained as a scientist-practitioner (also known as the Boulder model), Dr. Hawkey spent almost a decade training and conducting research at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience. Dr. Hawkey also trained at the Cognitive-Behavioral Research and Treatment Program at the Duke University School of Medicine and the Portland DBT Institute, which are both lauded for their excellence in clinical training and applied clinical research. More recently, Dr. Hawkey served as a director at CBT/DBT California prior to starting his own private practice, West Coast CBT. Dr. Hawkey also enjoys volunteering as a clinical supervisor and DBT coordinator at the LGBTQ+ Center of the Desert in Coachella Valley.
Dr. Hawkey is certified by the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification and has completed the Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative Affirmative CBT training program. Dr. Hawkey is passionate about increasing accessibility to research-based treatments like CBT and DBT and provides training to other clinicians on implementing these interventions with historically-marginalized populations.
Liz Burns, LMFT
Partnership Therapy
Liz Burns is Aim Psych’s partnership specialist. As our leading relationship counselor, Liz is a licensed marriage & family therapist (LMFT #133078) who is passionate about working with couples, families, and other dyads, including business partners, parents, or any other impactful relationship that needs tending.
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Liz has a warm, compassionate nature that helps her clients feel safe, secure and grounded. Liz believes intimate relationships have the power to heal, but sometimes people find themselves stuck in relational patterns that are difficult to change on their own. Liz has a keen eye for naming these patterns, and bringing them into awareness. From there, the work of change and repair can unfold. She helps clients explore the many ways in which two or more lives intersect to form a third entity.
While Liz works with all gender identities, she holds a special passion for men’s issues. Liz has had the unique opportunity of inhabiting many traditionally male dominated spaces and has seen first-hand how men are suffering in their relationships, emotional worlds, and with intimacy. These dynamics affect everyone, and Liz is passionate about helping men lead more authentic lives with a full range of emotionality within their relationships.
Liz grew up competing in the sport of Judo, and was an alternate for the 2004 Olympic team. She previously owned a CrossFit gym and consulted on Corporate Wellness programs both domestically and abroad. Nine years ago, she decided to leave the fitness world and pursue her passion for psychology and relationships with a master’s degree in Psychology from Antioch University. She completed training in community mental health and couples work at Airport Marina Counseling Service in Los Angeles, and in Private Practice under the stewardship of Aim Psychotherapy’s founder, Andrew Merrell. Liz borrows from many techniques in her work, including; Emotionally Focused Couples work, The Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Psychodynamic work.
Chris Tompkins LMFT
Gay Men, Identity, Addiction & Self-esteem
Chris Tompkins is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who specializes in helping adult gay men heal from identity-related challenges, internalized homophobia, religious trauma, addiction and recovery, self-acceptance struggles, and relationship difficulties. He supports clients who feel stuck in shame, self-doubt, or past trauma, guiding them to heal, strengthen self-esteem, and live in alignment with who they truly are. Chris also works with individuals who wish to integrate spirituality as a resource in therapy.
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Chris holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, where he specialized in LGBTQ Affirmative Psychology. He completed psychotherapy training at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology (Certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care, Levels I & II, Allender Center) and clinical training at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, developing extensive experience providing LGBTQ-affirming care.
Chris views therapy as a collaborative, client-centered process: you’re the driver, he’s in the passenger seat supporting your journey. His approach draws from both Western and Eastern traditions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Humanistic Psychology. He emphasizes seeing the problem as the problem, not the person.
Chris’s own journey of healing and self-discovery informs his empathetic, client-centered approach.
In addition to his clinical work, Chris is a writer and author of Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground, a best-selling book recognized with the 2024 APA Distinguished Book Award.
Brandon Gescheidle LMFT
Pain Reprocessing, Chronic Pain & LGBTQ+
Brandon occupies two distinct specializations within Aim Psych’s Affiliate team. Brandon is our resident pain, pain reprocessing and chronic pain specialist, and also has an area of concentration within the LGBTQ population of Aim’s clients.
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With respect to pain reprocessing and treating chronic pain, Brandon utilizes Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Somatic Tracking, Graded Exposure and other techniques with his clients. In his individual therapy practice, Brandon calls upon an integrated approach of Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Narrative Therapy to assist clients in unlearning unhelpful, sometimes harmful, patterns and beliefs in order to co-create a template that feels more sustainable. Brandon identifies as a gay, cisgender man who is passionate about working with the queer community.
