Monrovia

Monrovia Site Supervisor

Jennifer Pruitt, PsyD

I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance at Louisiana Tech University. I completed my Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology at California School of Professional Psychology. I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY 24215) with the California State Board of Psychology. I am a member of the American Psychological Association and the Pasadena Mental Health Advisory Committee.

Therapy does not involve a therapist giving advice and simple solutions. I guide my clients towards gaining insight and awareness to help them problem solve, make healthy life choices, and establish healthy and meaningful relationships. Therapy can be the supportive environment people need to help make life changes necessary to enhance their lives and futures.

I have experience working with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families. I have experience working with various issues including Depression, Anxiety, relationship conflict or end of relationships, life transitions, abuse, and trauma. In addition, as a Licensed Psychologist, I also have experience completing Psychological Testing with children, adolescents, and adults. As a Psychologist, I enjoy providing therapeutic services and Psychological Assessment services to provide thorough assessment and treatment to individuals.

Licensed Therapist

Allison Cherry

Life can be very challenging especially if you have experienced traumatic and difficult events. Sometimes people get “stuck” and have a difficult time after such an experience. Often people just need an objective as well as supportive person to help them to work through the feelings associated with the traumatic event(s). It would be my privilege to help you to navigate your thoughts and emotions to obtain a sense of clarity, peace, and healing. I specialize in working with people that have lived through traumatic events; such as child abuse, domestic violence, divorce, victims of crime, and events that have caused someone to not feel safe. I use cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR to help treat individuals to heal and recover from the negative emotions associated with trauma. There is no reason to continue to live with emotional pain and suffering caused by traumatic events. It would be my privilege to help you to heal and improve your life. I will guide and support you as you journey from a place of uncertainty and pain to a place where you can feel joy, peace, and fulfillment. I look forward to working with you!!!

Licensed Therapist

Candace Colliflower

You are unique and have a powerful story to tell. In my many years as a therapist, I have developed the experience and tools necessary to help you understand what’s keeping you stuck and how to find more satisfaction in your life. The trusting bond formed between us is what will make therapy successful. I work with individuals, couples, children and teens to help them make the changes they want in order to have a more fulfilling life.

In therapy, I can offer you a safe place to share your thoughts and problems. I am an objective professional who will give you honest feedback and allow you to free your mind in a non-judgmental environment. We can deal with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship issues, grief and loss, or infertility to name a few.

When we begin our therapy sessions, we will have conversations about your present concerns, your past history and how you would like to see yourself in the future. As we continue to explore, you’ll become empowered and find more fulfillment in your life and relationships. With openness on your part, you can develop your strengths and improve your shortcomings in order to better handle life’s challenges and live a happier life. I received a Master’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University in 1992. I also received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from Pepperdine in 2004. I completed a fellowship at Cedars-Sinai, working with special needs children and have also worked with special needs children at The Children’s Ranch in Atwater Village. I have been in private practice in the area since 1996.

For more information, visit my website at www.CandaceHeath.com.

Licensed Therapist

Catherine Gruman

I received a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Appalachian State University, North Carolina. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in North Carolina and California and a member of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists).

I have been working in the field of substance abuse and mental health for the past six years, with individuals and groups in both outpatient and inpatient settings. I integrate family systems with various theories depending on the need of the client. My passion is to create a safe space for my clients to build a trusting client-therapist relationship creating opportunities to identify what is going on right here right now and move from there. I value the client-therapist relationship in the process of healing. Much of my inspiration and influence comes from Gestalt, Rogers, Adler, and Satir – making connections between family patterns and our sense of selves, connectedness, and taking responsibility for ourselves in the process of change, healing, and discovering more of who we are and how we want to live.

I enjoy spending time with my children, grandchildren and friends, hiking, walking and yoga.

WHITTIER LOCATION

Licensed Therapist

Tammy Turk

Because the trust between a therapist and client is imperative to the healing process, it is important to me that my clients feel safe in a non-judgmental environment. Whether it is depression, anger management, stress, grief/loss, trauma, family or relationship issues that you are facing, I can help. I work with individuals, groups, couples, families, children and adolescents. In addition to the issues listed above, I also have experience working with domestic violence, self-esteem issues and addictions.

I use a number of evidence-based, client-centered approaches to help clients reach their goals: Narrative, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Family Systems and Mindfulness to name a few.

Tammy Turk, LMFT
Soultenders, INC
419 W. Foothill Blvd.

