About Us

Matt Fiorenza

Retired Firefighter/Paramedic & Mentor

Matt Fiorenza is a retired Firefighter/Paramedic that served The City of Anaheim Ca for 21 years. After ten years on the job he began having issues with anxiety, stress, and depression and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Today Matty is a sober mentor to men and woman in the First Responder community and spent 3 years as a Shepherd at the Save A Warrior program. Matt helped to start a very successful First Responder only Treatment Center in Newport Beach Ca, proactively reaches out to brothers and sisters who may be struggling. He is an instructor with Santa Ana College where he facilitates mental health blocks to new recruits so they have healthier coping skills. He has spoken at many different first responder agencies all over the Country and loves teaching meditation. Matt was featured in PTSD911 documentary. His passion is to provide other first responders with education, resources, hope, and a path towards healing.

Cary L. Mitchell, Ph.D.

Los Angeles Office Clinical Psychologist

Cary L. Mitchell, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who has been conducting preemployment psychological evaluations of law enforcement candidates for departments throughout California for over 25 years. He is co-editor of Police Psychology and Its Growing Impact on Modern Law Enforcement (2017). Formerly a V.A. psychologist, he has worked in two federal prisons and has been a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS program. For three decades he has taught graduate assessment courses, chaired dissertations, and served in administrative roles that included Director of Clinical Training and Associate Dean in Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology. He also codirects a university-affiliated mental health clinic at a homeless shelter in Los Angeles. Dr. Mitchell has authored multiple grants, journal articles, book chapters, and conference presentations.

Lawrence Ball, Psy.D., ABPP

Los Angeles Office Firefighter Psychologist

Dr. Lawrence Ball is a Board-Certified Specialist in Police and Public Safety Psychology, and has extensive experience working with police and first-responders. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) psychological services division, and has provided psychological services in the greater Los Angeles area for over 17 years. Dr. Ball actually began his career in law enforcement as a police officer with Inglewood PD, where he worked for 7 years in patrol. After leaving Inglewood PD, he worked as a Reserve Deputy with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for more than 21 years.

David Plotkin, Ph.D.

CA License PSY 19818

Dr. Plotkin received his doctorate in clinical psychology from UCLA and was a member of the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Behavioral Research Program, under the direction of Michelle Craske, Ph.D. Presently, Dr. Plotkin is the director of David Plotkin, Ph.D. and Associates and is also a clinical instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute and Hospital. He teaches and supervises psychiatry residents in the administration of cognitive behavioral therapy at the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Outpatient Clinic. In addition to his clinical and teaching positions, Dr. Plotkin has conducted research and coauthored studies in the areas of panic disorder, social phobia, and substance abuse.

Leslie Rankin

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA 66189)

Leslie Rankin, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA 66189). She received her B.A. in Community Studies from UC Santa Cruz and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Cal State Long Beach. For over 10 years, Leslie has worked as a clinician for the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team with police departments throughout Orange County. In addition, Leslie works with the Peer Support Program for Costa Mesa Police Department, providing clinical support and critical incident response. Spending thousands of hours riding in police cars with officers provided Leslie the opportunity to learn their stories and witness the day-to-day challenges, both professional and personal, of life as a first responder. In private practice, Leslie provides counseling for first responders and their families. Her specialties include trauma, anxiety/depression and grief and loss and she is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management.

Ana Paulo Mauro

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

As a dedicated and compassionate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) certified therapist, and Reiki Master, Ms. Mauro has experience working with a wide variety of mental health, dual diagnosis, and multicultural clients. Her eclectic background, education, and Reiki practice give her the fulfillment to connect, communicate, and provide the highest level of treatment to a wide variety of individuals, couples, and families. As a Transpersonal Psychotherapist, Ms. Mauro uses EMDR and Reiki as an integrative approach to provide focused treatment for clients with addictions, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and childhood trauma. As a United States Army Veteran, Ms. Mauro understands the demands of the military culture, and the first responder’s commmuinicty can put on service members and their families. Ms. Mauro can help with transition periods after deployment/ETS; trauma, grief, loss, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, coping with injury/medical illness/chronic pain, and occupational/educational stressors. Ms. Mauro is fluent in Portuguese.

Shelley Coate, Ph.D.