After earning a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California, Brandon began working extensively with the chronic pain community – training with Alan Gordon at Pain Psychology Center and becoming certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT). In addition to being a clinician at the practice, Brandon served as Intake Coordinator, admitting new clients and matching them with clinicians. Through this role, he had the unique privilege of absorbing thousands of mind-body stories involving a multitude of presentations. Brandon recognizes that while there are certainly common themes, each client’s relationship with pain is unique, and their treatment must be tailored to fit their individual needs and lived experience. Using PRT as a guide, Brandon assist clients through Somatic Tracking, Graded Exposure, managing fear thoughts, and other tools to help them understand their symptoms, increase self-compassion, and reprogram the brain's relationship to pain.
Dr Mackenzie Lambine
Sexual Psychology
At Aim Psych, Dr. Mackenzie Lambine specializes in working with individuals who have had experience or history with sexual abuse, as well as those wishing to address sexual pathologies such as pornography and sex addiction. She has extensive experience working with both victims of sexual abuse and sexual violence, as well as working with perpetrators of sexual abuse and sexual violence. Mackenzie is accessible, professional and candid. She prides herself on her collaborative, nonjudgmental approach.
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Always authentic, Mackenzie cultivates in her clients an enhanced sense of self-awareness and compassion, aiming to leave them feeling seen, heard, and supported.
Mackenzie also specializes in helping clients reconcile changing concepts of masculinity with archetypal expectations from childhood. Mackenzie provides an empathetic, compassionate, and nonjudgmental atmosphere; enabling clients to feel at ease while speaking about past traumatic experiences and any associated upsetting behaviors.
Mackenzie believes that by bringing darker parts of ourselves into the light, we gain a greater understanding of who we are as a whole person. In so doing, her clients gain the ability to foster deeper relationships with those closest to them. Throughout her career specializing in male psychology, Mackenzie has had extensive experience in working with men with a history of sexual trauma, pornography addiction, and sexual dysfunction. She is passionate about providing a safe space for men to explore topics that are often deemed uncomfortable, upsetting, or taboo.
In addition to her clinical practice, Mackenzie is also a forensic psychologist, with a PhD from the University of Middlesex, London. Whilst working in the UK, she partnered with New Scotland Yard in providing gang interventions in schools, whilst also being retained as an in-house consultant with the Metropolitan Police for incidences of sexual assault. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, Mackenzie worked as a treatment provider for male offenders recently released on parole. She continues this forensic work as legal consultant and expert witness to a variety of attorneys offices throughout the United States. Mackenzie has taught courses in Forensic Psychology, Adult Psychopathology, and Sexual Abuse at Alliant University. Her therapeutic approach draws upon a psychodynamic framework in addition to Jungian and Existential psychotherapeutic modalities.
Dr Robert Antonacci
Dreams, Sleep, Depression & Issues of Aging
Helping clients navigate their nocturnal experience, diverse impacts and experiences of depression and contemporary issues of aging, Aim Psych is proud of have Dr Robert Antonacci’s expertise, insight and clinical sophistication. Dr Rob is passionate about dreams and dream analysis, which is informed by his depth psychology and Jungian training. He is also an expert on sleep, sleep hygiene and helps clients achieve optimal sleep experience. Additionally, Dr Rob has areas of concentration in assessing and combating depression and depressive symptoms, and working with clients around age and aging issues.
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As a licensed depth psychologist, working with Dr Rob can often focus on tending the soul and psyche to return meaning and purpose to a client's life. This is accomplished by focusing on the rich inner world of dreams, imagination, emotional awareness, body sensations, spontaneous humor and identifying core values. In addition, emphasis is placed on integrating the dynamic outer world perspective of modern myth & story (movies, television, art and music, for example), archetypes, personal and cultural symbols, relationships, and synchronicity (meaningful coincidences).
The transformative healing process is stimulated by allowing what has been discarded, ignored or repressed to surface and be reclaimed in a mindful and conscientious way. The goal of the work is about moving toward balance, personal awareness and creative expression, all of which lead to inner wisdom, authenticity, and spiritual growth.
Areas of special focus are dreams, sleep and sleep hygiene, depression, age and aging, identity (including LGBTQIA issues), and midlife transition.
