Our Team

Debbie Jason, PhD

UCLA TRAINER & LICENSED CBT & DBT PSYCHOLOGIST

Dr. Jason is the co-founder and Clinical Director of Trauma Therapy CA. She also serves as a clinical psychologist for Orange County and a trainer for University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)’s Center of Excellence.

Dr. Jason recognizes that relationships are challenging – even in the best circumstances. This is certainly true of parenting, which can be even more difficult when building a relationship with a young child who is oppositional or a teenager who may feel stressed, sad, or angry. Many parents blame themselves, feel isolated, and are unsure of what to do. Many teenagers feel alone, judged, overwhelmed or misunderstood. There is hope, though, in that you can be the solution! Through a unique approach, Dr. Jason works with people of all ages to help them develop their sense of selves, decrease stress, and establish rewarding relationships. Simultaneously, Dr. Jason coaches you to develop the necessary tools for promoting healthy relationships based on mutual love and respect. Having this space has helped many individuals understand and manage their lives better and allowed children to feel more secure and less interested in testing boundaries.

Your therapy experience with Dr. Jason will always be tailored individually to you and your strengths, with private sessions and distinct goals for each individual and/or family member as appropriate. The evidenced based practices drawn from, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), have strong scientific support for treating depression and anxiety, strengthening healthy family bonds, improving emotional control and coping skills, and increasing positive relationships.

Dr. Jason received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and completed postdoctoral training at UCLA TIES for Families. She began her post-doctoral training at UCLA in 2015 before being promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA where she provided clinical supervision to PhD students. (UCLA is consistently ranked as one of the top psychology schools in the country) She currently works as a Clinical Psychologist II for Orange County, serving children and adolescents in foster care, residential placements and juvenile hall. She also serves as a consultant for The DMH-UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence, providing bi-weekly trainings with a joint vision to help educate every single clinician and staff serving Los Angeles (LA) County’s Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) on Trauma and Resilience Informed Care. Dr. Jason is also an approved EMDR therapist through EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) and Foundationally Trained in DBT by Behavioral Tech.

Dr. Jason’s specialty is working with children and families who have been exposed to trauma or are currently experiencing stress of any kind. At Trauma Therapy CA, you can meet with Dr. Jason for individual therapy to address a wide range of concerns. Dr. Jason also provides superior cognitive, developmental, psychological and personality testing to help differentiate between conditions that have similar symptoms but very different treatments, such as trauma responses vs. ADHD vs. learning disabilities vs. anxiety.

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Hannah Jason

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Hannah Jason is the Managing Director and co-founder at Trauma Therapy CA. Hannah not only believes in, but truly embodies, the power of the creative mind. She is dually trained in counseling and design with certifications from the William Glasser Reality Therapy Institute and Parsons School of Design. Hannah’s passion is in using her exquisite sensitivity and creative application of advanced therapy techniques to support your individual strengths.

Before Trauma Therapy CA, Hannah worked at Didi Hirsch’s Crisis Residential Treatment Program for adults in acute psychiatric crisis. The diagnoses of the residents Hannah served ranged from mild anxiety and depression to severe psychosis and Bipolar Disorder. She used her knowledge of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills when counseling and leading groups for this population. Hannah has also worked as a counselor for at-risk teenagers and young adults with Autism and other developmental disabilities. Hannah is extraordinarily tenacious and believes in her client’s resilience, especially after her experiences in homeless shelters and on suicide hotlines. If you are looking for counseling that is sensitive, individualized and fearless, Hannah is the coach for you.

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Jennifer De Santis, LCSW

LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER

Jennifer De Santis is a licensed clinical social worker with over 7 years of professional clinical experience. She truly understands that, let’s face it, life can be challenging, and it often throws us curveballs we never saw coming.

As a seasoned therapist, she has had the privilege of working with young adults, individuals, and couples in community mental health clinics and perinatal mental health settings. Jennifer is passionate and highly trained in trauma therapy with specialized training in couples therapy, therapy with parents, child specific therapies, and help navigating the painful journey of infertility and grieving traumatic loss.

Jennifer is a down to earth therapist who skillfully creates a safe space for you to process and heal from traumatic experiences while learning to manage and cope with anxiety, depression, and other challenges.

Jennifer wants you to know that her “goal is for all my clients to feel empowered to discover that they already possess the strength they need to heal, grow, and thrive. Let me support you in uncovering your inner resources so you can experience more peace, joy, and comfort in your life.”

