Mark Rohde, AzPF President markrohdephd@gmail.com
Mark graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State, did graduate work at ASU, NAU, University of Oxford, and was a Mott Foundation Fellow. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Union Graduate School/Union Institute and completed additional three years of training with the Post-Graduate Institute for Family Therapy. He most often works with children, adolescents, and families and frequently employs a combination of individual, family, and group psychotherapy. He serves as Chief Clinical Officer to True Mobile Health, a high-tech behavioral health innovator with a focus on addictions support. He is a founder & board member of the community service non-profit, notMYkid.
Mark holds Diplomat status with the American Board of Assessment Psychology and has specialty certification in addictions treatment from the American College of Professional Psychology. He is credentialed as a Master Addictions Counselor. He is a former teacher who has held senior administrative positions at a private school, an addictions treatment center, a community mental health center, and a residential treatment program. Mark has twice been recognized for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology by the Arizona Psychological Association where he a Past President and serves as an Emeritus Member of their Governing Council.
Christina Lebovitz, AzPF Past President
Dr. Christina Lebovitz is a licensed psychologist in the state of Arizona. As a clinical psychologist, she serves infants to adults and provides evaluations, therapy and consultation, in addition to training in mental health issues. Identification of learning, developmental and clinical conditions is done in conjunction with school and primary care liaisons. Health care consultation is geared to building resilience and a positive outlook, with improvement of medical compliance and self-monitoring for chronic conditions, including weight loss and management. She emphasizes how people can thrive by building on strengths and uses cognitive behavioral approaches as well as play therapy and trauma processing (EMDR). Dr. Lebovitz has over 26 years of practice in Arizona, including hospital-based and community programs, plus independent practice.
On the personal side, Dr. Lebovitz has gained invaluable insight by raising three children and enjoying a long marriage. Serving as co-founder and President of the Children’s Services Network (www.csn-az.org) and as Past-President of the Arizona Psychological Foundation broadens her awareness of public issues and facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration.
Sean Flynn, AzPF Treasurer
Dr. Flynn earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree and doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University where he was selected to be a Presidential Scholar each year he attended. He has been licensed to practice as a Psychologist in Arizona since 2001.
His early professional work consisted of over twelve years of experience directing and assisting in clinical research projects at The University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychiatry, The Cornell University Medical College, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine on psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia and on neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and seizure disorders.
Since moving to Arizona in 1998, Dr. Flynn has focused on providing direct services to individuals suffering from emotional or behavioral problems. As a Clinical Supervisor at the Southern Arizona Mental Health Corporation and The Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services, he supervised and trained dozens therapists to work with people with serious mental illnesses. Shortly after obtaining his license to practice independently in Arizona, he left the public mental health sector and joined the Palo Verde Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Flynn left that group to enter private practice in 2003.
Dr. Flynn has been a member of the American Psychological Association since 1994 and is also a member of the Arizona Psychological Association and the Southern Arizona Psychological Association. He has served on the Ethics Committee and was Professional Practice of the Arizona Psychological Association. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Arizona Psychological Foundation.
Dr. Flynn currently has a private practice in Tucson, Arizona where he treats children, adolescents, and adults with individual, family, and couples therapy. In addition, he performs psychological testing, forensic evaluations, and informational / training talks.
Melanie Bierenbaum, AzPF Secretary
Dr. Melanie Bierenbaum is a licensed clinical psychologist with a background in pediatric health psychology. Dr. Bierenbaum earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Spalding University in Louisville, KY. Her clinical and postdoctoral fellowship training was completed at The Kennedy Krieger Institute and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. She has worked extensively with patients and families affected by chronic medical conditions and injury (Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Accidents). Dr. Bierenbaum has been a Staff Psychologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, working with patients and families hospitalized with a variety of medical conditions including Neurological Disorders, Chronic Pain Disorders, Hematology/Oncology Diagnoses, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Feeding Disorders, and with patients recovering from injury through Physical Rehabilitation. In addition, Dr. Bierenbaum was previously an undergraduate psychology professor at Grand Canyon University.
Dr. Bierenbaum has a particular interest in the multidisciplinary treatment of patients presenting with Medically Unexplained Symptoms. She is currently a member of the medical advisory committee for the Southwest Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She is also an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix, AZ. At the present time, Dr. Bierenbaum is a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Rehabilitative Services with District Medical Group and maintains her private practice.
Brian Arizmendi
Brian J. Arizmendi, Ph.D. is a full-time licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Arizona. His professional service focuses on two specialties, health psychology and the treatment of grief-related disorders. He earned his doctorate at the University of Arizona before going on to complete his clinical internship in behavioral medicine at the VA Palo Alto Health Care system. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in health psychology at the Phoenix VA Health Care System, where he currently works as a health psychologist. Dr. Arizmendi also works part time in private practice providing assessments to individuals with hearing and vision impairments, through a state vocational rehabilitation program.
Dr. Arizmendi has published empirical research in the areas of complicated grief, psychosocial intervention in chronic illness, and adaption of virtual reality technology for psychological assessment and intervention. His current research focuses on grief and loss due both to bereavement and chronic illness adjustment. He is particularly interested in the behavioral and neurobiological instantiations of complicated grief, and he has begun to combine his interests in both health psychology and complicated grief to better understand the health outcomes of those experiencing loss.
Philip Barry
My interest in working as a member of the Foundation board is predicated on perceived need. I have been an advocate all my adult life. I was involved in supporting the right to vote for people with developmental disabilities in my 20s. I have felt for many years that people with cognitive limitations due to developmental or acquired brain dysfunction have a right to try to achieve their highest level of independence with supportive services. I have long supported women moving into political leadership roles and felt honored to have worked under several female bosses. Of course, as a therapist and supervisor I encouraged people to realize their fulfillment, whatever that meant to them.