Amy Atwell, MPP, AACC
Executive Coach — Creativity, Neurodivergence & ADHD
Aim Psych is lucky to have specialist Amy Atwell as a member of the team. Amy is a seasoned professional specializing in supporting high-achieving adults with ADHD and other neurodivergent traits. Amy's approach enables clients to take inspired actions toward their goals, conserving energy and time by learning strategies and methods better suited to their needs rather than conforming to conventional norms.
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Amy has successfully worked with adults aged 25 to 75, including C-level executives in entertainment,industrial art and photography, tech, finance, legal, medical, behavioral health, hospitality, andacademia. She has also supported adults studying for graduate-level entrance exams, transitioning intothe workplace upon graduation, and mid-life professionals transitioning into a new career or starting abusiness. This diverse client base is a testament to her ability to cater to unique needs and situations.
“As a high-achieving, late-diagnosed neurodivergent individual with ADHD, I bring a unique perspective to my coaching practice. This personal experience gives me a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced when navigating a world not tailored to us 'neuro-spicy' individuals who think and experience life differently. My passion is to guide others like myself to understand themselves through their unique brain wiring, enabling them to unmask and release shame around advocating for accommodations needed to thrive personally and professionally."
Amy earned her Master of Public Policy and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Social Behavior from theUniversity of California, Irvine, and an Associate of Arts in Drama from Foothill College. She is also acertified ADHD Life Coach through ADDCA (ADD Coach Academy), the longest-standing and most comprehensive ADHD coaching program in the world. She has also studied under various coaching mentors and, in 2007, launched Strategy for Actors and Filmmakers, a career-focused coaching program in the Los Angeles area. Amy has held highly respected positions in the Behavioral Health industry for over a decade, such as Business Development & Marketing Director, Regional Trainer forTreatment Placement Specialists, and Director of Community Outreach for some of the largest and most renowned mental health treatment organizations, including ACADIA Healthcare and the Camden Center.
Arie Winograd LMFT
Body Image Issues & Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Arie brings his mastery and 25 years of experience with body image issues and Body Dysmorphic Disorder to the clients of Aim Psych that may have primary or secondary therapeutic goals relative to their relationship to their appearance, bodies and anatomy. Arie is also a talented individual clinician who values whole-self conceptualization and takes an integrated approach to his work.
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Arie Winograd, MA, LMFT. has dedicated the vast majority of his career as a psychotherapist to the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and related body image disorders. With over twenty-five years of treating this client population, his name has become synonymous with body dysmorphic disorder treatment. In 1998, Mr. Winograd initiated the first body dysmorphic disorder studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. These seminal studies were only the beginning of his many years of working extensively with individuals with body image disorders. As the author of the book Face to Face with Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Psychotherapy and Clinical Insights, he regularly lectures and consults on the subject.
"Recovery from body image disorders entails creating an identity that is not founded upon shame, the primary emotion that perpetuates body related symptoms. Shame not only impedes identity development, but it also is not compatible with interpersonal and especially intimate relationships. Many individuals with body image disorders attribute a lack of intimacy to what they perceive as aesthetically defective about themselves. In turn, they focus even more on appearance, and it is this that further interferes with the development of a healthy identity and authentic attachments to people. Recovery from a body image disorder is a process of gentrifying one’s sense of self so that external physical features are no longer the epicenter of their identity."
Arie Winograd’s formal psychotherapy background includes graduate studies completed at Pepperdine University as well as six years of clinical experience at the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Intensive Treatment Program. He completed his undergraduate education at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Stephanie Pearl LCSW
Ketamine Assisted Therapy
Stephanie Pearl brings her passion for Psychedelic Psychotherapy to Aim Psych to compliment and correspond with a client’s integrative experience within the collective. A ketamine assisted experience with Stephanie can deepen, expand, enrich and harmonize work that Aim Psych clients are doing in other areas of their care.
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Stephanie completed certificate training programs in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy & Integration, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy. Her professional education with Psychedelic Therapy has been through Fluence. Stephanie is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(TF-CBT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Internal Family Systems. Stephanie holds a Masters in Social Work from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts from Skidmore College. She is licensed in both New York and California and has been in practice as a therapist for 15 years.
Prior to her work in the Psychedelic Therapy space, Stephanie’s practice focused primarily on the treatment of adolescents, young adults, and adults in the areas of anxiety, depression, relationships, eating disorders, body image issues, and trauma. She have always taken an integrative approach to treatment. With complementary education and experience in the areas of fitness, music, nutrition and mindfulness, I take a holistic approach in my work with individuals to help create positive lifestyle changes for whole body wellness.