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Neda Vakili, PsyD

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATE

Dr. Neda Vakili has over five years of professional therapy experience with clients. She joined Trauma Therapy CA due to her passion for supporting those healing from the impacts of trauma and stress. Dr. Vakili believes in enhancing lives through simplifying stressors while increasing understanding and consistency. The goal is to help you see things in a new way, have fulfilling relationships with others and yourself, and find relief from anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms. Dr. Vakili is an integrative therapist, meaning she will match her vast therapeutic knowledge to your unique goals. The gold-standard therapies she is trained in include cognitive processing therapy (CPT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness based-approaches, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), as well as formal training in aromatherapy.

Dr. Vakili’s experience includes working with individuals who have difficulty coping with life transitions as well as feelings of anxiety, irritability or sadness resulting in regulation and relationship challenges. Therapy with Dr. Vakili promotes self-awareness, more adaptive coping skills, and improved insight as you work through current and past challenges. Dr. Vakili is intentional in applying cultural sensitivity to her work to accommodate and respect your unique opinions, values, and experiences.

Dr. Vakili considers your pace and comfort her top priority whether it’s your first day in therapy or your 10th year. Her expertise begins with a strong, clinical understanding of your comprehensive history, goals and challenges to develop precise therapy goals. This leads to effective work with each client as they overcome challenges and improve their lives through successful behavioral improvements and self-exploration. Dr. Vakili’s ultimate goal is for you to break the bondage of unhelpful patterns, realize the power of your strengths, and capture fulfillment and meaning in your life. Reach out to meet with Dr. Vakili today for a unique therapy experience that is truly tailored to you.

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Clarissa Leyva, ACSW

ASSOCIATE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER

Clarissa Leyva, Associate clinical social worker (ACSW), began her career of helping to heal others nearly nine years ago. Identifying as an eclectic therapist, Clarissa employs a variety of therapeutic modalities to support her clients through carefully selected evidence-based interventions. She uses therapies that work to get the best results for each individual or group she works with. Clarissa has received formal certifications and intensive training in EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), motivational interviewing (MI), somatic therapy interventions, family-based therapy for eating disorders, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Behavioral Tech, including DBT for eating disorders. Additionally, she is certified in working with those impacted by intimate partner violence. Clarissa completed her Masters in Social Work at California State University Fullerton. She has worked with many different populations ranging from adults of all socio-economic backgrounds to immigrants to members of the LGBTQ+ community to victims of child sex trafficking (CSEC) to foster youth, children and young adults. Clarissa will bear witness to your narrative with sensitivity while expertly supporting you through your therapy journey. She is passionate about aligning with her clients to collaborate and believes that therapy should be a partnership between the therapist and the client. Her clients are empowered to recognize their expertise in their own lives. Using her personal and professional experiences, along with her education, she provides the support, empathy, and interventions to benefit each client. Clarissa acknowledges that life can make individuals feel powerless and focuses your therapy on recognizing the limits of control, while empowering you to take control back.

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Alison Ratermann, ACSW

ASSOCIATE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER

Alison Ratermann is an Associate Clinical Social Worker at Trauma Therapy CA, dedicated to providing compassionate support to individuals facing life’s challenges. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from San Diego State University and is successful in utilizing evidence-based techniques to foster healing and growth in her clients. Alison has specialization in evidence-based techniques including formal training in EMDR. Alison’s professional journey has been characterized by a passion for serving under-served and under-represented populations struggling with mental health issues. Her background includes extensive experience in providing support for adults and college-aged students dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use.

Alison has experience working at the community college level and supporting students with diverse backgrounds and struggles. Alison believes in creating a supportive therapeutic environment where individuals can explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a safe space. Her eclectic modality allows her to tailor her approach to the diverse needs of each individual she works with. She is warm and dedicated to mental health advocacy and providing unwavering support throughout individuals’ mental health journeys across their lives. If you are looking for a passionate trauma therapist, set up a session with Alison today.

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Katianna Chang, ACSW

ASSOCIATE CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER

Katianna Chang, ACSW, provides a safe, nurturing space for individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, complex trauma/PTSD, eating disorders, difficult life transitions, relationship/family difficulties, and more. She is LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC affirming.

Through the course of therapy, I support clients in healing past and present wounds, improving their relationships and sense of personal fulfillment, expressing their true selves, and feeling more in control of their lives and emotions.

My collaborative, strengths-based approach centers on healing your inner child, past wounds, and deep-rooted, negative self-beliefs (i.e. I’m not good enough, I’m not worthy, I’m not deserving). I primarily use Internal Family Systems and EMDR for trauma processing and improving self-worth, as well as DBT to build emotion regulation and communication skills. If you are ready to begin your path towards healing, I would be honored to be a part of your journey.

Katianna received her B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from UC Davis and her Master’s in Social Work and Public Health from UCLA. She has over 5 years of experience in residential, case management, school-based and outpatient mental health settings. In her free time, Katianna enjoys hiking, being a foodie, and spending time with friends and family.

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