SERVICES:

Psychotherapy: Families, Children, Teens, Adults, and Couples
Groups: Support for Parents and Social Skills for Children
Lectures: Professional Conferences, Hospital Grand Rounds, Schools, and Parent Associations

Examples of Hospital and School Lectures:
'Personality Disorders: How to Manage Difficult Patients & Their Families'
'Peer Rejection & Neglect / Bullying: How to Help Your Students (Child)'.
'How to Detect Depression / ADHD in Children'.

SPECIALTIES:

· Attention Problems (AD/HD)
· Learning Differences (Dyslexia)
· Behavior Problems
· Pediatric Medical Issues (Diabetes, Obesity, Cancer, HIV, Transplant, Pre / Post Surgery Issues, Celiac Disease, etc.)
· Adult Medical / Health Issues
· Depression
· Anxiety
· Academic / Career Counseling
· Divorced / Separated and Step / Blended Families (Co-Parenting Skills)
· Personal Growth and Goal-Setting
· Relationship Problems
· Cultural Issues (Immigration, Multi-Cultural Families, etc.)

LANGUAGES:

Fluent in both English and Spanish

TRAINING:

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS:

Clinical Faculty (VOL)
University of California, Los Angeles
David Geffen School of Medicine
Dept. of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
2006-2012 Doctoring / Clinical Skills 1 Program

In 2002 I received my Ph. D. from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant International University in San Francisco. Although my training in clinical psychotherapy was quite varied between families, couples, individual adults, children, and adolescents, my emphasis was family and child psychotherapy.

Over the past 15 years, my interests also grew! From assessment and advocacy of learning differences to child abuse prevention to pediatric quality of life!

I decided to specialize in Pediatric Psychology and in 2000, I accepted a position as an intern at the Department of Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital Oakland (CHO). After completing my dissertation and graduating from CSPP, I continued my training as a fellow at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

As a Pediatric Psychologist, I provide psychotherapy to children whose difficulties are related to a medical diagnosis. For example, a teen with Diabetes is rebelling against her parents by not following her medical regimen. Or, a child newly diagnosed with Cancer may experience depression or anxiety about returning to school. A patient awaiting an organ transplant may also benefit from therapy to ease tensions and to prepare for a new lifestyle! A medical diagnosis is also experienced by the entire family, so I also include parents, siblings and extended family members in the treatment process, if need be. I also co-created a multi-family obesity treatment program and designed a self-monitoring tool tailored for behavioral approaches to medical non-compliance. I presented both at annual conferences for the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP).

During my fellowship at CHLA, I was part of the 'School Age Clinic' – a multidisciplinary team (developmental pediatrician, psychologist, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech/language therapist) that evaluated and made recommendations for children with learning differences (LD), attention disorders (AD/HD), and conduct disorders. It was my role to provide psychological guidance for these children (and their families) and teach medical residents during their rotations.

I grew up watching both my brothers struggle with school due to their learning differences (Dyslexia). However, I also saw how, with the help and guidance of compassionate and caring professionals, they were able to overcome these challenges! It is my goal to continue to be a source of advocacy and guidance for children, teens, and young adults looking to overcome the frustrating challenges of LD and/or AD/HD.

As an instructor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, I took my role as teacher very seriously.  I believe that proper physicianship must incorporate ethical medical science but more importantly, it must include compassion and respect towards patients.  My great interest in health psychology and quality of life issues led me back to my alma mater.  I am honored to have been part of the Doctoring/Clinical Skills 1 Program.

As a Family/Child Psychologist, I provide psychotherapy to the entire family. Depending on the situation, family therapy may be broken down to separate sessions to include the primary caretakers with or without the child or children involved. Each family is unique are can best benefit from a tailored intervention plan!

Providing psychotherapy to individuals (adults, adolescents, or children) is also a great interest of mine. Personal growth and clarification of anxieties, strengths, and goals is part of the incredible therapeutic process!

Please contact me if can be of service to you or those you know.

Shahbaznia Alvarez, M. & Green, R.-J. Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, and Intergenerational Discrepancies in Acculturation as Correlates of Physical Violence Towards Children in Mexican American Families. Poster presentations at:
Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute (FVSAI) 10th International Conference on Family Violence. San Diego, CA, 2005.
The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) Annual Colloquium. Hollywood, CA, 2004.

Rafeedie, J., Miller, S., Shahbaznia Alvarez, M., & Huang, H. Step By Step: A Pediatric Multi-Family Pilot Intervention For Obesity. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association Conference as part of session: Pediatric Psychology-II. Honolulu, HI, 2004

Shahbaznia Alvarez, M. & Marcy, S. Self-Monitoring: A Behavioral Approach to Medical Non-Compliance in a Diabetic Adolescent Population. Poster presentation at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Conference as part of session: Adherence Issues. Charleston, SC, 2004.

Rafeedie, J., Carson, M., Marcy S., Shahbaznia Alvarez, M. Expanding Consultation: A Pediatric Psychology Training Model. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association Conference as part of session: Leading Edge Issues in Consulting Psychology. Toronto, Canada, 2003.

PRESENTATIONS:

Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, and Intergenerational Discrepancies in Acculturation as Correlates of Physical Violence Towards Children in Mexican American Families
May 2002

TELEVISION & RADIO APPEARANCES:

Kendra On Top

Expert guest psychologist for unscripted documentary series. WE tv. Prometheus Studios, Inc. 2013-2016.
http://www.wetv.com/shows/kendra-on-top

Los Niños en Su Casa

Expert guest psychologist on nationally-syndicated daily daytime television series devoted to the unique needs of people who care for children. In Spanish. Season 4 episode: "El Niño y el Adiós". PBS Television. June 4, 2008. http://www.losninosensucasa.org/question_detail.php?id=553

A Place of Our Own

Expert guest psychologist on nationally-syndicated daily daytime television series devoted to the unique needs of people who care for children. Season 4 episode: "Saying Goodbye". PBS Television. June 5, 2008. http://www.aplaceofourown.org/question_detail.php?id=554

The Greg Behrendt Show

Expert guest psychologist on nationally-syndicated daily daytime television talk show. Season 1 episode: "Single Dads Raising Teenage Daughters". Sony Pictures Television. September 21, 2006.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: