For Patients and Clients - WITHIN SIGHT INC.

Psychologist, Director

Candace Fanale, Ph.D. (PSY30957)

General Psychology and Evidence-based practice:
I primarily use cognitive behavioral therapy with a collaborate approach. At the beginning of treatment, we work toward figuring out exactly what isn’t working for you in your life. I value getting to know you and your specific thoughts, beliefs, and coping strategies. I strive for genuine relationships with my patients at any stage of adulthood (young-elder) where we can discuss issues openly within the therapeutic relationship. I provide a free phone consultation visit which helps us identify the next steps in our working relationship, or if a referral is needed (which I would be happy to provide).

Other therapies provided include interpersonal therapy (IPT), stress management, assertiveness training, and integration of mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies. I received my master’s and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Washington State University. I completed my predoctoral internship at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and postdoctoral fellowship at the San Diego VA/UCSD.

Specialization:
I specialize in anxiety and mood disorders, health psychology, and evidence-based practice. I see the interaction and overlap of psychological and medical disorders as important to address when treating patient wellness as a whole.

Much of my training has been in integrated medical settings with patients newly diagnosed with chronic illnesses or who have difficulty self-managing aspects of their own care, such as the extensive self-management involved with diseases such as diabetes or heart failure. I also specialize in providing treatment for health behavior change and motivational enhancement for any change that takes time to integrate, such as smoking cessation, diet improvements, reaching exercise goals, etc.
I am happy to work with your referring or prescribing physician for a targeted treatment approach and to make sure we are taking into account any relevant medical diagnoses.

I work with adults of any age. Unfortunately, I do not see minors. I have extensive experience with college students dealing with performance anxiety and test anxiety, relational issues, substance use, and other concerns. I also work with older adults with the transition to retirement in regard to psychological adjustment, identity, and general aging, as well as cognitive decline. I also work with family members who are experiencing caregiver stress due to caring for a loved one with dementia and other health dispositions.

See me on Psychology Today.

Psychological Associate

Porschia Brown, PsyD, MSPH

I earned my Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where my dissertation focused on emotional deficits stemming from childhood experiences. Accordingly, I follow a Psychodynamic orientation as I believe that early experiences mold personality and impact psychosocial functioning well into, and throughout, adulthood. While understanding the origin of difficulties is quite affirming, it is often not enough to facilitate change. Given this, I utilize Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) techniques to further promote insight and foster problem-solving and coping skills.

I specialize in addictions and psychological assessment. I completed my Predoctoral Clinical Psychology Internship at Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles, CA, and later gained postdoctoral hours while leading a substance abuse program for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Additional work settings have included universities, private practices, a public hospital, and community-based outpatient clinics. Specific to psychological assessment, I have worked with clients throughout the lifespan (pediatric through geriatric) having completed disability, medical clearance, vocational rehabilitation, substance abuse, parental fitness, cognitive, personality, university/educational accommodation, ADHD, Autism
Spectrum, and other psychodiagnostic and forensic evaluations.

I firmly believe that relationships are the core of the human experience. We are inherently social and cannot function optimally in silos. I utilize the clinical relationship to provide support, understanding, practice, and modeling to help clients improve their relationships with others as well as their own personal relationship with themselves. My approach exudes authenticity and warmth to provide a safe space for collaborative work, whether our time together is brief (assessment) or for a longer-term (therapy).

See me on Psychology Today.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Dina Taylor, M.A. LMFT

I truly believe that we all have the capacity to learn, grow, and change in ways that will enhance our lives and our relationships with others. I am passionate about helping my clients achieve their life and relationship goals and successfully navigate life challenges. Together, we will develop a therapeutic plan and develop therapy goals that will help you develop tools to proactively solve issues as they arise in the future and create a more meaningful life for yourself and the people you cherish.

I received my license from the state of California in Marriage, Family, Child Therapy in 1991. I specialize in helping clients who are experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Relationship issues, Parenting challenges, Job stress and burnout, Compassion Fatigue (emotional exhaustion from caring for a loved one), and Vicarious Trauma (PTSD from witnessing traumatic events). My experience over the past 30 years includes working in clinical outpatient settings, schools, in client’s homes, incorporating horses and other animals into mental health sessions, and providing online therapy. In addition, I train and supervise therapy interns and provide in-services and workshops on any of my specialty topic areas or for general mental health and wellbeing.

