Dr. Nancy Young has over 25 years experience specializing in therapy with adult individuals, couples, and groups, and, for 20 years, she was an Adjunct Professor at Chapman University, teaching such classes as: Intro to Psychology, Interpersonal Attraction & Romantic Love, Human Sexuality, Sexual Disorders & Treatment, and Chemical Dependency Treatment. Her academic research interests were on romantic love — the differences between intense/compelling and secure/comfortable love experiences, behavioral self-reliance in women, and on the use of videotaped therapy in chemical dependency treatment. Past workshops have included: Romantic Relationships: A Traveler’s Guide, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Women & Sexuality, Taking Care of Self — How to be Gentle but Assertive, Voice Dialogue, Aware Ego, & Psychology of Selves, Standing at The Crossroads — Psychology of Selves in Transition. She specializes in a variety of therapeutic methods, including cognitive-behavioral, Voice Dialogue, EMDR, and Gottman Method couple's therapy. She is certified in EMDR and in Gottman Couple’s Therapy and is a certified Art & Science of Love (Gottman) Workshop Leader. She uses a holistic/transpersonal approach.

Follow Dr. Young's blog called Notes from Nance.

Dr. Judy Fluor Runels has been working with people living with HIV and AIDS for the last nine years. She has a Psy.D. in Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy. She works with couples, individuals, children, and adolescents, assisting them to develop better relationship and communications skills, and has extensive experience in working with people living with a chronic or terminal illness. Dr. Runels has run facilitated support groups for adults dealing with substance abuse issues, using a harm reduction model, has presented at HIV/AIDS conferences, assisted with HIV training for the County of Orange, and has done workshops on pain management, maintaining sobriety, and better ways to cope with stress. Her specialty is grief counseling, trauma, bereavement/loss issues, and caregiver burn out. Her theoretical orientation is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which is a humanistic, existential and experiential approach to help facilitate change.

Rupa Ward has an M. A. in Psychology with Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis from Chapman University. She has both training and experience in individual, family, children, and group counseling. Having moved from her homeland in India to the United States as a young woman and traveled extensively all over the world, she has been especially interested in the uniqueness and the universality of human experience and the differences in women’s lives across cultures. A trekking trip to the Himalayas at 19, awakened in her a new dimension of spiritual consciousness and, since that time she has maintained a committed spiritual practice under several renowned spiritual masters both in India and the US. She has taught yoga and meditation in the community college system and privately for the last seven years. Thus with academic training, professional expertise, and broad personal inter-cultural experience, she is passionate about promoting sensitivity in dealing with cultural differences and relates with a compassionate heart to each person’s individual situation. Rupa is currently completing her licensure hours as an MFT Intern with us, under the supervision of Dr. Young. Her practice combines different therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), with strategies derived from mindfulness practice and body-mind integration theories.

Terry Maher has a B.A. in Psychology from California State University Long Beach, an MSW from University of Southern California with an emphasis on mental health services, and is in the process of completing the requirements for licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He has experience providing: individual and group therapy with adults, therapy and behavior modification with at-risk youth and their families, language and skill-building with autistic children and developmentally disabled adults, vocational training with special education students, substance abuse counseling, therapy with the chronic and persistently mentally ill, as well as in-home grief counseling with older adults. He has 12 years of experience working with families and adolescents in crisis. He coordinates an evidence-based program with the County of Orange which teaches families how to modify severe behavior problems in children. Terry has a well rounded background which includes cognitive-behavior therapy, Gestalt therapy, and EMDR training.

Kirk Ward obtained his B.A. in Psychology form the University Of California, Irvine. He is also a board certified neurofeedback technician, receiving his certification from the BCIA (Biofeedback Certification International Alliance, www.bcia.org) and has been working for the last two years under the mentorship of Bill Scott (www.brainpaint.com). His primary interest is in the synthesis of neuroscience and psychology. Kirk has worked with a diverse population, ranging from ADHD, substance abuse, insomnia, anxiety, and peak performance. BCIA Board Certification demonstrates professionalism and adherence to carefully developed standards as a health care provider. Procedures are consistent with the Department of Health & Human Services Guidelines.

Stephenie Champlin is our Office Manager and the Program Administrator for all our workshops. Stephenie graduated from Chapman University in June, 2002, in both Sociology and Psychology and is currently attending the Masters in Social Work Program at California State University-Long Beach where she has been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society. After working with pets and their owners for 10 years, as a veterinarian’s assistant and a manager for a major pet supply chain, she came to work for us in 2001. Since then, along with her work for us, she has interned in a domestic violence shelter, as a job coach for the developmentally challenged, as a caseworker with an open adoption agency, and as a social worker for hospice. Stephenie does everything, here at Pathways to Wellness, from answering the phone and appointment scheduling to handling all the financial and administrative work; sometimes she even takes care of the fish tanks! Her care and compassion, along with a wonderfully compulsive work ethic, make our office and endeavors run smoothly.

Watson (on right) has over 7 years experience greeting and soothing dog-friendly clients in our office. He is a non-shedding, allergy-friendly Australian Labradoodle as is his younger brother, Bailey. Watson is wonderful with depressive clients as he is highly skilled in playfulness, affection, unconditional love, and not taking things too seriously. He is greatly thrilled by those who let him sit on their laps (he is only 75 pounds!) but never seems to take rejection personally.

Bailey (on left), with over 6 years experience as a canine healer, empathizes with anxious and socially phobic clients as he is very sensitive and shows great concern when they are upset. He does his best to help though he is sometimes bashful himself and takes up residence under the business office desk. He is especially appreciated by those who are more introverted, less socially boisterous, and prefer a bit of personal space.