About Us: Staff

STAFF

  Deborah Groening, MA, MFT; Executive/Founding Director, is a marriage and family therapist and infant-parent mental health specialist at Well Baby Center. She also facilitates new parent groups, Mindful Parenting Groups, Reflective Parenting Workshops, and Social Skills Play Groups. deborah@wellbabycenter.org

  Debra Bendell, PhD, Professional Director, is a Professor of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Fielding Graduate University, with experience supervising M.D.’s and Ph.D’s in the pediatric program as well as working in multi-disciplinary research development. Debra works with the community in our outreach efforts and oversees the center's operations. drbendell@wellbabycenter.org

Brian Mattson, MA, MFT, Clinical Coordinator/Administrator, has many years experience managing quality assurance at community mental health clinics. Brian oversees the clinical office, fields counseling requests, and provides supervision to our students and interns in our training program.  brianm@wellbabycenter.org

David Schreiber, MA, MFT, Clinical Supervisor, worked for six years within the county mental health system, specializing in the treatment of young children exposed to early childhood trauma.  At Well Baby Center, David co-facilitates Reflective Parenting Workshops and supervises the clinical interns. To schedule a clinical intake appointment, please contact him at:  davids@wellbabycenter.org

  Eileen O'Sullivan, BA, Administrative Manager, has many years of experience in administrative management as well as being a RIE Parent/Infant Awareness Class facilitator. Eileen manages WBC's facility as well as being community laison, managing the accounting and administrative dept, and coordinating the family enrichment programs and community events. eileen@wellbabycenter.org

  Bonnie Nelson, MA, MFT , Licensed Clinician and Systems Manager, has over 30 years of management experience working for a number of major corporations. She is a marriage and family therapist at WBC who especially enjoys working with individuals and couples. bonnie@wellbabycenter.org

Molly Holmes, MA, MFTI, Clinical Intern, specializes in child and family therapy. She is also a co-facilitator in our Mindful Parenting Groups. mollyh@wellbabycenter.org

April Haney, MA, MFTI, Clinical Intern, co-facilitates Mindful Parenting Groups and works with adults, adolescents, and children in individual and family therapy. Before joining Well Baby Center, April worked in a school setting helping children and parents with a wide range of issues, including the impact of divorce, family discord, trauma, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. april@wellbabycenter.org

Shabana Malone, Administrative Assistant, is working towards her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and runs the front desk at WBC. She does everything from greeting clients and giving tours to assisting clinical and administrative staff. shabana@wellbabycenter.org

Josh Sadigh, BA, Party Coordinator/Social Marketing/Webmaster, is a graduate of the University of Redlands. He has his Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Business Management. joshs@wellbabycenter.org

Mary Monreal, Personnel Manager, has worked in various administrative positions including those in the city manager's office of the City of Santa Monica and at the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles. She is the HR consultant for Well Baby Center. marymonreal@wellbabycenter.org

ASSOCIATES

Susan Feria, Lango Instructor, is committed to creating positive and engaging langiage-learning experiences for children. She has completed the Teachers Credential Program and studied various teaching theories and methodologies. She runs the Lango English-Spanish family music and movement program. Contact Eileen O'Sullivan for more information at Eileen@wellbabycenter.org

  Gretchen Goddard, CIMI, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, is a certified infant massage instructor by the International Loving TouchFoundation. Since 2008, Gretchen has taught infant and prenatal massage to parents and caregivers from the time of pregnancy through toddlerhood. Contact Eileen O'Sullivan for more information at Eileen@wellbabycenter.org 

Heidi Swedberg, actor and musician, is our Music Together instructor.  She has fond memories of teaching herself ukulele and writing songs in Albuquerque NM, the place she thinks of as home. She brings joyful connection to the families with young children through the art of music. Contact Eileen O'Sullivan at Eileen@wellbabycenter.org

ADVISORY BOARD

Ed Tronick, PhD, Director, Child Development Unit, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, University Distinguished Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Chief Faculty, University of Massachusetts Infant-Parent Post Graduate Certificate Program.

Alessia Gottlieb, MD, Neuropsychiatrist, Advisory Board, Co-Medical Director of the UCLA Child and Family Trauma Center.

Bonnie Yates, Educational Attorney, has a focused legal practice that is instrumental in helping hundreds of children obtain vital educational services. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jill Frank, MBA, provides her nonprofit management experience to Well Baby Center's mission of expanding to multiple sites. she manages complex projects utilizing her social media and budget oversight expertise. She is also a conflict resolution mediator. 

Abbe Barron, PhD, is a neuropsychologist who offers her consulting expertise to our clinical cases that may require further assessments.

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Linda Preuss, MAC and Systems Network Consultant

Tanja Richter, Graphic Design Consultant

Ann Summa Photography

Tom Worrick, Web Programmer and Producer

Paul Rother, Well Baby Center's Technical Consultant