Expert Details
Marriage and Family Therapy, Individual Counseling, Behavioral Health, Autism Care, Social Behavior, and Psychology
ID: 738595
California, USA
Expert obtained her professional board licensing in California, Montana and Washington State. During her intern and training years, she worked with autism spectrum disorder, foster families, children and family therapy, Orange County’s Postpartum Wellness Program, inpatient mental health and substance abuse hospitalization, for insurance companies, and auditing clinics for the County of Orange Health Care Agency. She also served as a research assistant at UCI’s Psychology and Social Behavior Lab conducting field studies for underserved youth in the county of Orange in California.
During her professional development, Expert learned the ins and outs of the mental health system, including the strengths of the Western mental health system alongside its gaps and weaknesses. As an international speaker, she takes pride in reducing the stigma of mental health needs by providing educational seminars. She has presented with Ferry Corsten in Amsterdam, ADE with DJ Dave Clarke, in Ibiza for AFEM, to UCI Psychiatric Symposium, UCI OBGYN department, Lupus LA- Orange County Branch, and March of Dimes. Alongside her service work, she provides consulting services and is a legislative advisor.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2007 | Degree: BA | Subject: Sociology | Institution: UCLA |
| Year: 2009 | Degree: MA | Subject: Pscyhology | Institution: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2014 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Clinician, Clinical Supervisor and EAP provider | Department: Mental Health |
Responsibilities:● Individual, family and couples counseling● Work/school stress management, crisis intervention, and EAP counseling ● Strong cultural diversity training and counseling with Iranian-American, Middle-Eastern, Latin-American and South Asian cultures ● Discharge planning and referrals for the best level of care such as community resources, RTC, outpatient level of care, PHP/IOP, inpatient behavioral health, and inpatient rehab ● Trained in Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, and Crisis Intervention ● Provide counseling in Farsi and Spanish |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2020 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Clinician and Consultant | Department: Therapy |
Responsibilities:● Individual and family counseling for adolescents in English and Spanish● Consultant on policy, procedures and best practices ● Provide group therapy for Gaggle safety team ● Insight and procedure for crisis intervention protocols ● Provide information on the product development for Gaggle Therapy’s national launch ● Aid in setting up HIPPA Compliant platform for teletherapy ● Assist in credentialing and contracting with public sector and private sector mental health insurance plans ● Educate on cultural competency needs, trauma training and technical training ● Conduct second round clinical interviews for prospective mental health providers |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2018 to 2021 | Employer: State of Montana | Title: Legislative Advisor and Suicide Prevention Researcher | Department: Representing District 19 |
Responsibilities:● Driving state-wide research for suicide prevention for technology innovation, as Montana has been identified to have the highest suicide rates in the nation up to calendar year 2019.● Gathering extensive research, data and funding information to create a mental health app for suicide prevention for the state of Montana. ● Became licensed as a mental health provider and moved to Montana in the year of 2020 to conduct in-person interviews and research to the identified populations at risk including farmers, youth and veterans. ● Consulting on providing telehealth solutions to meet the needs of the rural/frontier nature of Montana to reduce the gap of access to care ● Conducting interviews with stake-holder organizations for farmers and veterans, as well as, representatives from Montana State University. ● Conducted a 1 hour interview alongside Sen. Bogner with the farmers, veterans and youth – as they have been identified as having the highest rates of suicide in the state of Montana ● Collaborating with local mental health providers to further understand the needs of those most vulnerable to suicide and further identify stigma around mental health services and treatment ● Weekly meetings with Senator Bogner on ways to incorporate mental health initiatives and tools in the K-12 school system for educational reform bill being presented in January 2021 ● Weekly meetings with Senator Bogner on mental health insurance policies, procedures and guidelines for public sector and private sector accounts to aid in reform of mental health plans for the state of Montana for healthcare reform bill being presented in January 2021 ● Scheduled to be a proponent of updated education and health insurance reforms in the upcoming legislative session in January of 2021 |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2015 to 2016 | Employer: University of California, Irvine | Title: Research Assistant | Department: Psychology and Social Behavior Lab |
Responsibilities:● Collaborated with RA and Senior PRA● Abstracted Data from patient charts ● Recruited and enrolled study participants ● Administered participant interviews and prepared assessments ● Prepared samples for analysis by various instrumentation ● Tabulated research data ● Recorded results of experiments ● Interviewed human subjects participating in clinical testing ● Prepared research manuscripts and research presentations ● Developed and maintained research databases |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2019 to 2019 | Employer: Magellan Health | Title: Care Manager | Department: Concurrent Review |
