Suzanne M. Wallach
PsyD, MA, LMFT
Executive Director
Dr. Wallach is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Ottawa University in 2002, her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Phillips Graduate University in 2008, and her Doctorate in Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2014.
Ottawa University
Phillips Graduate University
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Dr. Suzanne Wallach is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the owner and Executive Director of Suzanne Wallach & Associates and SoCal DBT. She specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), complex and high-acuity clinical presentations, trauma, personality and mood disorders, and women’s mental health, with a growing specialization in perinatal mental health. Dr. Wallach also has extensive experience providing highly discreet, confidential care to high-profile individuals and families for whom privacy, flexibility, and discretion are paramount.
Dr. Wallach received her B.A. in Psychology from Ottawa University in 2002, her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Phillips Graduate University in 2008, and her Doctorate in Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2014.
Her clinical approach integrates behavioral and psychodynamic therapies and is highly individualized to each client. In addition to DBT and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dr. Wallach draws from Object Relations and Attachment Theory, existential psychotherapy, and trauma-focused interventions. She has extensive experience treating individuals with emotion dysregulation, complex trauma, personality disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, substance use and behavioral addictions, and eating disorders, relationship difficulties, and other complex or treatment-refractory presentations.
Dr. Wallach completed her pre-licensure clinical training at the LA Free Clinic and CalFAM Counseling Center in Encino, followed by three years at The Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, a respected psychodynamic training center. In 2014, she completed the Psychoanalytic Center of California’s Adult Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program.
The Maple Counseling Center
MFT Intern
EMDRIA
Certification in EMDR
Psychoanalytic Center of California
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program
Linehan Institute DBT Intensive Training for Private Practice Clinicians
Behavioral Tech
Dr. Wallach is extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and serves as the team leader of SoCal DBT’s comprehensive DBT program. She completed a two-year intensive training in DBT for independent practitioners through Dr. Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech in Seattle, Washington, with Lizz Dexter-Mazza, PhD, and Jennifer Sayrs, PhD.
Her advanced DBT training also includes Providing Effective DBT Skills Groups with Patricia Gieselman, LMFT; Optimizing Eating Disorder Treatments with DBT with Amy Kalasunas, LPCC; and DBT for Parents, Couples, and Families with Alan Fruzzetti, PhD, of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In 2021, she completed intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) with Francheska Perepletchikova, PhD, and Kimberly Vale, LCSW-R. Her work encompasses DBT across the lifespan — adults, adolescents and children, as well as parents, couples and families.
Dr. Wallach has a particular clinical interest in women’s mental health during pregnancy, postpartum, and throughout the broader perinatal period. She is a professional member of Postpartum Support International (PSI) and is currently completing advanced training toward Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C). She also has personal experience with the IVF process and enjoys working with women navigating it.
Drawing on her extensive DBT background, she integrates evidence-based perinatal mental health treatment with DBT strategies to help women through the emotional changes of pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum adjustment, and the transition to motherhood — incorporating skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, individualized to each woman’s needs.
Dr. Wallach is also an experienced trauma therapist. She trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 2012 with Andrew Leeds, PhD, of Sonoma Psychotherapy Training Institute, and is an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist — a certification reflecting advanced clinical experience and consultation beyond basic EMDR training. She has also completed training in Prolonged Exposure for PTSD with Lata McGinn, PhD, and Lauren Bonavitacola, PsyD, of Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants, as well as Levels 1 and 2 of the Trauma Resiliency Model.
Prior to establishing her private practice, Dr. Wallach served as a staff therapist at an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center in Beverly Hills and at the Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, working with highly complex, high-acuity cases and facilitating Relapse Prevention, Sobriety Maintenance, and process groups. Today, she brings this breadth of experience to both her individual clinical work and her leadership of SoCal DBT, providing sophisticated, evidence-based, highly individualized treatment for clients and families with complex needs. She is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), and Postpartum Support International (PSI).