Los Angeles Office Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Coate has been a licensed Psychologist for over 25 years, currently licensed in AZ and CA. She began her clinical training well before she earned her doctorate, and worked in a minimum-security prison in Massachusetts as a young new graduate. This fueled her passion for psycho-legal / forensic evaluations and assessments. After earning two Masters Degrees, and a Doctorate Degree, she was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, where she completed her residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Chevy Chase, MD. The next three years were spent at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD where she managed the Eating Disorder Program t for over 4000 midshipmen. She provided education to 1500 Naval personnel, provided treatment and diagnostic services for these up-and-coming military leaders. The foundation of Dr. Coate’s Forensic work, however is her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist in various settings where she performed countless Pre-employment Screening Evaluations, Fitness for Duty evaluations, and Compensation and Pension evaluations for the VA. She has worked in multiple areas within the criminal justice system within five states (Massachusetts, Georgia, California, Arizona, Maryland) including; probation, parole, juvenile and family court, county attorney’s office, and the prison system. More recently, she has contracted with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Veteran’s Administration (VA), Psybar, and Psychological Consulting Associates (PCA). As a therapist, she has supported multiple agencies with critical incident debriefings, officer involved shooting assessments, and PTSD assessment and treatment. Dr. Coate’s understanding of the forensic population gives her the skills necessary to provide comprehensive clinical and forensic conceptualizations of the difficult issues.

Stephanie Barone McKenny

Los Angeles Office Firefighter Psychologist

Dr. Stephanie Barone McKenny is a police psychologist with LAPD and provides consultation to several elite units including SWAT, Air Support Division, and undercover agents. She has worked with law enforcement personnel at the international, national, state, county, and local levels. Dr. McKenny is also a Diplomate in Sports Psychology, a Nationally Certified Sports Psychologist, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Certified in Integrative Medicine.

Gina Embry, Ph.D.

Los Angeles Office Firefighter Wellness Coordinator

Dr. Gina Embry is from a law enforcement family. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of psychology, having the privilege of serving individuals, couples, families and groups. Dr. Embry has experience working with issues such as trauma, domestic and intimate partner violence, and substance abuse. Currently, she is researching the history of policing in urban communities. Dr. Embry implements a mindfulness-based approach to psychological health and well-being. She maintains a Cognitive-Behavioral orientation, utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy to address issues related to emotional dysregulation.

Kendra Devor, Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Kendra Devor, Psy.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY28397). Dr. Devor earned her Doctorate in Applied Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She works with individuals, and couples, helping them to restore hope, find solutions and transform their lives. Dr. Devor works with a variety of first responders, including a large percentage of Route 91 survivors. She is married to a police officer. Her personal experiences with law enforcement, military, and fire has been well received by all who know her. Dr. Devor currently provides services out of our Rancho Santa Margarita office.

Shonna Hill, PsyD, CECR, CFT

Clinical Forensic Psychologist (PSY31517)

Shonna received her doctoral degree in Clinical Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Hill is certified in Emergency Crisis Response and Forensic Traumatology by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, in collaboration with the National Center for Crisis Management. In addition, she has been placed on the International Registry of the American Academy of Experts. Dr. Hill has 14 years of law enforcement experience working in several divisions, which included patrol, high risk entry teams, and task force assignments. Dr. Hill has extensive experience working with military veterans in the reintegration process as they make the mental transition back from war. Dr. Hill’s research on the impact of social support on an officer’s willingness to report suicidal ideations was selected for presentation at the International Conference & Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma. In addition, Dr. Hill created the Perceived Support of Suicide Ideation Scale which has been implemented during her extensive research on social support factors of law enforcement officers. Her professional experience has focused on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, grief, and loss. Throughout her career, she has responded to approximately 500 major critical incidents as lead psychologist of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. As a POST Certified Academy Instructor, she has taught mental health instruction at serval California based Police and Fire Academies. Dr. Hill is also the co-creator of the first wellness retreat in Southern California for spouses of First Responders. She is passionate about arming First Responder families with the emotional and mental tools that will assist with living out balanced lives both personally and professionally. --
Shonna M Hill, Psy.D.