Zach Resnick, LMFT
Young Adulthood
Zach Resnick LMFT specializes in guiding young men forward as they build the skills and self-esteem to navigate their late teens, 20’s and early 30's. Zach empowers clients who feel lost or stressed by life’s challenges to develop the compassion, mindfulness and fortitude to become their more fully realized selves.
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The late teens, 20's and early 30's are phases of life where young men are facing a breadth of potential difficulties including, but not limited to: school or career, peer relationships, sex and intimacy, dating and romantic relationships, family issues, independence, self-esteem, understanding their thoughts and feelings, trauma processing, social pressures and expectations, as well as seeking meaning and value. Zach’s passion for this work is breaking the cycle of male loneliness and disconnection by being a partner in their journey toward growth and healing. Clients can expect to be warmly seen and understood while also being championed and encouraged to adopt skills and build confidence to find their way in the world.
Zach received a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and began working in community mental health, training at Airport Marina Counseling Service where he created and led successful Navigating Your 20's and Men’s Support groups. Following clinical settings include working in a leading residential treatment center, working under Andrew Merrell’s professional guidance as AIM Psychotherapy’s first Associate Therapist, and supporting the beginning of a local clinic built on providing accessible therapy. Since completing licensure and founding his own clinical practice, Zach works primarily with men navigating their 20's and 30's by integrating approaches such as psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, Internal Family Systems and Inner Child work, as well as mindfulness to support his client’s becoming their most congruent self.
Damon Dodge LMFT
Work Stress, Social Anxiety, Existential Overwhelm, Relationship Communication
Damon empowers clients through a dignity-centered, strengths-based approach emphasizing choice, incremental progress, and authentic living. He believes lasting change occurs when people evaluate their choices against their core values, then make conscious decisions to bring their aspirations to life. Damon’s approach is particularly effective with driven professionals in high-pressure environments, introverted leaders and creatives, individuals navigating life transitions, and those seeking practical, action-oriented strategies.
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Before transitioning to therapy, Damon spent over a decade in corporate training and leadership development across domestic and international retail, restaurant, and consumer goods industries. He specialized in designing training programs, leading organizational change through cross-functional partnerships, and coaching senior leaders through performance barriers. His experience supporting thousands of employees through succession planning, team management and operational effectiveness provides firsthand insight into how people can thrive within imperfect systems by making the most of the choices available within any constraints.
Damon earned his Master's in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, where he teaches counseling theories and clinical practice. His specialized training with men's themes, LGBTQ+ populations, and neurodivergent adults spans diverse clinical settings. Licensed in California, Colorado, and New York, he integrates business insight with clinical expertise for direct, goal-oriented therapy designed for people ready to invest in transformation and see the results.
Brandon Brissette, LMFT
Anxiety, Attachment, Couples & BPD
Brandon Brissette LMFT specializes in working with men and working with couples, especially for those that want to rebuild or strengthen their relationship, improve/implement effective communication, and reduce reliance on the "other" to meet their internalized needs. Brandon also works with men on emotional tolerance, emotional expression, self-advocacy, vulnerability, purpose, value, and meaning, with an additional area of concentration in adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and loss of the self.
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Brandon Brissette is an Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who trained under Andrew Merrell LMFT. Brandon received his B.A. in Interactive Entertainment from the University of Southern California and received his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Brandon completed his clinical training at Airport Marina Counseling Service, a well-regarded psychodynamic community mental health clinic located in West Los Angeles. During his time in training, Brandon worked with couples and individuals utilizing a psychodynamic approach to aid clients in exploring their psyche and discovering how to leverage their strengths to create meaningful change in their lives. Brandon also previously worked in both the entertainment and technology fields and uses these experiences to inform his work with clients with similar backgrounds.
We all face our own unique challenges in our everyday lives. These challenges can range from inspiring to overwhelming, from motivating to diminishing, and anything in between. Sometimes it can be relatively easy to get lost in the vast ocean of life, and we may not even realize anything is off until we are already lost at sea, adrift amongst the waves. Therapy can be the life boat we need when all that we see before us are rough waters. It can often be difficult to ask for help when feeling lost or stuck, and engaging in self-discovery can feel daunting, but even making an effort to search for a therapist is taking a step towards growth.
