San Francisco Bay Area/San Rafael Team

Dr. Barshack is a graduate of Haverford College and the University of Maryland Medical School. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco. Dr. Barshack has been working with teens and their families for more than thirty years including both inpatient and outpatient psychopharmacology. He finds that many of the adolescents who come to Paradigm are over medicated rather than undereducated. He is devoted to responsible titration when appropriate and insuring that young people are treated as a whole, rather than simply treating their symptoms. He share’s Paradigm’s philosophy that medication should be a last resort rather than a quick and easy fix. In addition, Dr Barshack is an avid SF Giants and Forty Niners fan and enjoys cross country bicycle trips in his free time.

Melissa enjoys interacting with youth in a direct, down-to-earth and compassionate manner in order to promote understanding and a sense of safety. She feels it is important to understand cultural practices and traditions as part of helping youth from various backgrounds feel understood and at ease. Melissa earned her associate degree in nursing at College of Marin and her Master of Science in Counseling and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology both from San Francisco State University. She has experience working in a variety of nursing fields and a long-time passion working with youth. Melissa has worked as a residential counselor at Huckleberry House, an intern/health educator at Huckleberry Teen Clinic, an intern with San Rafael Police Department Youth Service Unit, and completed her mental health rotation at Herrick Alta Bates. While interning with SRPD, she accompanied male teens to San Quentin Prison as part of the SQUIRES program. In her free time Melissa enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and training in Krav Maga self-defense.

Dr. In is a psychiatrist based in Santa Monica, CA. She has an undergraduate degree from Emory University and a medical degree from Texas Tech University. Dr. In completed general psychiatry residency at Louisiana State University and Ochsner Health in New Orleans, and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, treating all ages, backgrounds, illness severity and achievement levels. Dr. In believes in mutual respect and teamwork, as well as being able to adapt to individual differences and expectations. She works with patients to explore solutions for overall health and mental well-being. Dr. In enjoys traveling, playing tennis and golf, and spending time with her family.

Nayeem serves as the Clinical Director for Paradigm San Rafael. With over 25 years of experience providing compassionate and empowering mental health services, Nayeem has dedicated his career to helping individuals overcome internal obstacles to achieve self-fulfillment. His therapeutic approach draws on psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness to foster deep personal growth.

Nayeem’s professional expertise includes psychiatric crisis intervention, addiction rehabilitation, community care, and intensive case management. Licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Arizona, he has provided individual and family therapy, supervised and directed clinical teams, and led staff training in various healthcare settings including a leading facility in Arizona specializing in alternative and holistic modalities for mental health and addiction recovery.

Outside of work, Nayeem enjoys a wide array of hobbies, including yoga, classical music, literature, chess, improv theatre, and sports like pickleball and tennis. His commitment to personal wellness complements his professional dedication to healing and transformation.

As a graduate student instructor at the University of Michigan, she mentored 75 young adults who were working to earn psychology degrees. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Ashley is a licensed Clinical Social Worker. Ashley received her clinical training during a year-long internship at an Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit aiding patients in crisis situations. She draws her approach from attachment theories as well as a trauma-focused lens. Ashley’s approach focuses on holistic, strength-based interventions meant to create lasting change. Her clinical interest includes working with adolescents and their families to create effective therapeutic rapport and building clinical insight to help patients succeed far beyond their time at Paradigm. Embroidering and baking new recipes are two of her hobbies when she is not working. She also volunteers at San Francisco Marin Foodbank and Family House San Francisco.

Bio Coming Soon

Stephen graduated with a Masters in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2022. In his traineeship, Stephen learned that he has a passion for working with teens and families in programmatic settings as he saw young clients learn to process emotions in healthy ways, develop positive social connections, and move towards health and wholeness. Stephen’s clinical interests include, anxiety, depression, relationship and attachment issues, family of origin issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, life transitions, and spiritual and religious concerns. His approach is warm, present, and active. When not working, he enjoys reading, listening to music, yoga, and getting outside in our beautiful NorCal environments.