Emily Brennan M.S.W.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA 65079)

She practices in the greater Los Angeles area. Emily got her start in social services volunteering with For The Child’s Child Abuse Response Team in the South Bay in the early 2000s. She responded to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and volunteered with a nonprofit organization to assist in the clean up efforts. In order to become more effective in crisis response, Emily returned to school and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University Los Angeles in 2010. Emily’s professional experience includes working for Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s School Threat Assessment Response Team conducting crisis evaluations and case management of students and staff at risk for targeted school violence. Emily then transitioned to the Long Beach Police Department’s Mental Evaluation Team in 2011. The MET unit is a collaboration between law enforcement and mental health wherein a clinician and officer ride together in the field. The MET unit are first responders to calls for service involving individuals diagnosed with mental illness and/or experiencing a psychiatric crisis. Emily is experienced in conducting psychosocial assessments and evaluating for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Working so closely with the Long Beach Police Department has given Emily insight into the needs of the law enforcement community, while attaining hands on emergency response experience. In 2018, Emily also began working with The Counseling Team International providing Critical Incident Stress Debriefings and support and follow up after officer involved shootings. Emily has completed the FBI’s 40 hour Crisis Negotiation Course and D-Prep’s 16 hour Fundamentals of Crisis Negotiations.

Deborah Silveria Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist & Marriage and Family Therapist

Deb Silveria Ph.D. is both a licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 1993. She has a private practice at the Amen Clinics in Costa Mesa, CA. with a focus in trauma and grief counseling. She has trained professionals nationally and internationally (Uganda, Africa) in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy. She is a member of the Counseling Team International, (TCTI) an EAP that has over 100 contracts for counseling, employment testing, training, and CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) with Public Safety at the federal, state, and local levels. Dr. Silveria is an Approved Instructor for ICISF (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation), a POST Certified Instructor for Law Enforcement, and an adjunct professor at Rio Hondo College and California State University, Fullerton. She also teaches at Cerritos College in their Foster and Kinship Program. She is part of a team of instructors for Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement, designed to help officers deal more effectively with the mentally ill on the street. She teaches many courses including Psychology of Trauma, Relational Violence, Suicide Prevention and Intervention, Identification and Treatment of PTSD, Identification and Treatment of Burnout, Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Trauma, Grief and Loss Recovery, Wellness and Mindfulness. She also provides trainings in Resilient Leadership. She has presented at conferences nationally and Internationally in Canada and in Europe on EMDR and Trauma. She is an instructor on Resiliency and Leadership for The Amen Clinics and TCTI for first responders, Change Your Brain, Change Your Department. She teaches Wellness and Resiliency for the Department of Corrections personnel through Humboldt State University in California. She has worked hundreds of critical incidents nationally and internationally, providing CISM services after natural and man-made disasters, (Hurricane Katrina, Earthquake in Haiti, and San Bernardino Terrorist attacks) In the past she has been the Clinical Director of Family Solutions, a non-profit organization for foster and group home youth on probation, or removed from home due to abuse or neglect. She has been the Director of an in-patient adolescent psychiatric unit at CPC Santa Ana Hospital and Head of the Partial Hospitalization program at BHC Alhambra Hospital.

Kathleen Drake Wellbrock, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Kathleen Drake Wellbrock, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY17906). Dr. Wellbrock earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Before joining PCA, Inc. Dr. Wellbrock worked as a Law Enforcement Mental Health Professional for The Counseling Team International handling the majority of pre-hire psychological testing for law enforcement, fire personnel, dispatch, and other service-oriented positions for agencies throughout  California including The California Department of Corrections and the DEA. Dr. Wellbrock has conducted over 10,000 pre-hire psychological tests. Dr. Wellbrock has provided training around the country for numerous agencies including the Federal Air Marshall Service. She has responded to major incidents such as the LAX Shooting, Big Bear Manhunt 2013, and the San Bernardino Terrorist Attack at the Inland Regional Center.  She worked as a Law Enforcement Mental Health Professional (MHP) for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department serving in various capacities. Dr. Wellbrock provided therapy to Department members, worked emergency on-call response, conducted critical incident stress  debriefings, hostage negotiations, and training for sworn and civilian employees. Dr. Wellbrock was an Adjunct Professor at the University of La Verne where she taught various classes in the graduate and undergraduate program. Her related work experience allowed a seamless transition to her similar responsibilities now with PCA, Inc.

Niki Stepanian, M.A.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Niki Stepanian, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT96376). She received her Bachelor’s of Art degree in English from the University of LaVerne and Master’s of Art degree in Psychology from Chapman University. Niki has been in private practice since 2012. As the wife of a Fire Deputy Chief, she is aware of the unique challenges the profession has on relationships and family. She has experience working with the effects of compassion fatigue, accumulated stress and work place burnout, and PTSI/PTSD. She specializes in working with various forms of trauma. She is Certified in EMDR, CISM, and is a Certified Trauma Therapist. Niki provides on-call CISM to public safety departments, when requested, in response to critical incidents. She has worked with departments and individual first responders who were affected by incidents such as Las Vegas Route 91 shooting, the San Bernardino school shooting, the Montecito mudslides, and most recently COVID-19. Niki also works with departments to create and facilitate mental wellness trainings such as: Two In/Two Out- Navigating the Challenges of a Fire Relationship, Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in the Fire Service, Suicide Prevention, PTSD Awareness, and Basic and Advanced Peer Support.

