WHO WE ARE

Dr. Kaneeza Lafir, PsyD, PsyD, PhD, CAMS-II, is the owner of Prepare to Change Counseling and a licensed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She provides psychotherapy and psychoanalysis to adults, children, couples, families, older adults, and Veterans. She also provides psychological assessment, consultation, and clinical training. Dr. Lafir's clinical approach integrates psychodynamic and psychoanalytic thinking with cognitive-behavioral, relational, and other evidence-informed approaches. She works with individuals experiencing trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, personality concerns, guilt and shame, substance-related concerns, and other complex emotional and psychological difficulties. Her work emphasizes understanding the patterns, relationships, and earlier experiences that may continue to influence how a person experiences themselves and relates to others. In addition to psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in her private practice, Dr. Lafir provides treatment to individuals experiencing work-related psychological injuries through the California Workers' Compensation system. She has extensive experience treating trauma, anxiety, depression, occupational stress, and other psychological symptoms associated with workplace injuries and experiences. Dr. Lafir also has extensive experience in psychological testing and assessment. Her evaluation work includes Workers' Compensation evaluations, immigration evaluations, public-safety and occupational psychological evaluations, ADHD and cognitive assessments, and other diagnostic evaluations. She also works extensively with Veterans and conducts psychological evaluations involving trauma and other service-related mental health concerns. Dr. Lafir's professional background includes clinical work with children and families during a two-year internship at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, as well as more than two decades of private practice, teaching, clinical supervision, assessment, and consultation. She has taught and supervised graduate-level clinicians and continues to provide clinical consultation and supervision. Her educational background spans three doctoral degrees and training in both the United States and India. Dr. Lafir earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology from Presidency College, University of Madras in South India. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University and subsequently completed two additional doctoral degrees in Psychoanalysis at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. Across her clinical, assessment, supervisory, and consultation work, Dr. Lafir's focus remains the same: helping people understand themselves more deeply, recognize the relationships and patterns that have shaped them, and develop ways of living and relating that allow for meaningful and lasting change.

Shay-Lee Perez, Psy.D., is a Spanish-speaking licensed clinical psychologist with more than twenty years of experience working with infants, young children, parents, and caregivers during some of the most important and tender seasons of family life. Her work is grounded in the belief that early relationships matter, caregivers deserve support, and healing and healthy development are fostered through safe, responsive, and nurturing relationships. Dr. Perez has extensive experience in infant and early childhood mental health, preventive pediatric care, parenting support, perinatal care, integrated behavioral health, and trauma-informed practice. She brings a warm, relational approach to her work, helping parents and caregivers better understand their children's emotional and developmental needs while strengthening the relationships that support healthy development. Her work is also informed by a deep respect for the strengths, cultures, stories, and faith traditions that individuals and families bring with them. She is committed to culturally responsive care and health equity and strives to create a therapeutic space in which families feel understood, respected, and supported within the context of their own experiences and values. Dr. Perez has also developed a meaningful specialty in Christian psychology and faith-informed family support. For individuals and families who desire it, she thoughtfully integrates Christian faith and psychological principles into treatment while honoring each person's individual beliefs, values, and goals. Her work in this area has included Christian counseling, church consultation, teaching, and family-centered support. Across her work with children, parents, and families, Dr. Perez emphasizes hope, connection, practical guidance, and the importance of relationships in fostering resilience and emotional well-being. Areas of Specialty Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Parent-Child Relationships and Attachment Parenting and Caregiver Support Perinatal and Early Parenting Support Trauma-Informed Care Pediatric and Integrated Behavioral Health Christian Psychology and Faith-Informed Counseling Culturally Responsive Care and Health Equity Consultation and Support for Churches and Faith Communities Services in English and Spanish