Mitchell “Michio” Guss was born in Japan and raised for most of his life in the US. Being biracial and bicultural, he struggled trying to understand who he was and how he fit into a community. He felt it was like a blessing and a curse to freely be able to move between two very different worlds, yet not fully belong in either one. This has made him somewhat of a “third culture kid,” which for him means he’s adopted specific values and traditions as is fit for his life. His unique background has taught him to cherish culture and difference, yet not be bound by them. It’s as though he has an intimate insider’s experience and an objective outsider’s perspective at the same time. This stance informs all of the therapy that he does.

Molly is a graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and she completed her psychotherapy training at the Integral Counseling Center at Pierce Street. Molly’s approach to counseling relies on building a relationship of trust and cooperation that respects the individual’s inner wisdom and life experience as the guide to their own healing. As a mother of two young adults, Molly is passionate about supporting others through times of transition and building upon their unique strengths and gifts as they enter new phases of life. Molly also recognizes the importance of family, friend and community relationships to well-being and she strives to help support healthy communication and connection with others as part of the therapeutic process. In her free time, Molly enjoys hiking the hills of Marin County, spending time with friends and trying to learn salsa dancing.

As a mental health clinician, Alex has a background working in diverse settings such as residential treatment programs, private practice outpatient settings, and on mobile mental health crisis response teams. In all of these settings, he brings a warm, grounded, nonjudgmental approach to the therapeutic relationship. He prioritizes bringing curiosity to understand one’s experience and behaviors in the context of their life, and from this compassionate understanding, finding new ways to adapt and thrive. In his personal life, he enjoys meditating, reading, and getting out into nature with friends. He has always had a love of learning new things, enjoying adventurous, outdoor activities, and deep introspection. These life passions no doubt draw him to the rigors and joys of the path of healing and transformation.

Tanisha is an associate level therapist with a calling to support and guide people in their therapeutic journey towards healing. Her hope is to provide a safe environment wherein individuals can develop personal tools to heal and create the life they desire. Her style is direct, yet warm and approachable. She comes from an integrative psychotherapy approach where she pulls from many modalities, including DBT, CBT, and parts work. She sees the value of a strengths-based approach and tailor it to each individual as she recognizes that therapy is not a one size fits all. A quote that represents her style is one by Gabor Mate: “The essence of trauma is disconnection-so the real question is: How did we get separated and how do we connect?”

Molly is a graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and she completed her psychotherapy training at the Integral Counseling Center at Pierce Street. Molly’s approach to counseling relies on building a relationship of trust and cooperation that respects the individual’s inner wisdom and life experience as the guide to their own healing. As a mother of two young adults, Molly is passionate about supporting others through times of transition and building upon their unique strengths and gifts as they enter new phases of life. Molly also recognizes the importance of family, friend and community relationships to well-being and she strives to help support healthy communication and connection with others as part of the therapeutic process. In her free time, Molly enjoys hiking the hills of Marin County, spending time with friends and trying to learn salsa dancing.

With over 7 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Shay started her journey as a direct support professional, supporting youth and adults with intellectual development disabilities. Currently, through growth in her career, Shay is the Coordinator of the Overnight Clinical Assistants- a leader of the overnight team operations. Years in the behavioral health field has awarded Shay with a plethora of knowledge in regards to individual service plans, specialized autism services, social skills, client engagement, positive redirection and more. Shay continues to attend trainings and thoroughly researches how to constantly support youth and adults with mental illness and IDD. Having attended extensive therapy herself as a youth, Shay is aware of client care and treatment teams goals in supporting clients from all backgrounds. A caregiver by nature, Shay believes that everyone at some point in life needs guidance and support no matter their race, sex, religion or disability. Outside of her profession in her personal time, Shay enjoys traveling, painting, music and reading.

Having worked with both children and adults from lower-income areas, Yazeed likes to help create an environment of safety and security by encouraging and listening to those experiencing the adverse psychological effects of financial instability. He has worked with children and adolescents in multiple capacities including volunteering with Walker Creek camps and in HeadStart classrooms. Yazeed prefers a dynamic approach to mental health, fitting clinical approaches to specific client needs. He received his Associate degree from Santa Rosa Junior College and is currently working towards his Bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley.

Bio Coming Soon

Bio Coming Soon

Kramer Dahl is a multi-modal Board-Certified Music Therapist. As a group songleader, he weaves the magic of music with the transformative power of personalized sound to create a healing tapestry for his clients of all ages and walks. He received a Bachelors of Science degree in Music Therapy from Utah State University while also minoring in art and psychology. Growing up in Utah, Kramer developed a deep relationship to nature and enjoys spending time outdoors. He integrates elements of nature and mindfulness into his sessions.