I am a couples therapist who also works with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship distress, stage of life transitions, and loss of self. I also work with men on emotional tolerance, emotional expression, self-advocacy, and learning to be vulnerable. I have an additional, specific focus on working with men with a proximity to a personality disorder — a partner, ex-partner or family member. When working with couples, I utilize an Imago Therapy framework, which focuses on our unconscious inclination to seek relationship partners as a means of addressing and healing our wounds from childhood. While I approach therapy from a psychodynamic lens, I also tailor my work with clients to fit their needs by incorporating aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based modalities. As a depth psychology therapist, I help clients navigate their experiences in a safe, open environment that focuses on curiosity, exploration, understanding, and growth. If you think that you might be up for doing some digging into your thoughts and experiences, please feel free to reach out and schedule a consultation with me. Be sure to bring your shovel.
Evan Perlo LMFT CGP
Power of Relationships - Mens Process Group
Evan Perlo LMFT, CGP is deeply passionate about the power of group therapy. He brings a mixture of enthusiasm, irreverence, and clinical sharpness to his group leadership. Evan supports individuals and groups to find a balance between authentic expression and care for the vulnerability that comes with being open and direct with others. Trusting in the ability of groups to work with challenging emotional truths, he is dedicated to helping group members feel a genuine sense of belonging and mattering.
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Evan has poured himself into the study and practice of group work. He has facilitated groups across a wide range of treatment settings, including interpersonal process, anger management, multifamily, teen violence reduction, and mindfulness practice groups. Evan sees group work as an often overlooked modality that can widen a person’s emotional range and strengthen their capacity to relate meaningfully and effectively with others.
Evan received his B.A. in philosophy and psychology from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. He is a Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) credentialed by the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists. He pursued postgraduate training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the New Center for Psychoanalysis and continues advanced training at the Center for Group Studies in Manhattan. Evan is an active leader in the group therapy community and conducts workshops and trainings for therapists locally and nationally.
Brian Garhan, MA, PsyD
Wellness Coach – Fitness, Motivation & Life Strategist
Brian Garhan specializes in customized life dynamics and coaching with an emphasis on efficiency, performance, physiology, fitness and wellness strategies. Brian is also a sober coach and often performs the function of a sober companion for unique in-the-field activities and experiences for those going through restorative mental health journeys including recovery from substance/process addiction.
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Brian harmonizes his accomplishments as a therapist, life/sober coach, veteran, lifelong athlete, outdoorsman, loving husband, and proud dad of two amazing kids into his tailored approach with each unique client experience. He brings his history from the military, sports, clinical, and family life into a unique approach to helping people grow and thrive. The discipline and resilience Brian learned in the military, combined with the balance and motivation he’s acquired through sports, shape how he support clients’ needs and assesses their capacities. Brian’s experiences as a father adds a unique dimension to his practice – he understands first hand the juggling act of family life and personal goals, which motivates him to help others, especially busy parents, achieve their fitness and personal goals while managing the demands of family life.
Whether a client is dealing with mental health issues, addiction, life transitions, or just want to level up in your personal life, Brian uses his training and experiences to offer a dynamic, personalized approach that fits each persons’ journey.
Brian earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and completed both his Master’s and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis on Health and CBT at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. His extensive training encompasses addiction, mood disorders, executive coaching & motivations, sports psychology, physical health, and holistic approaches to wellness.
Randy Lopez, MSP, RScP, ALSP
Faith & Spiritual Principles Counselor
Randy Lopez is Aim Psych’s leading provider in the realm of ‘faith and spirituality. Used as a complement to traditional modalities of psychotherapy, Randy assists clients in building a deeper relationship with “a God of their understanding.” Based on his extensive work with clients, Randy has discovered that those who have a connection with something greater than themselves, are the ones that experience the most joy, peace and well being in their lives. Randy supports clients in diverse positions relative to faith and spirituality — whether its about integrating a ‘higher power’ methodology through the sobriety/recovery lens or integrating aspects of faith with aspects of identity, as two examples of his process. Randy’s position is nonjudgemental and affirming, regardless of the spiritual principles, aspects of faith or purpose of the integration with the client.
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With Randy’s guidance, clients deepen their experience of self acceptance, forgiveness, empathy, inner peace and learning to love life, ultimately, with the goal of awakening into their spiritual nature. By challenging limiting beliefs and patterns, Randy is able to offer interventions, specific for each client’s needs. He believes that life is a reflection of one’s consciousness, belief systems, experiences, and spiritual principles, resulting in creating a desired reality.