In individual therapy (adolescents and adults), I will assist you in symptom relief and the development of emotional resilience. For couples (traditional and non-traditional), we will work together as a team, and I will provide you with the skills and tools that will help you successfully increase your relationship satisfaction. Using a blend of evidence-based practices, I am able to help parents fine-tune their parenting skills and guide them in helping their child/adolescent in the development of healthy emotional regulation. I help with any variation of the following issues: balancing parenting and marriage/general parent training/raising a special needs-medically fragile child/developing social-emotional regulation in children/positive parenting techniques/creating positive relationships with pre-teens and teens.

I am fluent in American Sign Language and have years of experience working with members of the Deaf community. I am certified in providing the following evidence-based therapy modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Incredible Years parent support groups and children’s groups, and Trauma-Focused CBT (for children or adults), Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

See me on Psychology Today.

Psychologist

Aza Gorgalian, LMFT, Psy.D. (PSY26853)

I graduated from Alliant International University with an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2006. I began my clinical career providing community-based mental health treatment for children and families and it was there I realized my passion for doing trauma-informed care. I received my M.A. in Clinical Psychology in 2010 and my Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in 2013 from Hawaii School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University. I utilize person-centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and practice through a multicultural and family systems framework. I have been trained in a multitude of evidenced-based therapies, which means they have been shown to be effective through rigorous scientific research. I completed my pre-and post-doctoral training at Children’s Institute, Inc. where I was trained and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). I have specialized training to work with children (including birth to five), teens, families, couples, and adults. The last few years I have worked with active duty service members primarily with combat-related trauma and military sexual trauma. I utilize Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) treatments for PTSD which are considered best practices for the reduction of trauma-related symptoms for adults. In addition to providing therapy, I am qualified to complete psychological assessments and evaluations to help clarify a diagnosis or gain insight into your personality and cognitive strengths. Dr. Gorgalian is contracted with Within Sight…inc.

See me on Psychology Today.

Psychologist

Cheryl Bradish, Ph.D. (PSY15712)

I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, CA in 1995. My background in psychology is broad encompassing non-profit work, administration, university counseling, university teaching, supervising interns in the profession, seeing people in private practice/medical groups, senior living facilities, and psychological services for the United States military here in San Diego as well as in Germany.

Change is part of life and I have devoted my career to assisting people in managing these changes, no matter whether they are major life changes or daily stressors impacting day-to-day living. My career began in cross-cultural work with immigrants, Native Americans, and refugees. I expanded this to specialization in trauma recovery, acculturation stress reduction, coping with life changes, and recovering from the pain associated with depression and anxiety. I integrate a combination of cognitive-behavioral strategies and psychodynamic theory, which I believe facilitates a full understanding of each person’s background, values, and cultural perspective. My approach will allow you the opportunity to meet your goals and successfully face life’s challenges.

Currently, I’m seeing adults and adolescents. I offer individual psychotherapy and relationship/marital counseling. Thank you for reviewing my profile. I am here to answer any questions you may have about taking this vital step toward a more satisfying and happy life.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Celia Zisman, M.A. LCSW (Nevada only) WSI Nevada Clinic

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC)

Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C)

I truly believe that the mind and body connection is incredibly powerful at dictating our quality of lives and that attachments and interpersonal relationships are at the core of most mental health issues. As such, I use a variety of attachment-based and other evidence-based modalities to work collaboratively with clients to improve their relationships and their self-compassion. I like to walk side by side with my clients as we guide each other to work through goals that each client sets for themselves. I enjoy working with teenagers and adults to help navigate the various stages of life and development and the complications, growth, and transitions/adjustments that arise within each stage.

I am passionate about and fully certified in the treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS), which are mental health issues that arise during and after pregnancy and birth. This includes antenatal and postpartum anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar, and other disorders, as well as perinatal grief and loss and traumatic birth. I also work with couples and families of all backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ and men with issues that arise in the postpartum and pregnancy period with their partners, using Interpersonal Psychotherapy to help strengthen relationships that may break down during such difficult life transitions as pregnancy, birth, and loss. I also have significant expertise in the treatment of eating/feeding disorders and body image issues and utilize this in my work with birthing individuals undergoing difficulties with body image related to pregnancy and birth. Regarding treatment for eating disorders, I am only doing assessments/one-time visits for these concerns. Other specialties for therapy include phobic disorders and OCD utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention, Mindful Self-Compassion for those suffering from low confidence or low self-esteem, anxiety disorders utilizing CBT, and difficulties with emotion regulation and interpersonal relationships utilizing DBT and attachment modalities. I can also provide individual consultations for clients with eating disorders to help guide them to the right treatment recommendations. Finally, I am also certified in the treatment of substance use disorders that co-occur within individuals with a variety of mental health issues, including my above-mentioned specialties.