Sarah Gordis
MA, LCSW
Staff Therapist
Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who uses a reciprocal, non-judgmental, and motivational approach to therapy with her clients. Sarah specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy with adults experiencing personality disorders, depression, anxiety, chemical dependency, and eating disorders. Sarah received her master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University in New York and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Linguistics from Emory University in Atlanta. While at Columbia University, she participated in the DBT Training Program and Lab under the supervision of Dr. André Ivanoff, president of Behavioral Tech, and completed her intensive DBT training in 2019 with Randy Wolbert and Gwen Abney-Cunningham. She enjoys practicing DBT because of its commitment to a dialectical worldview, mindfulness, and the use of the therapist’s genuine self to assist individuals in cultivating a life worth living. Sarah received additional clinical training in exposure therapy, motivational interviewing, and cognitive-behavioral advanced clinical methods. Sarah also participated in specialized training in Radically Open DBT for disorders of overcontrol through Radically Open Blended Learning Ltd. and DBT for eating disorders through Oshawa Psychotherapy Training Institute. Sarah has significant experience providing individual therapy, leading groups, and providing coaching in outpatient and residential settings. While completing her masters, she worked as a DBT therapist at Brooklyn Heights Behavioral Associates, providing individual psychotherapy, group skills training, and phone coaching to individual struggling with emotion dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and interper sonal conflict. Sarah also worked for the NYC Department of Education as a school social worker for middle school students who had been suspended from school. Prior to being a team member at SoCal DBT, Sarah most recently worked as a primary DBT therapist at Clearview Treatment Program’s Dual Diagnosis residential program for adults with co-occuring mental health and substance use disorders during which she received monthly consultations with Charlie Swenson, MD to ensure adherence to the DBT model. Sarah is a primary DBT therapist at SoCal DBT, and a DBT skills class leader. She is available to see comprehensive DBT clients ages 15 and up, and available to meet with parents or loved ones of clients in our comprehensive programs for adolescents and adults. Sarah is passionate about providing effective, evidence-based treatment for clients using warmth, respect, and honesty, and enjoys helping clients create and maintain their lives worth living.
Emily LaMear
LMFT
Staff Therapist
Emily La Mear is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and families navigating emotional and behavioral challenges. Her clinical work is rooted in creating a safe, collaborative space where clients feel supported in building insight, developing effective coping skills, and fostering deeper connections in their lives. She works out of Beverly Hills and is available to clients virtually. Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in clinical and counseling psychology from Mt. St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles and holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Trauma Counseling from California Lutheran University. While at California Lutheran, she worked with students in the Conejo Valley School District and in community mental health at CLU Community Counseling Center in Westlake Village, California, treating clients of all ages. After graduation, she worked in residential treatment at Evolve Adolescent Behavioral Health in Los Angeles, California. While employed there, she provided comprehensive DBT as a primary therapist, providing individual therapy, family therapy, biosocial assessments, and running groups. She then moved on to Clearview Treatment Centers, where she served as a primary therapist for adults of all ages, providing DBT, CBT, and ACT therapy, leading groups, and working with families. Emily supports clients in DBT ages 9 through the lifespan, specializing in emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidality, trauma, and relationship issues. She is foundationally trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech, the gold-standard training program for DBT therapists. She draws from additional modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care. Her integrative approach allows her to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs, values, and goals. In Dr. Wallach’s comprehensive program, Emily sees adolescents and adults, parents and families, and leads skills groups. Emily has also completed Dr. Melanie Harned’s Prolonged Exposure for DBT, which is a specific model of Prolonged Exposure adapted to DBT to treat PTSD among high-risk and multi- problem clients who are receiving DBT. The DBT PE protocol is based on Prolonged Exposure therapy and was adapted to fit the needs of this complex client population. DBT with the DBT PE protocol is a comprehensive treatment designed to help these tremendously suffering individuals recover from trauma and build lives they experience as worth living. In her private practice, Emily’s therapeutic style is warm, nonjudgmental, and strength-based. She sees clients from six through the lifespan and believes that meaningful change occurs when clients feel seen, understood, and empowered in the therapeutic process. In her work with individuals and families, she brings a thoughtful balance of structure and flexibility, helping clients not only stabilize but grow toward lasting wellness. In addition to providing individual therapy, Emily has extensive experience with family systems work, psychoeducation, and skills-based group facilitation. She values working closely with clients’ support systems and collaborating with multidisciplinary care teams when appropriate to ensure continuity of care. Whether you’re seeking support during a crisis or hoping to build a stronger foundation for emotional resilience, Emily brings clinical expertise and genuine care to help you move forward.
Ryan Perry
MA, AMFT
Staff Therapist
Ryan is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family therapist who uses a curious, compassionate, and warm approach to therapy. Ryan views therapy as a collaborative process in which clients can explore their values and make meaningful change that aligns with their most whole selves. Ryan works from a trauma-informed lens and centers social justice in her work. Ryan offers supportive and affirming therapy to children 9+, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She is passionate about supporting LGBTQ+ folks, people with chronic and/or life-threatening illnesses, religious trauma, personality disorders, body image issues, mood disorders, and suicidality. Ryan has a bachelor’s degree from Biola University, where she majored in Psychology and Literature. In her undergraduate studies, she developed a love of storytelling and clinical work. She then obtained her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Southern California. Ryan began her clinical training at the Ronald McDonald House, where she worked with children, families, couples, and individuals affected by life-threatening childhood illnesses. She provided long-term therapy rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and grief work for over a year. Following graduation, Ryan joined a private practice in Pasadena, CA, where she provided psychodynamic and depth- oriented therapy to children and adults navigating chronic illness, religious trauma, complex trauma, and LGBTQ+ related issues before joining Suzanne Wallach and Associates and SoCal DBT. Ryan is foundationally trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy through Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech and is completing her prelicensure hours under the supervision of Sarah Gordis, LCSW, at SoCal DBT, where she is also receiving training as an individual therapist, DBT skills group leader, and team member of the SoCal DBT program. In the DBT program, Ryan sees teens 13+, adults, couples, and families. She also provides parents and partners with DBT skills training to support their family members. Ryan receives weekly additional DBT training from Dr. Wallach. In private practice at Suzanne Wallach and Associates, Ryan utilizes a holistic, trauma-informed lens and pays special attention to how one’s unique experiences and identities shape the healing process. Ryan prioritizes creating a safe and exploratory space for her clients and brings a calm, humorous, and healing energy to her work.