Kramer is passionate about using music to help individuals tap into their potential and to catalyze growth. While completing his internship at Hochstein School of Music & Dance, Kramer explored all creative arts, integrating art and dance, as well as yoga, sound healing, and various musical modalities into the therapeutic relationship with a myriad of populations. 

For sessions at Paradigm, he incorporates a variety of instruments and the soulful melodies of client-preferred music to create a rich container of exploration. Depending on the group and setting each week, the sessions include learning an instrument, meditations, guided imagery with music, drumming, songwriting, improvisation, and lyric analysis. He focuses on teaching intentional use of music selection and the powerful ability that sound can have to shift our mood. He is delighted to celebrate the boost in self esteem when a young person experiences a breakthrough while learning an instrument, and he is honored to facilitate the experience of group improvisation to receive the benefits of singing and playing.

Stephanie Holdenried graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and is the 6th generation of a California ranching family and a nationally-certified (CEIP) equine-facilitated educator and nutritionist. She creates and facilitates a wide range of equine therapy programs, including experiences for women, youth, and recovery groups, with the goal of helping individuals find greater self-awareness by connecting to their own intrinsic wisdom. Stephanie is also the founder of GUTS-y Girls, an equine-led life skills and leadership group for 10-12 year olds, and co-founder of Networking at the Barn, in Marin County. Beyond this, she is developing leadership and team building programs for organizations through her licensing with Horse Dream in Europe. Stephanie’s grounded presence combined with her own experience growing up on a ranch and being an avid horsewoman allow her unique insights and understanding to create space for profound equine therapy sessions that allow Paradigm youth to open and connect with themselves and others in a deep, meaningful way.

Judy Weston-Thompson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a certified equine interactive specialist. Judy holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from Sonoma State University and completed her Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy studies more than a decade ago. She was among the first graduate class of psychotherapists to be certified as an equine interactive professional mental health (CBEIP.org). Judy also holds a therapeutic riding instructor certificate from and is an active member of, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). Over time, Judy has developed her own unique form of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, which has proven especially effective for the treatment of teens struggling with anxiety, interpersonal relationship building, depression, trauma, and PTSD. Combining several different types of psychotherapy treatments with various horsemanship and horse-related practices (natural horsemanship, animal communication & horse massage), Judy has developed her own treatment modality; based on a true partnership beneficial to both human and horse.

Daniel Rauck completed his teacher training at Greenpath yoga in SF and has been a yoga instructor for more than a decade. Since his very first yoga class, he was inspired at yoga’s potential for healing and transformation. Daniel has taught over 10,000 classes and brought the practice of yoga to folks from a wide variety of backgrounds. He has worked with a full spectrum of physical abilities, from athletes to the differently-abled. Regardless of one’s current physical and emotional state, Daniel teaches yoga in a way that meets each adolescent where they are, in order to help the teen find their own path to balance and empowerment. Augmenting his yoga teaching are studies in Yoga Nidra, restorative yoga, and yin yoga, as well as being a NASM corrective exercise specialist.

Marquis is a former Division 1 football player at the University of Arizona who has a passion for fitness, education, and helping others. As a youth he was always active and involved in sports as well as various other activities. His time and energy spent in sports translated directly onto the field. He excelled in football and received a full ride scholarship to play Defensive back at the U of A, where he stared on defense and led the team in interceptions as a senior. Upon entering college with an eager and hungry mind set, he gravitated towards strength training and quickly fell in love with it. After a short stint with the Chicago Bears of the NFL, Marquis closed the chapter of his football career and geared his attention towards athletic training and helping others reach their highest fitness potential. He began interning at the University of Arizona where NFL players would return to campus in the offseason to train and sharpen their skills. Soon after, he moved back to California where he would start to do more one-on-one training.

Gabriel works in business development, spearheading marketing and outreach initiatives for both adult and adolescent programs in the Pacific Northwest. He brings compassion and empathy, mixed with exuberant effort, to assist those in need of services. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University School of Business, having earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He is the founder/president of the non-profit “Advanced Recovery Solutions” which has been changing the way communities and professionals access care, with the mission of elevating interagency collaboration in the behavioral health field. He also serves as Treasurer for the Prevent Suicide Spokane Coalition.

