Staff Clinicians

Susan Bakota, Ed.D.
Licensed Psychologist CA PSY 13135
Incoming Students Program Director
Ed.D. Indiana University
B.A. University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Bakota is a licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist who has served UCLA students for more than 20 years. She is the Coordinator of Programming for Incoming Students and serves as a speaker for the UCLA Summer Family Orientation Program. She enjoys helping parents manage the transition when their sons and daughters leave home to enter UCLA. She conducts the “Significant Other Survival” workshop for first-year law students and their partners. She also consults with UCLA faculty and staff through her workshop “Dealing with Difficult People.”

Dr. Bakota utilizes psychodynamic therapy combined with cognitive-behavioral interventions. Her clinical interests include communication and couples therapy, multicultural and LGBT issues, and treatment for adults molested as children. She also serves as clinical supervisor for interns and postdoctoral staff at SPS.

Naomi Chao-Singer, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist, CA PSY 14523
Ph.D. University of Southern California              
M.S. Indiana University
B.A. National Taiwan University

Dr. Chao-Singer is a counseling psychologist who received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern California, her M.S. in Counseling and Counselor Education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the National Taiwan University in Taipei. Her clinical interests include creativity/performance enhancement, diversity/multicultural counseling, immigrant adjustment and mental health, mood disorders, and post-traumatic stress. She has also received training in music therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization Retraining.

Ancy Cherian, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Boston University
B.A. University at Albany

Dr. Cherian earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Boston University where she received extensive training in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. She completed a one year APA accredited clinical internship at the West Los Angeles VA where she worked with individuals with a wide range of mental health (e.g., anxiety, mood disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse) and physical health (e.g., smoking cessation, cardio pulmonary rehabilitation) concerns. Dr. Cherian completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior where she was involved in clinical research and treatment pertaining to adolescent health, depression, and suicidality.

Dr. Cherian specializes in applying cognitive behavioral and acceptance based treatment strategies to a variety of clinical concerns including anxiety (panic disorder, generalized anxiety, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, compulsive hoarding), depression, stress, and substance use in both individual and group modalities.  

Heather Demeter, Psy.D.
Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow 2006-07
Psy.D. Alliant International University, Los Angeles
B.F.A. Marymount Manhattan College, New York

Dr. Demeter received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis on individual, child and family therapy from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. After completing the practicum at the UCLA Staff & Faculty Counseling Center, Dr. Demeter completed two half time pre-doctoral internships at the Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills and at University Counseling Services at California State University, Northridge.

Dr. Demeter finished her post-doctoral fellowship at UCLA - Student Psychological Services in June of 2007. Heather’s clinical interests include relational and intersubjective psychology as well as attachment, developmental issues and mindfulness theory and practice.

Andrew Felder, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, VA #0810003819
Ph.D. Duquesne University
M.A. Pepperdine University
B.S. George Mason University

Dr. Felder is a clinical psychologist who draws upon existential-phenomenological, psychoanalytic, object relations, cognitive, Rogerian, and critical-hermeneutic traditions. Counted among his areas of interest are anxiety, depression, childhood abuse or trauma, sexual assault, grief and loss, multicultural issues, gender issues, sexual identity concerns, and academic concerns.

Before coming to UCLA he completed a fellowship at The Ohio State University and also worked at George Mason University. Prior to that he served as Clinical Director for the Department of Children and Family Service’s sexual abuse program. Presently, he is a consulting editor for Janus Head and writes in the area of cultural issues and phenomenology.

Michele Getzelman, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist, CA PSY 20606
Ph.D. University of Southern California
B.A. University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Getzelman is a counseling psychologist who received her doctorate at USC and her BA in Psychology and English at UCLA.  She has interests and expertise in student leadership, sport psychology, alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment, traumatic loss, and clinical training.  She was a postdoctoral fellow at the counseling center at Loyola Marymount University and completed her internship at SPS.  Prior to returning to SPS as a staff psychologist, she served as Clinical Director at Nerine Shatner Friendly House, Normandie Friendly House, and the Friendly Hand Foundation in Los Angeles.

Nicole Presley Green, Ph.D.
Psychologist, CA PSY 21353
Ph.D. University of Southern California2005
Ed.M. Harvard University 1999
B.A. University of California, Los Angeles 1997

Dr. Green is a counseling psychologist who received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Southern California. Her areas of interest include academic success among students of color, African American family issues, intimate partner violence, and women’s issues. She currently serves as a coordinator for Transfer Student Support and Outreach program at SPS.