Eila Alvarez, AMFT, is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She brings more than a decade of experience working with children, teens, and young adults in community-based and behavioral health settings and provides services in both English and Spanish. Eila began her clinical career as an Applied Behavioral Therapist, spending five years working with children on the autism spectrum before transitioning into psychotherapy. Her experience with children and families continues to inform her therapeutic work, particularly her understanding of behavior, emotional regulation, family relationships, and the different ways children and adolescents communicate distress. In therapy, Eila works with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, anger and emotional regulation difficulties, relationship concerns, and other life stressors. Her approach is compassionate, collaborative, and practical, with an emphasis on creating a therapeutic environment in which clients feel safe enough to explore difficult experiences while developing healthier ways of understanding and responding to them. Eila has additional training in trauma-focused treatment, including training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She is also a Certified Domestic Violence Specialist and Certified Anger Management Counselor. These areas of training allow her to incorporate strategies for trauma recovery, coping, emotional regulation, and interpersonal functioning into her work according to each client’s individual needs. As a bilingual therapist, Eila values the role that culture, family, language, and lived experience can play in how individuals understand themselves and seek help. She provides therapy in both English and Spanish and works with clients from a variety of cultural and family backgrounds. Eila completed her graduate training at Vanguard University of Southern California. She provides both in-person and telehealth psychotherapy and strives to help clients develop greater insight, resilience, and confidence as they work through difficult experiences and move toward healthier relationships with themselves and others. Areas of Specialty Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Depression and Anxiety Trauma and Trauma-Focused Therapy Anger and Emotional Regulation Relationship and Family Concerns Domestic Violence Behavioral and Developmental Support Services in English and Spanish In-Person and Telehealth Therapy

Kyle Hoskins, AMFT, is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who strives to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel comfortable working through life’s challenges. He views the therapeutic relationship as an important part of the change process and works to develop relationships with clients in which they feel heard, understood, cared for, and supported. Kyle approaches therapy collaboratively, recognizing that each person comes to treatment with different experiences, relationships, strengths, and concerns. His goal is to provide clients with a space to explore what they are experiencing, develop greater understanding of themselves, and work toward meaningful changes in their lives and relationships. Kyle has pursued additional professional training in human sexuality and sexual health, with particular attention to sexual functioning, differences in sexual desire between partners, and problematic sexual behaviors. His continuing education has also explored the ways psychological, relational, social, cultural, and medical factors may influence sexuality and intimate relationships. This training informs Kyle’s work with individuals and couples experiencing concerns related to sexual functioning, differences in desire, problematic sexual behaviors, intimacy, and relationships. He approaches these concerns with openness, sensitivity, and an understanding of the complex factors that can shape a person’s sexual and relational experiences. Kyle earned his Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California in October 2024. Areas of Specialty Sexual Functioning Concerns Differences in Sexual Desire Problematic Sexual Behaviors Intimacy and Relationship Concerns Individual Psychotherapy Couples and Relationship Concerns

Gina Fjelstad is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who believes that people are wired for connection and are not meant to navigate life alone. She brings warmth, compassion, and genuine curiosity to her work, helping clients move through difficult seasons, better understand themselves and their relationships, and work toward meaningful change. Gina works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Drawing from her clinical experience as well as years of teaching and working with children and families, she is comfortable supporting clients across different stages of life. Before becoming a therapist, Gina was an elementary school teacher, an experience that continues to inform her understanding of child development, family relationships, and the challenges parents and children may encounter. Gina has a particular interest in working with adults and couples. She views relationships as an important place for both growth and healing and helps clients explore how early attachment experiences, relational patterns, and past relationships may continue to influence the ways they understand themselves and relate to others in adulthood. Gina has pursued additional professional training in couples work, child and family treatment, trauma-informed care, management of assaultive behavior, and suicide assessment. Her training includes Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, The Whole-Brain Child for Clinicians, and Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma. These areas of training complement her work with couples, children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and supportive. Rather than approaching clients with a predetermined answer, Gina works alongside them to understand what may be contributing to current difficulties, identify patterns that are no longer serving them, and develop greater insight into themselves and their relationships. Gina earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. She considers it a privilege to accompany clients through periods of change, uncertainty, and growth and to support them as they work toward healthier relationships and a fuller, more meaningful life. Areas of Specialty Adults and Couples Children and Adolescents Trauma-Informed Care Relationship and Couples Concerns Attachment and Relational Patterns Parenting and Family Relationships Life Transitions Personal Growth and Self-Understanding