Lauren Anderson
MA, APCC
Staff Therapist
Lauren is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC 20489) who provides collaborative and supportive care to adolescents, adults, and families struggling with complex internal experiences and life challenges. Her work is grounded in creating a safe, collaborative space where clients feel supported in building insight, strengthening coping skills, and improving emotional and relational functioning. Many clients may seek therapy feeling overwhelmed by intense emotions, caught in reactive or avoidant patterns, or unsure how to manage distress in ways that feel effective and sustainable. Lauren works with clients experiencing emotion dysregulation, chronic anxiety and depression, heightened emotional sensitivity, interpersonal difficulties, and persistent self-criticism. Her therapeutic style is warm and empowering, helping clients move toward lives that feel more balanced, authentic, and aligned with their values. Lauren trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech, the gold-standard training program for DBT therapists. She integrates several evidence- based modalities in her approach, including Psychodynamic/Relational Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), tailoring treatments to meet the individual’s needs. Lauren is also fully trained in Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) and is qualified to treat individuals through the lifespan presenting with OCD symptoms. In our DBT program, she works with individuals ages 13 through the lifespan, families, partners, and parents. Lauren received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and her master’s degree from the California School of Professional Psychology and has worked across multiple group practice settings, including Beach Cities Professional Psychology and Alliant National University. Lauren is foundationally trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and practices under the supervision of Dr. Suzanne Wallach at SoCal DBT, where she is also receiving training as an individual therapist, DBT skills group leader, and team member of the SoCal DBT program.
P. Graciela Corona Rodriguez
MA, AMFT
Staff Therapist
Graciela Corona is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who provides warm, collaborative, and culturally responsive care to adolescents, adults, couples, and families. At SoCal DBT, she specializes in working with personality disorders, mood disorders, emotion dysregulation, and complex trauma. In her private practice work at Suzanne Wallach & Associates, Graciela works with clients navigating anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, relationship and family challenges, identity development, trauma, grief, and the impact of generational and cultural experiences. Graciela received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California and earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from San José State University. Her clinical interests include working with individuals and families, particularly within BIPOC communities, who are navigating the intersection of emotional well-being, relationships, culture, and identity. Graciela is Foundationally trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech, the gold-standard training program for DBT clinicians. At SoCal DBT, she practices under the supervision of Dr. Suzanne Wallach and receives ongoing training in comprehensive DBT. Within the DBT program, Graciela works with adolescents ages 12 and older, adults, couples, and families, and leads DBT skills groups. Prior to joining Suzanne Wallach & Associates and SoCal DBT, Graciela gained experience working with clients across the lifespan in community-based and outpatient mental health settings. At LGTC Group, she provided virtual psychotherapy to adolescents beginning at age 12 through adults in their 60s, as well as couples and families, including parent-focused work. Her clinical work included neurodivergence, grief, trauma, personality and mood disorders, depression, anxiety, cultural and gender identity concerns, and relational difficulties. She also worked at McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative, Graciela provided bilingual therapy to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families from historically underserved communities. She facilitated a teen support group addressing academic stress, emotion regulation, and goal setting; delivered psychoeducational workshops for parents and caregivers in both English and Spanish; and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to assess risk, respond to crises, and coordinate referrals. In addition, Graciela trained at Epic Family Therapy in Los Angeles, where she provided individual therapy in a hybrid clinical setting, collaborated with interdisciplinary providers to support continuity of care, and utilized culturally responsive and systems-oriented interventions. Many of the clients Graciela works with are trying to better understand where they come from while also developing a stronger sense of who they want to become. They may feel overwhelmed by intense emotions, relationship or family dynamics, major life transitions, or the effects of difficult past experiences. Graciela helps clients explore these experiences with curiosity while developing more effective ways of coping, communicating, regulating emotions, and navigating relationships. Graciela’s therapeutic style is supportive, grounded, and collaborative. She brings warmth, curiosity, and cultural awareness into the therapy room and believes that clients are the experts on their own lived experiences. She works alongside clients to help them better understand themselves and their patterns, strengthen their relationships, develop practical skills, and create meaningful change consistent with their individual values and goals. As a bilingual therapist, Graciela provides therapy in both English and Spanish and is particularly mindful of how culture, family, identity, gender, and generational experiences can shape an individual’s emotional life and relationships.