Interns and Post-Doc Fellows 2011-2012

Justin D'Avella, M.A. is a Predoctoral Intern in the Child and Adult Outpatient Tracks and a fifth year doctoral student at The Wright Institute. Justin’s clinical interests include the integration of contemporary psychoanalytic, multicultural and mindfulness-based perspectives. He enjoys working with individuals across the age spectrum from young children to elder adults. In addition to a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute, he also holds a Post-graduate degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Justin’s dissertation,“Home Sweet Home? Repatriation and Cultural Identity", was born of his experiences returning to the United States after having lived in South America and Europe. It examines the role of cultural identity and the factors associated with distress and resilience during the repatriation process back to one's home country.

Qin Fan, Psy.D is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Adult Outpatient Track. She graduated from Argosy University San Francisco in 2011. Qin’s clinical and research interests include individual and couples therapy, child parent psychotherapy, women’s reproductive mental health, and contemporary psychodynamic theory. Her dissertation investigated women’s experiences of loss following failed in-vitro fertilization attempts.

Xavier Jurado, M.A. is a Predoctoral Intern in the Adult Inpatient and Outpatient Track and a Doctoral student at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Xavier’s clinical interests include the integration of existential and psychoanalytic perspectives in psychotherapeutic practice and psychotherapy as a form of social activism. His research interests revolve around the relationship between existential anxiety and psychopathology and the impact of cultural values on susceptibility to mental illness. Some additional areas of interest include music composition and performance, and travel.

Kirsten Kuzirian, M.A. is a Predoctoral Intern in the Child and Adult Outpatient Track and a fourth year student at the California School of Professional Psychology. Kirsten’s clinical interests include psychodynamic psychotherapy with children, adolescents and adults, trauma, substance abuse, and child-parent attachment. Kirsten’s dissertation focuses on the mental health effects of genocide specifically, the intergenerational transmission of trauma and reliance in multiple generations, as well as ethnic identification and attachment relationships.

Scott Lingen, M.A. is a Predoctoral Intern in the Adult Outpatient Track and a fourth year doctoral student at The Wright Institute. Scott’s clinical interests include the integration of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral perspectives with an emphasis on treating personality disorders. In addition to Scott’s Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute, he also holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources and Organization Development from the University of San Francisco. Scott’s dissertation, “Risk and Resilience: Suicidal Ideation in University Populations” examined risk and resilience factors for suicidal ideation in college students based on a sample of over 80,000 students nationwide. He presented the results of this study in poster sessions at the 2011 California Psychological Association convention and at the 2011 APA National Convention in Washington, D.C.

Leigh Lyndon, M.A. is a Predoctoral Intern in the Adult Outpatient track and is a fifth-year student at The Wright Institute. Leigh’s clinical interests include individual and couples therapy, infant-parent attachment, women’s reproductive mental health, psychotic processes and contemporary analytic and attachment theories. Her doctoral dissertation is entitled, “Pregnancy, Motherhood and Career: Negotiating Maternal Desires and Professional Ambition.”

Amber Hill, M.A. is a Predoctoral Intern in the Adult Outpatient and Inpatient Track, and is a 5th year doctoral student at The California School of Professional Psychology. Amber integrates psychodynamic and existential perspectives into her clinical work with diverse populations. Her particular interests include individual, couples therapy, women’s reproductive mental health, and psychological assessment. Amber’s dissertation explored the effects of Compassionate Communication training for cancer patients and caregivers in the areas of empathy, self-compassion and well-being. Other professional interests include health psychology and neuropsychology. Amber enjoys spending time in the outdoors, yoga, meditation, dance, and travel.

Golnoush Monfared, Psy.D is a postdoctoral fellow at CPMC. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Golnoush’s clinical interests include working with trauma survivors from multicultural backgrounds. She is also highly interested in working with immigrants and refugees. Golnoush’s dissertation is focused on examining the role of religious/spiritual beliefs and practices in the process of coping with stressful life events.

Laura Tabak, Psy.D is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Child and Adult Outpatient Track and a recent graduate of the Wright Institute. Laura’s clinical interests include working with culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse child and adult populations. She has a particular interest in early childhood trauma and attachment, the use of play therapy, and the integration of psychodynamic theory into clinical practice. Her doctoral dissertation examined the impact and of a collective, interactive trauma treatment model that assists with personal healing and emphasizes the importance in understanding one’s past.

Monika Telichowski, M.A. is a Predoctoral Intern in the Child and Adult Outpatient Tracks and a sixth year doctoral student at the California School of Professional Psychology. Her clinical interests include trauma, serious mental illness, and using psychoanalytic and culturally appropriate therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. Her dissertation research will investigate the fantasy life of young adults who have attempted medically serious suicides as a way to further understanding of their internal subjective experience and motivations for suicide and contribute to their treatment and recovery.

Meg Earls, M.A. is a student from the Wright Institute who completed her predoctoral internship here at CPMC. Between then and the commencement of her postdoctoral internship, Ms. Earls has been the Program Director for the novel "Women's Mental Health and Wellness" program, which focuses on perinatal mood disorders training and treatment. In her postdoctoral role, Ms. Earls will still be affiliated with this developing program. In addition to her enthusiasm for literature and travel, Ms. Earls is interested developing multi-disciplinary safety nets for women within the hospital system, and creatively applying analytic thinking to holistic health interventions.