Randy strongly believes that the life one seeks is a direct reflection of one’s inner understanding of the self. Randy champions using all of life’s experiences in service to expressing the gifts, talents and abilities that we are here to share. Randy facilitates architecting men’s lives, in harmony with their soul’ purpose, dreams and aspirations and encourages his clients to create thriving, intimate relationships that foster deeper meaningful connections.
Recognizing and accepting the challenge inherent in Gandhi’s statement: “My life is my message,” Randy supports clients in creating a meaningful difference on the planet and in their lives.
Randy anchors his practice at AIM Psych with over 25 years as a teacher, group facilitator and individual spiritual counselor. His academic background includes a M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica (MSP) and licenses as a Religious Science Practitioner (RScP), an Agape Licensed Spiritual Practitioner (ALSP) and a dual B.S. in Marketing/Communications from Syracuse University.
Jeannie Kulwin
Stress Coach & Chronic Pain Coach
Jeannie Kulwin is a Stress Coach and Chronic Pain Coach based in Los Angeles, specializing in helping individuals overcome stress, TMS, and mind-body symptoms through holistic, compassionate, and evidence-based approaches. Jeannie’s style and work as a coach is personalized, accessible, organized, and goal-oriented. Her approach balances mindset work with action—guiding clients to shift limiting beliefs while equipping them with practical tools to create meaningful change.
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Her coaching is rooted in mind-body principles, emotional awareness, and self-compassion. She integrates somatic tools, nervous system regulation techniques and behavioral health strategies to help clients reduce stress, release chronic pain/symptoms and build resilience.
A former educator, Jeannie blends her passion for teaching with her mission to help others heal. She is a Certified Pain Reprocessing Therapy Practitioner and a trained Breathwork and Meditation Teacher. She holds degrees in Psychology and Spanish from UCSB and is fluent in Spanish.
Jeannie’s coaching goes beyond surface-level strategies. Clients engage in experiential work designed to help them reconnect with their bodies, process emotions, and cultivate a deep sense of self-trust. She provides support between sessions, offering guidance, accountability, and encouragement as clients navigate their healing journey.
Her commitment to this work is deeply personal. After struggling with chronic pain for over a decade and finding little relief through traditional medicine, Jeannie discovered the powerful connection between the mind and body. By addressing emotional patterns, subconscious beliefs and nervous system dysregulation, she was able to fully heal and reclaim her life. Now, she is passionate about helping others break free from pain and discover their innate capacity to heal.
At the core of her work is a commitment to helping individuals—especially men—develop a healthier relationship with themselves. Through self-compassion, emotional awareness, and embodied action, clients move beyond pain and stress into greater confidence, alignment, and well-being.
Ben Hietala, AMFT
Depression, Anxiety, Identity, Young Adults & Athletes
Ben Hietala, MA, AMFT, is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist based in Los Angeles, California, providing skillful therapy under the clinical supervision of Andrew Merrell, LMFT. Ben brings a unique and powerful presence to the therapy world, combining personal experience, technical mastery, and natural warmth. He specializes in working with adolescents, young adults, athletes, and emerging identities. He offers compassionate support for anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and suicidal ideation.
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Originally from the snow-capped mountains of Montana, he relocated to Los Angeles to work in a city as diverse and dynamic as the people he serves. With a background spanning mental health coaching, sports performance coaching, public education, and nonprofit work, Ben has spent over seven years connecting with individuals navigating transition, development, and performance pressures. Ben has had the privilege of working with Dr. Markus Rogan, a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, where he provided coaching consultation for high-performing clients, including the Israeli national soccer team. While earning his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, he worked at Cheerful Helpers, a therapeutic day school for children with Neurodivergence, providing both individual and group therapy.
Ben has been to the edge. Through his own struggles, he has confronted deep personal challenges and developed a profound understanding of the darkness many face. His personal healing journey gave him the tools to relate, understand, and guide individuals struggling with internalized disorders. Ben combines technical expertise with an intuitive approach. As a former Division 1 soccer player and high school coach, he understands structure: learning the rules, recognizing boundaries, and mastering the art of playing within them. Therapy, much like sports, requires intuition, improvisation, and precise execution. He knows the modalities and techniques, but it’s the way he applies them that sets him apart. Ben applies therapy with the same fluidity he once brought to the soccer field—meeting clients where they are, adapting to their needs, and guiding them toward growth.