I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, and then completed a two-year term of service in the United States Peace Corps working with orphans and families of victims of human trafficking, as well as in a leadership camp for young women providing education on the impact of substance use on quality of life. This experience solidified my love of working with people to help them live their best lives, and I went on to complete a master’s degree in cognitive neuroscience from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a master’s degree in clinical social work from Boston University.

Psychological Associate

Monica Ortiz M.A.

I am a Ph.D. candidate (currently completing my dissertation). I received my master’s degree from the Florida School of Professional Psychology and completed my education with the California School of Professional Psychology. I have a strong belief in the mind-body connection. A healthy mind helps increase overall health in the body, including decreased headaches, muscle tension, and stomach problems. I believe that most people have the desire and ability to make changes in their lives and improve their outcomes by approaching life in a healthier manner. One of the first steps in making those changes is to change the way we interpret our environment. I utilize an evidence-based practice that assists people with changing the way they think and react to stressor called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Using CBT skills people can decrease depression and anxiety in an effective way and improve their day-to-day interactions. I work primarily with adults who are suffering from depression and anxiety symptoms, such as decreased energy, poor sleep, feeling on edge, difficulties enjoying things they used to, and frequent worries. My overall approach to therapy focuses on meeting the client’s goals to make overall improvements in their everyday life.

I have a wide range of experience, including heart rate variability biofeedback, trauma-informed care, crisis interventions, and overall management of depression and anxiety. I have also worked in private practice neuropsychology settings and an inpatient psychiatric facility specializing in military trauma patients. My overall experience has provided me with an extensive knowledge base and the ability to work with a wide variety of patients from different backgrounds and ethnicities. I understand that there are many things that influence how we react to stressors including family, religion, military background, and cultural norms. What may work for one person may not work for another. Because of this, I believe that in a therapeutic relationship it is important for the client and the therapist to work together to develop a plan that encourages positive changes; there is no one size fits all in therapy.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Briana Thomas, LMFT (Nevada only) WSI Nevada Clinic

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and earned my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University. I entered the field in South Florida as a child protection advocate working closely with families who experienced trauma, abuse, neglect and were impacted by substance use. Through my career, I have assisted many clients in overcoming some of their life’s challenges. I have had several years of experience working in community mental health as well as in substance abuse treatment facilities.

I am professionally trained and skilled in providing systemic therapeutic approaches to treat a variety of mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, borderline personality disorder and AODA issues (alcohol and other drugs of abuse). As of most recently I have dedicated most of my time and focus to helping families, couples and individuals who deal with intimate partner violence and abuse.

I am passionate about empowering others to break down barriers and achieve success in their own way. I firmly believe that each individual, family and couple has personal strengths and resources that will aid in their ability to create the life they desire.

See me on Psychology Today.

Psychological Associate

Dr. Kimberly Griggs, LMFT

Dr. Kimberly Griggs is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a clinical psychology pre-licensed associate practicing under Dr. Fanale specializing in the treatment of PTSD and problems that arise from trauma, including anxiety, depression, panic disorder, anger management, relationship issues, life transitions and general emotional dysregulation. Dr.Griggs has an approach that is person-centered, evidence-based, and culturally-sensitive. Her approach integrates CBT, mindfulness, EMDR, and somatic based interventions to help patients learn effective tools to increase connection, meaning, and empowerment in their lives.

Dr. Griggs enjoys working with adults, couples, adolescents, and children who are 12 and over and currently seeing patients both in-person and through telehealth throughout California.

Dr. Griggs obtained her doctoral degree in psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Alliant University’s School of International Psychology, Los Angeles. She is working toward licensure at the doctoral level under Dr. Fanale and currently holds her MFT license. Dr. Griggs earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and her bachelor’s degree from Hampton University. Dr. Griggs also received advanced trainings with different VA hospitals and worked directly with Naval Base San Diego providing mental health care to active-duty service members.

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San Diego area
Teletherapy offered throughout CA

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