Before her work at SPS, Dr. Green was a research associate for the Sexual Health Program at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA conducting research in the areas of HIV/AIDS, sexual risk, and substance use among men and women of color. Dr. Green is a recipient of the Minority Fellowship Program Award from the American Psychological Association and has received scholarship awards from USC’s Town and Gown and the Southern California Association of Black Psychologists.

Kathleen Lambird, Ph.D.
Ph.D. University of California Los Angeles
B.A. University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Lambird earned her doctorate in the UCLA Clinical Psychology program. She is a generalist with special training and focus in health psychology issues including sleep problems, pain, and eating disorders. Her other clinical interests include self-esteem, family, and first-generation student issues. Dr. Lambird’s approach to psychotherapy is integrative, and includes cognitive-behavioral interventions and interpersonal-dynamic work. She is active in the group program, leading the following groups: Art of Sleeping, Graduate Student Psychotherapy, Chronic Pain. She is active in outreach to students new to UCLA, and serves as advisor to the Peer Support Network student group.

Wendy Lin, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist, MI 6301012234
Psy.D. Wright State University School of Professional Psychology
B.S.  University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Lin is a clinical psychologist who received her doctorate at Wright State School of Professional Psychology and her BS in Psychology at UC Berkeley.  She served as a staff psychologist on other campuses including Cornell University and has experience in outpatient private practice.   Her interests include multicultural counseling, Asian American identity and social development, self-esteem issues, and the promotion of healthy relationships with oneself, with others, and with the community.  Dr. Lin also has interests in the personal and professional development of mental health providers.  She employs an integrative model of psychotherapy and community mental health.

Gia Marson, Ed.D.
Licensed Psychologist, CA PSY 18764
Ed.D. Rutgers University
B.A. Pepperdine University

Dr. Marson received her master’s and doctoral degrees in Counseling Psychology from Rutgers University and her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University in Communications. Prior to becoming a psychologist, Dr. Marson worked for CNN as a field producer. At SPS, Dr. Marson works with a wide range of therapeutic issues including life transitions, depression, anxiety, existential concerns, relationship issues and family issues. She has worked in three other college counseling centers and specializes in treating those with eating disorders. Dr. Marson provides direct clinical service to individuals and couples, leads a Disordered Eating therapy group, and serves as a clinical supervisor. Her approach to psychotherapy combines psychodynamic and relational theory, along with an integration of CBT strategies. In addition, Dr. Marson utilizes a positive psychology approach which emphasizes identifying and building on clients’ strengths.

Sally Melvin-Pick, LCSW, BCD
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CA LCS 18100
M.A. University of California, Los Angeles
B.A. Hanover College

Ms. Melvin-Pick is a Board Certified Diplomate in clinical social work who received her master’s degree in Social Work from UCLA.  She works with a variety of student issues including self-esteem, perfectionism, shyness and social anxiety, sexuality issues, grief and loss, alcohol and addiction issues and relationship concerns. Other clinical interests include women’s issues, spirituality, disordered eating and body image concerns. She is actively involved in the training program as a clinical supervisor and likes to collaborate with interns on outreach projects. She participates in community outreach programs quarterly with the Office of Residential Life and is a member of the interdisciplinary UCLA Drug Free Schools Committee as well as the UCLA Eating and Activity Task Force. She also serves as a department liaison to the UCLA International Institute, the Graduate School of Education and Information Science, the Education Abroad Program, Summer Sessions, Dean of Students Office, and the University Religious Conference.

Colby Moss, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CA LCS 22318
MSW University of California, Los Angeles
B.A.  Brown University

Ms. Moss is a licensed clinical social worker who received her master’s degree in Social Welfare from UCLA.  She worked as a crisis specialist in the Student Counseling Center at the University of Southern California prior to joining SPS.  In 2004, she completed a one-year advanced training program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.  She works primarily from an existential therapy model, although her therapeutic work incorporates object relations theory and cognitive-behavioral techniques.  She is experienced in treating depression, addiction, relationship issues, co-occurring disorders and in conducting crisis and brief intervention.    Colby is also a clinical supervisor to masters-level and post-doctoral interns and is lead clinician for the UCLA Access to Care program, administering Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Use Involvement Screening Tests to students at SPS and within the campus community.