Throughout my journey with therapy, I have come to understand the intense weight of ruminating thoughts- the ones that surface in the quiet moments before sleep or upon waking to a new day. My passion for this work is deeply personal. I know what it feels like to be lost in dark places. Instead of being consumed by it, I have learned to build a dimmer switch- gradually bringing in light through hard work, self-awareness, and therapy. The question is not whether change will arise; change is inevitable. The question is whether we will embrace our vulnerabilities, explore the painful questions, and confront our fears. When we do, change of our own design can flourish.
I integrate a variety of therapeutic modalities into my practice, including Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and trauma-informed approaches. My goal is to empower clients not only to understand their struggles but to move with them. Being human is hard. I’m here to walk alongside you on your unique journey, wherever it may lead.
Greg Kelly AMFT
Mens Work, Depth & Attachment
Greg works primarily with adult men and couples, through a depth-oriented, relational approach that explores the roots of a client’s inner world. He believes lasting change comes from the curiosity and the courage to face what lies beneath the surface. Greg emphasizes slowing down and being present in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, allowing space for reflection and intentional focus on what matters most. He is dedicated to creating a safe, yet at times challenging space through empathy.
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Greg earned his degrees from Mount Saint Mary’s University and trained at Maple Counseling, where he primarily practiced psychodynamic therapy with clients from diverse backgrounds. His work with men deepened his interest in the complexities of modern masculinity and the challenges men face in relationships, health, career, and identity.
Before becoming a therapist, Greg built a career in New York’s marketing and nonprofit sectors, focusing on mental health advocacy and social impact campaigns. His personal history of loss and medical trauma further grounds his sensitivity to how mortality and adversity shape a person’s anxieties, motivations, and search for meaning. Drawing from these experiences, Greg brings a humanistic outlook that supports clients in navigating loneliness, performance pressures, spirituality, and the pursuit of an authentic self.
Greg Kelly, MA, AMFT, is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist based in Los Angeles California working under the clinical supervision of Andrew Merrell, LMFT.
Philip Champagne AMFT
Identity, Shame, Trauma & Relationships
Philip Champagne, MA, AMFT uses a pragmatic approach to help men tackle shame-based beliefs and behaviors like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and low self-esteem that impact careers, relationships, and families. Philip also specializes in questions of gender and sexuality, child abuse, religious trauma, and PTSD. Drawing from his background in entertainment, Philip incorporates humor and creativity into a mix of psychodynamic therapy, parts work, EMDR, and mindfulness-based therapies.
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Philip holds a specialized degree in LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychology from Antioch University and trained at APLA Health, formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles. Philip is EMDR Trained by the Institute for Creative Mindfulness.
Jason Landau AMFT
Addiction, Anxiety, Identity & Family Work
Jason Landau, MA, AMFT believes that connection is everything — that the most therapeutic thing a room can hold is honesty — and that his job is simply to make it safe enough to get there. He holds a Master's in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and a degree from NYU, with advanced training in relational and psychodynamic therapy. He works with individuals, couples, and families, with a particular specialization in self-worth, identity, addiction, and trauma, with a fierce commitment to normalizing the messy, worthwhile work of figuring it out. Currently a therapist at Beit T'Shuvah, one of LA's most respected addiction-focused recovery centers, Jason joins Aim Psych as an individual, couples, and family therapist.
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Long before the therapy room, Jason spent seventeen years successfully running a top entertainment merchandise company, taught at the famed Hollywood High School, and led personal growth seminars to more than 10,000 people, coaching individuals on building a relationship with themselves that makes real change, and real happiness, actually possible.
People have always confided in Jason. He grew up in a loud Jewish family where everyone had big feelings and nobody was shy about sharing them — in his house, that was just called breakfast. So he arrived at this profession basically half-trained.
Jason is gay, a husband, a father of twins, and a native Angeleno. His husband would describe him as a truth junkie. He understands that many of us have spent years perfecting the art of avoiding the one thing we most need to say. He uses his own pain and struggles to meet you in yours. He won't flinch. He won't judge. He'll listen and carry the weight of it alongside you. He isn't here to "fix" anyone. He's here to help clients find the version of themselves that is already closer than they might think.