Gabriel is the father of two sons, and is happily married to Tami Minchow, a licensed clinical social worker. Their entire lives revolve around inspiring healthy family systems to thrive, including their own. In their free time (which comes sporadically) they enjoy travelling to new places and enjoying good food and fun activities.

Mera West has a strong foundation in psychology, combining her academic background and extensive practical experience to guide individuals toward stability and wellness. She began her career at the Berkeley Therapy Institute, working with adults facing mental health challenges, where she developed key skills in advocacy, supervision, and structured care within a residential setting. Mera earned her degree in psychology from UCLA, where she contributed to groundbreaking research at the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and the David Geffen School of Medicine. Her work focused on developmental psychopathology and autism spectrum disorders, with a special emphasis on early intervention for adolescents and young adults, particularly in enhancing social function and communication. As a UCLA PEERS Certified provider, specializing in evidence-based social skills intervention for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional difficulties, Mera understands that early intervention can significantly improve long-term outcomes. With this commitment, she integrates clinical expertise, research, and compassion, making her a trusted advisor in the field of behavioral health. In her free time, she enjoys painting, pilates and exploring the world with her trusted canine companion, Mochi, adding a touch of adventure and balance to her life.

Born and raised in New York City, Jeremy attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison for his undergraduate studies. Jeremy’s passion to give back to the community began in high school, during which time he volunteered at a local soup kitchen and worked as summer camp counselor for young children. Through his late teens and early twenties, Jeremy experienced severe bouts of anxiety and depression, and experienced first-hand the lack of quality mental health treatment options for young people. For the past twelve years, Jeremy has worked in mental health residential treatment in a variety of roles, with a focus on admissions and marketing.  In 2018, Jeremy founded Pacific Teen Treatment, a boutique residential treatment center for teens struggling with mental and emotional health issues. Jeremy oversaw the day to day operations and acted as Director of Admissions and Outreach until joining Altior Healthcare in 2024.   Throughout his career, Jeremy is proud to have guided and helped thousands of parents and families towards appropriate treatment for their teens and young adults. Jeremy lives in Los Angeles with his wife, two sons and two rescue dogs.

Robert has a degree in business management from Clemson University in South Carolina.  He started his career in Atlanta, working for one of the city’s first companies, helping clients adapt their business to an online environment.  Innovation and “What’s Next” interested Robert from the start. He relocated from Atlanta to California in 2007, continuing his career in the high tech industry.  Robert later started his career in mental health in 2015 with a Los Angeles treatment center as Director of Admissions.

Robert is a natural empath and is passionate about helping others take the necessary steps to achieve a better life.  In his time away from work, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and taking care of his rescue pup, Bowie.

Alicia has limitless compassion and empathy for people going through life’s challenges and transitions and feels privileged to work with those who are seeking support. She grew up in Seattle, Washington and moved to Los Angeles in 2017. Alicia has worked in the behavioral health field for 5 years. As someone who has had family and close friends struggle with mental health, she understands the importance of our industry and the services we provide. Alicia is passionate about eliminating the negative stigmas in society associated with mental health care and normalizing public discussion surrounding this topic. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, pilates, and being outdoors.

Mindi has almost completed a Bachelor of Science in International Business. Before discovering her passion for supporting clients to navigate and access care, she was a small business owner and successfully managed high profile restaurants in the Denver Metro area. After going through a healing journey of her own, Mindi decided to pursue a career in a field that aligns with a desire to support others in an impactful and meaningful way. After serving as Admissions Manager for psychology clinics specializing in eating disorder recovery, Mindi found her way to Paradigm Treatment. Outside of work, Mindi enjoys spending time with her partner and dogs, and is passionate about collecting and restoring antiques.

Alexandra Lincoln has had a passion for helping others since she started working in the treatment field over four years ago. Alex’s prior experience includes working as a case manager and an admissions coordinator for a treatment center in New Hampshire. Alex’s favorite part of working at Paradigm is helping families. In her free time, she enjoys riding horses, practicing yoga and spending time with her family.

As Paradigm Treatment’s Admissions Manager, Sydney handles all incoming admissions requests including questions pertaining to insurance and related financial matters. Sydney also interfaces with clients, families, and our internal team to ensure that our admissions processes are running smoothly and that our programs are accurately messaged to both clients and affiliates.