Licensed Therapist

Peggy Wang

I graduated from California State University of Los Angeles with a Master’s degree in counseling in 1994, with the emphasis on marriage, family and child. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the California Board of Behaviroal Science and an active member of the California Association of Marraige and Family Therapists, CAMFT. I consider Christian therapy my specialty as I have focused in this area of work for the past 17 years. However, I respect all clients’ right for self determine and will work with all who walk into my office regardless of their faith. I enjoy working with adult individuals and couples. I am most fascinated by how people change. I use the Cognitive Behavioral approach a lot as I believe as people think, so they are. I also put a lot of value on the here and now; I see my job as that of a mirror, to reflect to my client what they bring to the session and explore with them what changes they want to make and how to make it. I introduce my clients to themselves.

Before I decided to work full time as an MFT, I was a parent educator for the Los Angeles Unified School District for eight years. I enjoyed working with parents to help them become more effective parents. As a therapist, I help my clients write and rewrite their life’s story until they feel they can keep on writing on their own and liking it. Even sometimes the previous chapters seem less than satisfying and more like a tangled mess, and the opportunity to rewrite them has passed, I work with my clients to help them make sense of that which cannot be undone. Sometimes it involves grieving for the loss. Sometimes it calls for healing; forgiveness. Maybe more. Most importantly, my clients and I work together in the here and now. We all have a story to tell, and I want to help you write the best story of your life with all that you have. What I offer is my objectivity, commitment and compassion for you as fellow human being, as well as years of training and experience and my own growth in life.If you are reading this, I believe you are searching for change. It would be my honor to be involved in that process.

Licensed Therapist

Tara Cavazos

We all need to feel connected and heard, and we each deserve a therapist that is truly interested in us and has our best interests at heart. I believe this is an essential component of therapy.
For the last 15 years, I have practiced in a variety of settings with children, adults and families. I have helped my clients with issues such as: anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship issues, family conflicts, life transitions, trauma, career/school issues, and addiction.
I use an eclectic approach to work most effectively with my clients. Every individual I work with is unique, so I pay careful attention to what therapeutic approaches and interventions are the best fit. My style is warm, interactive, focused and positive. I respect my clients and deeply enjoy my work as a therapist.
I am honored to have the opportunity to help you gain more freedom from your past experiences and develop, lasting and meaningful changes in your life.

Licensed Therapist

Maria Perez-Richter

Maria is a bilingual (English/Spanish) speaking therapist with over 12 years of experience working in the mental health field. Maria uses humor and compassion to provide a client-centered and strength-based treatment modality to help individuals achieve the life they yearn for. Recognizing that respect is critical to every relationship, Maria’s approach to psychotherapy is collaborative, non-judgmental and solution-oriented to help people effectively address and overcome challenges. By incorporating lifestyle changes, Maria helps individuals manage stress, navigate self-exploration, and break free of emotional patterns that prevent positive growth. Maria integrates complementary methodologies and tailored techniques to meet each person’s specific needs. She truly believes in the resilience and resourcefulness potential of every individual.

Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Maria raised a family and worked in the residential real estate, accounting and retail management industries. After seeking mental health services for herself and her children, and witnessing the benefits, Maria made it her mission to pay it forward. At the age of 42 Maria began her formal college education.

Maria earned an AS degree in Alcohol and Drug Studies from Glendale Community College, a BA degree in Human Development and a MA degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (License 104546) with the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences, a member of (CAMFT) the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and a member of (AASECT) the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Maria loves learning and continues to increase her skills and knowledge to help others heal, so she is always attending trainings and workshops to keep current with evidence- based modalities of treatment.

Maria has worked extensively with children and adults, providing intensive services to clients with trauma, who have been abused and/or neglected, have severe behavioral difficulties, have parents/caregivers with emotional and mental health issues, and with families that are in crisis. Maria has assisted families in the areas of relationship conflicts, ADHD, PTSD, parenting challenges, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and domestic violence, etc., utilizing evidence-based practices including Seeking Safety and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (TF-CBT), etc., to help them heal.

Currently, Maria is working with individuals struggling with mental health (PTSD, depression, anxiety, addiction and post-partum depression), relationships (codependency, conflicts, sexual challenges, grief and loss), life skills (navigating transitions, balancing school/work/home life,

communication and women issues), among other difficulties. She enjoys providing individual, couples and family psychotherapy to diverse patient populations from all faiths, cultures and lifestyles.

Maria’s goal is to empower individuals and help them use their own inner strengths to grow as an individual and work through life’s challenges. She applauds your courage in taking the first step in seeking help and looks forward to working alongside you in your journey for change. Maria would be honored to have the opportunity to help you gain more freedom from your past experiences and develop, lasting and meaningful changes and relationships in your life.

In her spare time, Maria enjoys traveling (particularly to Texas where her grandchildren live), gardening, reading, furniture painting, seeking out new adventures, making memories and spending time with family.