Alan Nagamoto, Ph.D
Licensed Psychologist, CA PSY 7774
Wellness Programs Director
Ph.D. University of Southern California
B.A. University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Nagamoto is a licensed psychologist who received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from USC, with a minor in Psychophysiology.   Dr. Nagamoto has 24 years of experience at UCLA Student Psychological Services and serves as Coordinator of the Stress Clinic.   Although he is a generalist, he has extensive training in cognitive-behavioral therapy.   His areas of interest include stress management, anxiety disorders, depression, bereavement, health psychology, biofeedback, self-esteem, perfectionism, academic performance issues, and graduate student concerns.   He is active in the departmental intern training program and the Consultation, Outreach, Prevention and Education program.   He presents a variety of workshops throughout the campus and represents SPS on the Students Affairs Staff Development Committee. He serves as departmental liaison to the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences Divisions, as well as to the School of Nursing.

Jennifer Nahum, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CA LCS 20567
MSW University of California, Los Angeles
B.A. University of California, Los Angeles

Ms. Nahum received her master’s in Social Work from UCLA. She has interests and expertise in group psychotherapy, developmental issues among college students, alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment, women’s issues and relationship counseling. She has been active in the SPS intern training program, serving as a supervisor and selection committee member.

Patricia Rodriguez-Holguin, LCSW, BCD
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CA LCS 10534 MSW
University of Southern California
B.A. California State University Long Beach

Ms. Rodriguez-Holguin is a Board Certified Diplomate in clinical social work.  She received her master’s degree from the University of Southern California, and worked with Spanish-speaking families for the County of Los Angeles and in managed care.  She is a generalist, with special interest and expertise in short term/crisis intervention treatment, multicultural and ethnic diversity, couples/relationships, and women’s issues.  Her other clinical interests include mood disorders, grief and loss, and immigrant and first generation college students.  She is the Coordinator of Social Work Training and serves as an individual clinical supervisor as well as the crisis intervention training supervisor in our APA-accredited training program.  She also serves as department liaison to the Social Sciences Division in the College of Letters and Sciences, Honors and Undergraduate Programs, School of Law, School of Public Affairs, Financial Aid Office, Academic Advancement Program and the University Religious Conference.

Tracy Shaw, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist, CA PSY 12548             
Ph.D. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
B.A. University of California, Irvine

Dr. Shaw received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology with a minor in Substance Abuse and Sport Psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  Her primary areas of specialization include self-esteem, relationship counseling, separation and letting go issues, co-dependency issues, mood disorders and anxiety disorders.  Dr. Shaw appears in the United States Olympic Committee Sport Registry, 2004 – 2008, and serves as a sport psychologist for the United States Track and Field Federation and the United States Figure Skating Association. She was one of two sport psychologists who provided consultation to the USA Track and Field Team at the 2004 Olympic Games.  Dr. Shaw has also had the opportunity to travel with both the USA junior and senior teams to the 1997 Junior Pan American games in Havana, Cuba, and the 1998 International Amateur Athletic Federation World Cup Games in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Drawing upon these experiences, Dr. Shaw provides extensive outreach to various athletic teams on the UCLA campus.  Dr. Shaw is a primary clinical supervisor in the APA-accredited Internship Training Program, and a participant in the intern selection process.  She serves as departmental liaison to the Athletic Department, the Anderson School of Management and the Law School.

Tina Williams , LCSW.

Bonnie Zucker, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist, CA License PSY 20391
Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles
B.S. Cornell University

Dr. Zucker is a licensed psychologist who received her doctorate in clinical psychology from UCLA and her B.S. in Communications from Cornell University. Dr. Zucker has had diverse clinical training experiences, including a practicum placement at the West Los Angeles VA, a clinical internship at UCLA Student Psychological Services and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Prior to joining the SPS staff, she was on the faculty at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Dr. Zucker has had extensive training in and experience with utilizing cognitive behavior therapy with her clients, particularly with anxiety and mood disorders. She also likes to integrate mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches into her work.  In addition, she enjoys working with clients with a variety of concerns, including relationship issues, phase of life transitions, women’s issues, as well as grief and loss.  She works collaboratively with her clients to help them address their issues of concern, achieve their goals, and improve their quality of life.