Julie Snyder, Ph.D.

Fire Psychologist

 

Dr. Julie Snyder is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Los Angeles. She specializes in empirically-supported and behaviorally-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP).  Dr. Snyder is extensively trained and is committed to helping clients receive targeted and effective treatment.

Dr. Snyder currently holds a position as a Fire Psychologist for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), providing clinical services to department personnel and their spouses and launching wellness program development and implementation throughout the department. Dr. Snyder also maintains a private practice in Beverly Hills. Previously, Dr. Snyder worked as a Police Psychologist for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for 6.5 years. At the LAPD, she provided clinical services to law enforcement staff and consulted with the Crisis Negotiation Team.  Dr. Snyder has also served as voluntary clinical faculty at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Clinic at UCLA Semel Institute.  Dr. Snyder has been providing treatment for individuals in various settings for the last 18 years, working as a hospital-based clinical director, anger management consultant, program therapist at a licensed group home for adolescents, and as a clinician at an outpatient methadone maintenance clinic. She also received graduate training in substance abuse treatment at Hazelden, Chicago and at Harbor-UCLA’s Dual Diagnosis Unit. 

Dr. Snyder completed her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University and an APA-Accredited postdoctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA.  Completing an APA-Accredited Internship at Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, California, she worked with individuals involuntarily committed as well as individuals ruled as Incompetent to Stand Trial, Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, and Mentally Disordered Offenders. She is most interested in mindfulness, self-compassion, and providing a practical approach to treatment.

Clint Christie

LMFT (Retired Firefighter)

Clint Christie is a retired third-generation professional Firefighter/Paramedic having provided over 25 years of service in the emergency medical services field. His practical experience working routinely with complex and overwhelming situations has contributed to his development of a specialty in working with first responders, firefighters, police officers, dispatchers, lifeguards, E.M.T.s, nurses and doctors. Years of experience working with patients and their families during highly stressful emergency situations has had a positive carryover effect in his counseling. He is a compassionate and discerning listener that strives to create a counseling space free from judgment. Mr. Christie is also fluent in Spanish. For his undergraduate studies he attended U.C. Irvine where he majored in Psychology. He completed his graduate education at Pepperdine University where he majored in Clinical Psychology. Mr. Christie has advanced training in compassion fatigue, traumatic stress, grief and loss, as well as suicide assessment and prevention. A few words on his counseling philosophy- “I operate from a humanistic perspective. I do not consider the people I work with as “patients”, but clients. This is a conscious and purposeful departure from the medical model. I view my work as a collaboration between myself and my clients, to help them live their best lives.”

Dylan Bender

LMFT (USMC)

Dylan Bender, L.M.F.T. is currently a readjustment therapist with the Veterans Health Administration Vet Centers program. He works with active duty, and veterans transitioning back into civilian life after a combat deployment(s). He has been working in this area for 15 years and has over 20,000 clinical hours in working with combat veterans and their families readjusting after combat. Dylan also served in the Marine Corps for two enlistments as an infantry and reconnaissance Marine. He got out of the Marines in 2004 to pursue his education in clinical psychology to work with veterans and active duty. Dylan did his graduate work at Azusa Pacific’s Graduate School of Psychology. He received a M.A. in clinical psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Dylan is currently involved with developing and implementing programs that are addressing Transitioning out of the military, the marriage failure rate, and suicide epidemic among the military, and high-performance mental optimization.

Deane Kahle

First Responder to First Responders

As a first responder to first responders, Deana has provided critical incident stress management (CISM) for many major mass casualties throughout the country.  Her professional experience has focused on the treatment of post-traumatic stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and grief. In addition to psychotherapy and stress management services, Deana provides subject matter expert training and keynotes on the topics of resilience, wellness, and peer support. She has had the privilege and honor of providing services to city, state and federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, Federal Air Marshal Service, and the California Highway Patrol. Deana is passionate about her mission “to alleviate suffering one person at a time”. Visit www.aboveboardconsulting.com for more information.