Psychological Associate

Kaitlyn Buehler, M.A. grew up in Hawai’i and graduated from Washington University in St Louis with a BA in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is currently a fourth year PsyD student at the Wright Institute. She has worked in multiple clinical settings including a public elementary school, the Wright Institute CBT clinic, and at College of Marin. Kaitlyn is also trained on ADHD and neuropsychological assessments for children and adults. In her sparse free time, Kaitlyn loves to read through series, spend time with animals (including cat cafes), travel the world, and bake new goodies.

 Nurse Practitioner

Katherine Fuller (she/her), M.S., R.N., PMHNP-BC is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and completed her graduate school training at the University of California San Francisco. She has been providing individualized, holistic, and collaborative mental health care to youth and their families across the Bay Area for over 9 years. At Leiya, she offers comprehensive mental health assessments and prescribes psychiatric medications as an additional tool to help youth achieve their mental health goals and improve their overall health and wellness. She specializes in working with youth with anxiety, ADHD, trauma, depression, developmental differences, and mood disorders. 

Psychological Associate

Rachel Gorham is a fifth-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Saybrook University, with her M.Ed. in Child Development. Her interest in neurodiversity and all the forms that it can take is what lead her into the field of clinical psychology. She has over 20 years experience working with children in both clinical and educational settings. Her dissertation topic (as well as one of her passions) is in pediatric ADHD and empowering children who have been diagnosed, as well as helping schools and parents navigate the challenges and the strengths of ADHD.

In 2017, she founded a non-profit which focuses on exposing children to different cultures through music and dance (another of her passions). When she is not working with children, she can be found on the dance floor, traveling, or hanging out with her son, dog, and bunnies.

Occupational Therapist

Victoria Green, M.S., OTR/L is an advanced mentored STAR-clinician, specializing in the evaluation and treatment of Sensory Processing Disorder, via the Sensory Treatment and Research (STAR) Institute. Her specializations include the differentiation and treatment of diagnoses under Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) as developed by the STAR Institute, Therapeutic Listening (TL), and MNRI® Dynamic and Postural Reflex Integration.  Victoria brings years of experience working with youth across a wide spectrum of contexts, ages, and circumstances. Victoria’s work is deeply informed in the therapeutic integration of the nervous system in order to achieve functional well-being. In addition to her clinical work at Leiya, Victoria collaborates with families and early childhood programs around the Bay Area and as an OT-consultant, providing staff training and a supportive framework for sensory-responsive classrooms.

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Jessica Hamel is a licensed psychologist. She earned a BA from UC Berkeley and a Clinical PsyD from Rutgers University. Dr. Hamel also completed an APA-accredited internship at Didi Hirsch Mental Health and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center/TIES for Families. She worked as a clinical psychologist with the Child Mind Institute and has provided care to children, teens, and young adults in outpatient, inpatient, and school settings. She has experience delivering evidence-based interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions (SPACE). Dr. Hamel is passionate about collaboration and early intervention, and is committed to increasing access to pediatric mental health care.

Educational Therapist

Jessica Heller is a dedicated lifelong learner with a deep passion for supporting students in navigating their unique learning challenges. Her expertise integrates a nuanced understanding of cognitive processes with the emotional dimensions of learning, enabling her to help students grasp how their brains work and to employ a strength-based approach in her sessions. Jessica is committed to partnering with each student and collaborating with families and allied team members to help students address and overcome their individual obstacles.

Jessica is a recognized Professional Educational Therapist by the Association of Educational Therapists. She also holds an Education Specialist Credential and a Master’s in Education from Brandman University. Her extensive experience over the past 15 years spans teaching students from kindergarten through 12th grade across various educational settings, including public, charter, and non-public schools. Transitioning from the classroom, Jessica now focuses on Educational Therapy and serves as an advocate for families with neurodivergent children. Outside of her professional pursuits, Jessica enjoys spending time in nature, often exploring the outdoors with her partner and their Australian Shepherd through van life.

Neuropsych Assistant

Jasmine Martinez is a Bay Area native and a graduate of UC Davis with a BA in Psychology. With a deep passion for promoting mental well-being, she dedicates herself to creating open spaces where individuals feel heard and understood. Her journey in psychology has equipped her with the tools to lend an empathetic ear to those in need. With her warm demeanor and genuine care for others, she continues to make a positive impact in both her personal and professional endeavors. In her spare time, you’ll often find her chasing sunsets, spending time with her Frenchie, Iggy, and indulging in the simple joys of hot chocolate. 

Practice Manager

Karolina Panico earned her Bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and brings five years of experience as a Patient/Treatment Coordinator to her role at Leiya. Stepping into the Practice Manager position felt like the natural next step, allowing her to combine her organizational skills with her passion for supporting families and providers.

As Practice Manager, Karolina oversees day-to-day operations and works closely with clinicians and staff to ensure a smooth, supportive experience for every patient. She is deeply committed to the importance of quality pediatric mental health and wellness care and strives to foster an environment where children and families feel seen and understood.

Outside of work, Karolina is a mom of four who enjoys reading, walking her dog, learning new languages, board games, and going on adventures with her husband and kids. She also loves tending to her plants and embracing all things Halloween and Fall.

Lead Clinician

Dr. Andrea Pascarelli is a licensed psychologist. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at New York City Children’s Center (NYCCC) – Queens Campus working with children and adolescents in both inpatient, outpatient and day treatment settings. She has worked in a variety of settings including Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, Child and Adolescent Psychological Services of Seattle and the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Pascarelli has almost 20 years of experience specializing in working with children with anxiety-based conditions including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, selective mutism, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Dr. Pascarelli has extensive experience using evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), trauma-focused CBT, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), and parent-child interaction therapy-selective mutism (PCIT-SM). In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and going for long walks with her dog.

Neuropsychologist

Dr. Alex Peterson completed his APA-accredited pre-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology through the Psychiatry Department at Yale University. He completed his post-doctoral training in the neurology program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Dr. Peterson continued at this institution for his first five years of professional practice. He went into private practice in pediatric neuropsychology from 2006-2023 with a focus on providing comprehensive neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic evaluations for children and adolescents. Dr. Peterson has worked collaboratively with numerous mental professionals, institutions and school districts throughout the Bay Area. 

Occupational Therapist

Rachel Velen brings eight years of experience as an occupational therapist. She has worked in a variety of educational settings supporting children from age 3 to 19 presenting with various functional abilities and diagnoses. Her expertise is centered on creating dynamic, supportive environments that foster growth and development in children. She is committed to a compassionate and holistic approach to therapy and believes in providing personalized care that considers the unique circumstances of each child and their family. In addition to her work, she enjoys backpacking and values spending time with her family.