I came late to advocacy for my own profession. I served on the Governor’s Council for Spinal and Brain Injuries for many years and before that I was a member of the board for the Brain Injury Association of Arizona (now the Brain Injury Alliance). I enjoy being a member of a team for a good cause.
Brittany Brown
Brittany Brown, Psy.D., is currently a Psychologist at Psychological and Consulting Services (PCS) where she provides forensic and clinical risk management services for both male and female sex offenders. Dr. Brown is passionate about both the vision of a world with no more victims and working with underserved populations with compassion and empathy. Dr. Brown also serves as both Chair of and Secretary for the Disaster Resource Network (DRN) Committee for the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA).
Dr. Brown completed her pre-doctoral internship at Greystone Park (State) Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey and her post-doctoral residency at PCS in Arizona. Dr. Brown earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cornell University in 2012, Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University in 2017, and Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University in 2019.
Leo Caraballo
Dr. Leonardo J. Caraballo is an inpatient behavioral health psychologist for the Department of Defense and works as part of an interprofessional team to serve patients with serious mental illness (SMI). He received his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA) in 2013. Dr. Caraballo completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System with a focus in Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery (PSR&R) and SMI. He is board certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He serves as Past-President of the Arizona Psychological Association. He also serves as an Academy Director and board examiner for the American Board of Clinical Psychology and as the Early Career Psychologist Trustee for ABPP.
Jessie Garcia
Dr. Garcia is a licensed psychologist in the state of Arizona, #3625. He received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Arizona State University. Dr. Garcia has worked in various clinical settings from hospitals, university counseling centers, managed care, to community mental health centers. Currently his practice focuses on adults and couples. Dr. Garcia specializes in PTSD, other trauma-related issues, depression, anxiety, anger, and couples/marital discord.
Dr. Garcia is EMDR certified by EMDRIA. He is also trained and certified by the Department of Veterans Administration in Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy. Dr. Garcia is also specialized and certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy. Dr. Garcia also received specialized training from the Meadows in Post-Induction Therapy and was trained directly by Pia Mellody. Dr. Garcia has advanced training in Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD from the Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
While most of the treatments are protocol-driven, Dr. Garcia customizes treatments to fit a client’s psychological needs. Dr. Garcia is directive, deliberate, and results-oriented in his approach and works to complete treatment in a timely fashion. He is currently employed by the Veterans Administration as a psychologist is also has a part-time private practice. Dr. Garcia has serves as Co-Chair of the Rural Psychology Committee for AzPA.
David Weinstock
Dr. Weinstock received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona and his J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. He is a licensed psychologist in Arizona and a licensed and retired attorney in New York and Massachusetts. His focus is in family law, specifically family evaluations and family and individual counseling. He has conducted family law evaluations for almost two decades, both privately and at the Pima County Conciliation Court. He has also provided treatment to adolescents, including experience working with the gifted population.
In addition, Dr. Weinstock has experience working within the criminal justice system, which includes training at the Arizona State Hospital, conducting competency evaluations and risk assessments. Dr. Weinstock also has experience with sexual offender and sex addiction evaluations and treatment. He is a member of the Maricopa County Superior Court’s Behavioral Health Committee, a former board member of Arizona’s Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), a former member of Arizona’s Domestic Relations Committee and a former co-chair of the Arizona Psychological Association’s forensic committee.
Shirley Yang
Shirley Yang, PsyD is a licensed psychologist in Arizona and California. She earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University, Glendale and completed her postdoctoral residency at Kaiser Permanente in the Bay Area in California.
Shirley is currently a Staff Psychologist at Arizona State University Counseling Services (ASU CS) providing mental health support to the diverse student population. In addition to doing therapy, crisis/risk management, and case management, Shirley is actively involved in the training program at ASU CS and enjoys providing supervision to pre-doctoral interns and practicum-level trainees. Shirley will also be starting at Banner Health to provide evaluations for individuals seeking bariatric surgery.
Katherine H. Sanchez
Katherine H. Sanchez, Ph.D., is an Arizona and Massachusetts licensed psychologist who specializes in treating children, adolescents, and families struggling with a wide range of social-emotional and behavioral concerns. Dr. Sanchez received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from The University of Northern Colorado. Throughout her graduate and professional career, Dr. Sanchez has worked in a variety of treatment settings, including residential and day treatment centers, schools, primary care centers, and most recently at Boston Children’s Hospital where she held an academic appointment as Instructor in Psychology to the Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Sanchez is currently a Psychologist at The Nicholls Group, where she provides psychological evaluations and uses a variety of evidence-based interventions to treat childhood anxiety and depressive disorders. She is also an Arizona State University Adjunct Faculty and supervises predoctoral Clinical and Counseling Psychology practicum students. Having been raised in Venezuela and Arizona, Dr. Sanchez identifies as a bicultural and bilingual (Spanish, English) psychologist. As such, Dr. Sanchez personally enjoys the exploration of ethnic identity, acculturation, cultural beliefs, societal worldviews and its impact on mental health and well-being.
Chris Hallgren
Mr. Hallgren brings over 25+ years of professional experience in the information technology field in computer forensics, programming, web design, database, and reporting/deployment. As a principal consultant to Oracle and consultant to InPower and Tesseract, Mr. Hallgren supported and managed human resource and payroll function software applications and development. Mr. Hallgren previously served as the President of Helios Data Forensics, a company providing computer forensic and e-discovery services to business and the civil legal environment. He also served as the Director of Information Technology and Corporate Social Responsibility for International Police Training and Consulting Services (IPTACS), a company providing sustainable law enforcement training to developing countries and new democracies throughout the World. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Systems from Arizona State University and Masters of Business Administration with a specialization in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix.