Alyssa

Hello! My name is Alyssa and I am a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP). I obtained my Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating, I worked as a paraeducator in an elementary school, supporting the inclusion of students with disabilities. I then attended graduate school (also at LMU!), where I received my Masters and Education Specialist degrees in Educational Psychology. Between supervised experience in graduate school and my experience as a fully credentialed school psychologist, I worked in schools for a total of six years from 2016 to 2022 and with all school-age populations (preschool to grade 12).

As an LEP, I use my expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. I believe that all children and teens can be understood and supported, whether they are neurodivergent or neurotypical. I have extensive experience and training in the assessment of educationally-related disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mood disorders; providing direct support and intervention for students (including psychological counseling and coaching, both individually and in groups); and consulting with parents and families to indirectly support children. I have performed both short-term and long-term counseling using techniques and approaches such as psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), social skills training, solution-focused brief counseling, gender affirmative and identity-focused counseling, and grief counseling. My background in cognitive assessment makes me especially well-equipped to work with children with disabilities and disorders because I can easily integrate teaching how the human brain works into my counseling and coaching interventions. Specialized trainings I have participated in include the Social Thinking Clinical Training Program (for assessing and providing social-emotional skills teaching for children with social learning challenges such ASD and ADHD) facilitated by Social Thinking co-founder Pamela Crooke, trauma-informed practices for educators, and the Crisis Prevention Institute’s nonviolent crisis intervention training. I am very excited to be moving into private practice with Illuminate to provide educational psychology services and executive functioning coaching!

Why do children need LEPs? All children and youth can face problems from time to time related to learning; social relationships; making difficult decisions; or managing emotions such as feeling depressed, anxious, worried, or isolated. LEPs like me help students, families, educators, and members of the community understand and resolve both long-term, chronic problems and short-term issues that students may face. We are a highly skilled and ready resource in the effort to ensure that all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and in life.