Responsibilities:● Authorized and reviewed utilization of eating disorder, mental health and substance abuse services provided in inpatient and/or outpatient care settings● Collected and analyzed utilization data ● Provided member assistance with eating disorder, mental health and substance abuse issues ● Participated in special quality improvement project ● Monitored inpatient and/or outpatient level of care services related to eating disorder, mental health and substance abuse treatment to ensure medical necessity and effectiveness ● Provided telephone triage, crisis intervention and emergency authorizations as assigned ● Performed concurrent reviews for inpatient and/or outpatient care and other levels of care as allowed by scope of practice and experience ● Developed discharge plans in conjunction with providers and facilities and oversee their implementation ● Performed quality clinical reviews while educating and making appropriate interventions to advance the care of the member in treatment ● Provided information to members and providers regarding eating disorder, mental health and substance abuse benefits, community treatment resources, mental health managed care programs, and company policies and procedures, and criteria ● Collaborated with Physician Advisors to discuss clinical and authorization questions and concerns regarding specific cases ● Participated in quality improvement activities, including data collection, tracking, and analysis ● Maintained an active work load in accordance with National Care Manager performance standards ● Worked with community agencies as appropriate ● Proposed alternative plans of treatment when requests for services do not meet medical necessity criteria ● Participated in network development including identification and recruitment of quality providers as needed ● Advocated for the patient to ensure treatment needs are met |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2018 to 2019 | Employer: Beacon Health Options | Title: Clinical Care Manager | Department: Central Night Services |
Responsibilities:● Focused on initial inpatient and residential admission for psychiatric and chemical dependency patients● Made patient assessments and determined appropriate level of care ● Completed crisis calls for member in English and Spanish and coordinated a safety plan ● Coordinated benefits and transitions between various areas of care ● Identified ways to add value to treatment plans, ongoing care and discharge planning ● Worked will all 50 states: regulations, mandates, policies and procedures for best practices ● Trained in state specific medical necessity criteria for Medicare, Medicaid and Medi-Cal |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2017 to 2017 | Employer: United Behavioral Health | Title: Autism Care Advocate | Department: ABA Department |
Responsibilities:● Created patient assessments and determined appropriate levels of care● Obtained information from providers for outpatient treatment requests ● Determined if additional clinical treatment sessions are needed ● Managed outpatient mental health cases throughout the entire treatment plan ● Administered benefits and reviewed treatment plans ● Coordinated benefits and transitions between various areas of care ● Identified ways to add value to treatment plans and consulting with facility staff or outpatient care providers ● Worked well in a fast-paced environment and embraced challenges ● Achieved and documented measurable results ● Demonstrated ability to think and act quickly while working with a diverse member population |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2016 to 2017 | Employer: United Behavioral Health | Title: National Afterhours Care Advocate | Department: Central Night Services |
Responsibilities:● Focused on initial inpatient and residential admission for psychiatric and chemical dependency patients● Made patient assessments and determined appropriate levels of care ● Completed crisis calls for member in English and Spanish and coordinated a safety plan ● Coordinated benefits and transitions between various areas of care ● Identified ways to add value to treatment plans, ongoing care and discharge planning ● Worked will all 50 states: regulations, mandates, policies and procedures for best practices |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2015 | Employer: St. Joseph/Mission Hospital | Title: Utilization Review Coordinator | Department: Behavioral Health Unit and Chemical Dependency |
Responsibilities:● Obtained initial precertification and authorization for acute inpatient psychiatric admissions, inpatient detox and inpatient rehabilitation chemical dependency admissions● Administered concurrent reviews for inpatient, PHP and IOP programs ● Reported on concurrent reviews for continued inpatient stays including CIWA and COWS protocol ● Reported on 5150, 5250 and 5270 holds ● Completed discharge planning based on medical necessity and best level of care for patient needs ● Attended daily rounds with psychiatrists, nurses and social workers for daily progress and updates for concurrent reviews ● Demonstrated strong leadership and group cohesiveness qualities to ensure highest quality of care and accuracy in reporting to insurance agencies ● Knowledgeable with medical necessity requirements for all major insurance companies as well as Caloptima and TARS |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2013 to 2014 | Employer: Orange County Health Care Agency | Title: Compliance Auditor | Department: Authority and Quality Improvement Services |
Responsibilities:● Audited county and contracted clinics to collect and analyze data to ensure the practices are in compliance with insurance and documentation regulations● Administered reports that present the statistical findings and trends observed to prioritize areas of improvement that have been identified ● Refined organizational and management practices that aid in the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and operational needs ● Developed and implement policies, procedures, goals and objectives of federal, state, and local regulations for Medi-Cal and Medicare billing for mental health services ● Conducted trainings to all clinic staff serving adults and older adults in the County of Orange on compliance, documentation, and quality improvement ● Aided in revising the county’s mental health plan as well as implement the methods and procedures designated in the plan ● Carried reliability review meetings discussing findings in our audits, identified alternative solutions, projected consequences of proposed actions and implemented recommendations in support of our policy and procedures |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2011 to 2013 | Employer: Orange County Health Care Agency | Title: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Department: Orange County Postpartum Wellness Program |