Sydney has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Addiction & Recovery from the University of Alabama and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Cal Lutheran University. Sydney is passionate about assisting individuals and their families navigate their unique challenges and circumstances so as to best achieve their goals. When she isn’t working, Sydney enjoys hiking, traveling, and international cuisine.

Bio coming soon!

Emily Armour is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Nationally Certified Counselor who graduated from Walden University with her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Baylor University. Prior to joining Paradigm, Emily worked with adolescents and their families in a variety of settings that included schools, Juvenile Hall, and outpatient facilities. She has extensive experience in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, high risk behaviors, parenting and co-parenting support, and addiction-related issues. She is a certified telemental health provider, certified clinical anxiety treatment provider, and possesses additional training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing (MI). Emily uses an integrative and eclectic approach to treatment based on the client’s needs and presenting issues. Her experience in the field has made her intimately familiar with the pressures, hardships, and life stressors that often can become debilitating for youth and their families. She works to fully understand the core issues that are causing maladaptive behaviors, how they impact the individual, and family and create more personal insight so that her clients are able to gain a sense of intrinsic motivation, develop a positive sense of self, feel better, and better interact with themselves and the world.

Avonlea Ware holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, where she also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. She joined Paradigm as a Clinical Assistant and worked with young clients for a handful of years before moving into her current position. She is a high energy team player who has a broad range of interpersonal and administrative skills and who strives to meet the needs of clients and families. Having traveled and lived throughout Europe, India, and the Middle East, Avonlea developed a focus on conflict resolution and communication skills, which she believes are assets to teens struggling to find their place in the world. When Avonlea is not working she enjoys spending time at the beach, gardening, and connecting more with the world around her.

Lindsay has a BA in Communication Studies from Loyola Marymount University, and a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. She is a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) in Utah, and is in the process of getting her LPCC license in California. After growing up in the Los Angeles area, Lindsay relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2009, where she attended graduate school, and started her therapy career. She soon found her passion for helping facilities and clients with insurance authorizations and has worked with numerous adolescent and adult mental health and substance abuse facilities across the country. Her behind the scenes clinical work with insurance companies allows clients and their families to focus on receiving the lifesaving treatment they need without the added financial burdens and headaches of dealing with insurance. Lindsay is also a skilled clinician; she is EMDR trained, trauma focused, and specializes in substance dependence and addiction. After a decade in Salt Lake City, Lindsay moved back home to the Los Angeles area in 2021 to be closer to her family, and work with Paradigm.

Debora’s experience includes being a business owner for 9 years and working for 20 years in customer service. She actively facilitates client communication to and from Paradigm’s clinical team and enjoy establishing caring relationships with patients. Maintaining constructive communication is one of my top priorities. I am also proficient in computer applications and maintain a high commitment to accuracy and efficiency. Debora enjoys spending time with family and likes to stay active with her husband and daughters. She also enjoys bike rides and hiking.

Bio Coming Soon

Yoanca Reyes graduated from UCLA in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. Her interest in the HR field led her to seek an HR certificate through Cal State Dominguez Hills. During this time, she also volunteered for Latina Republic as a tutor to elementary school students who needed extra assistance. Her enthusiasm for a positive work environment and stimulating work culture match her role at Paradigm Treatment, where Yoanca assists the HR team in assuring that employees are in accordance with company guidelines and that employees’ questions and concerns are answered.

Bio coming soon!

Pricilla holds a degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in 2012. She grew up in Alameda, California. Before joining Paradigm San Francisco she served as the manager at a renowned Latin restaurant in the bay area. Priscilla enjoys sharing her love of food with teens and helping them learn to make healthy eating choices. She believes that what young people eat can have a profound impact on their physical and mental health. She works closely with Paradigm’s on-site nutritionist to ensure that the dietary needs of each client are met.

Bio Coming Soon

Randy has 25 years of professional culinary experience, working in both catering and restaurants. He graduated from the Culinary Arts program at the renowned New York Restaurant School where he learned cooking techniques and hands-on training that he still uses today. Randy brings his skills and passion for cooking a variety of foods to the guests and staff at Paradigm. Outside of work, his hobbies include cooking, camping and hiking.