Responsibilities:● Directly worked with supervisor towards the development of the program and hiring of new staff● Trained staff on policies, procedures, documentation and implementation of services ● Demonstrated strong work and leadership ethics by volunteering for projects, taking on cases when other programs were short staffed, and assisted in development and implementation of new programs ● Facilitated and administered presentations and psycho-education of postpartum depression to medical staff, social services, March of Dimes, and stakeholders ● Provided case management services and evidence-based treatment in Farsi and Spanish to individuals and couples in a home visitation program |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2010 to 2011 | Employer: Child Guidance Center | Title: Marriage and Family Therapist Intern | Department: Therapy |
Responsibilities:● Completed Medi-Cal documentation and Medi-Cal standard of medical necessity● Provided case management services with collaborative agencies ● Facilitated weekly teen process group ● Trained in PCIT and TFCBT ● Tailored treatment plans for individual and family sessions using a variety of evidence-based practices such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, parent-child interactive therapy, and family systems theory in Farsi and Spanish |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2009 to 2011 | Employer: Our Small World | Title: Foster Care Social Worker | Department: Foster Care |
Responsibilities:● Provided case management with all collaborative agencies involved with foster youth● Administered family counseling for foster youth and foster family ● Aided the transitional aged youth to enroll in college and/or work placement ● Monitored and administered reports on visitations with biological parents ● Facilitated parent and group training on behavioral reinforcement techniques and communication tools in Spanish and English |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2007 | Employer: CalPsychCare | Title: Therapist | Department: Behavior Therapist and Parent Intervention |
Responsibilities:● Developed treatment plans for youth and adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities● Trained in Discrete Trial Training Behavioral Technique ● Provided in home behavioral intervention and discrete trial training for patients ● Trained caregivers on using interventions and assigned weekly treatment goals ● Assisted patients during situational crisis and aided parents on crisis management ● Psycho-educated consumers on autism and linkage to resource/referrals in the community |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2018 to 2021 | Agency: (Undisclosed) State Senator | Role: Legislative Advisor | Description: Driving state-wide research for suicide prevention for technology innovation, as Montana has been identified to have the highest suicide rates in the nation up to calendar year 2019. Gathering extensive research, data and funding information to create a mental health app for suicide prevention for the state of Montana. Became licensed as a mental health provider and moved to Montana in the year of 2020 to conduct in-person interviews and research to the identified populations at risk including farmers, youth and veterans. Consulting on providing telehealth solutions to meet the needs of the rural/frontier nature of Montana to reduce the gap of access to care Conducting interviews with stake-holder organizations for farmers and veterans, as well as, representatives from Montana State University. Conducted a 1 hour interview alongside Sen. Bogner with the farmers, veterans and youth – as they have been identified as having the highest rates of suicide in the state of Montana Collaborating with local mental health providers to further understand the needs of those most vulnerable to suicide and further identify stigma around mental health services and treatment Weekly meetings with Senator Bogner on ways to incorporate mental health initiatives and tools in the K-12 school system for educational reform bill being presented in January 2021 Weekly meetings with Senator Bogner on mental health insurance policies, procedures and guidelines for public sector and private sector accounts to aid in reform of mental health plans for the state of Montana for healthcare reform bill being presented in January 2021 Scheduled to be a proponent of updated education and health insurance reforms in the upcoming legislative session in January of 2021 |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2018 to 2021 | Country / Region: Europe | Summary: All in the last four years: Presentation on stress management and breathwork, International Music Summit, Ibiza Panelist on mental health needs for artists, Amsterdam Dance Event, Amsterdam Panelist on mentally managing the next 6 months, Amsterdam Dance Event, virtual Ask the doctor Q and A segment regarding mental health needs, Beatport, virtual Panelist for educators and youth to identify warning signs of distress during pandemic, Gaggle Webinar, virtual Panelist for The Mental Health Report Discussion, Beatport, virtual Panelist for Music Connects Us Report, Scottish Electronic Music Conference, virtual Co-Chair of the Association for Electronic Music, Mental Health Advocacy Group – US/UK 2018 - present |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Community support and advocacy for mental health awareness and stigma reduction: ● Co-Chair of the Association for Electronic Music, Mental Health Advocacy Group – US/UK (2018 - present) ● Peer Mentor, UCLAAlumni Association, Irvine ● Vice President of Iranian American Mental Health Society, Irvine (two years) ● Board Member of Employee Advisory Committee, Orange County Health Care Agency, Santa Ana (one year) ● Secretary of Psych Society, University California, Los Angeles (two years) ● Iranian Student Group, University California, Los Angeles (two years) ● Model United Nations, Irvine Valley College (one year) |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC Department of Health, Olympia, WA – April 2021 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC Board of Behavioral Health, Helena, MT – May 2020 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC Board of Behavioral Sciences, Sacramento, CA – December 2012 |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Expert has given 17 presentations / conferences. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| Persian | Fluent/Native |
| Spanish | Proficient |