PsychSanDiego is a full service psychotherapy practice founded by Dr. Rafael M. Reyes and Dr. Alessandra Wall in 2006.  We provide individual, family and group psychotherapy (for children, adolescents and adults, including couples). PsychSanDiego is also proud to offer specialty seminars and workshops on a regular basis.

At PsychSanDiego we believe in teaching people how to implement new strategies in their daily lives to help them achieve full potential. We teach our clients how to identify and change distorted thought patterns so they can attain more positive and balanced moods. We approach much of our work using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model. We understand, however, that every person is unique, and we maintain an eclectic treatment approach to provide individualized treatment plans for each person.

We strive to provide assessment and treatment for our clients in an ethical and professional manner. We understand the difficulties people face when confronted with problems in their lives.  Choosing the right therapist can be an intimidating process. We have created a nurturing and supportive environment where clients can feel safe, build their coping skills, and learn to lead more positive and productive lives.

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Rafael M. Reyes, Psy.D.

Dr. Rafael M. Reyes is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of PsychSanDiego.  He works with both adults and children and specializes in treating depression and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.  Dr. Reyes approaches each patient individually and in conjunction with the patient, generates a specific treatment plan that is designed to improve overall functioning.  He uses a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy approach to psychotherapy – a proven method that facilitates learning new coping skills to achieve more balance and improve a person’s level of functioning. 

Dr. Reyes has twelve years of experience in the field of psychology.  In addition to his work at PsychSanDiego, he is affiliated with Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital.  At Sharp, Dr. Reyes is one of the primary psychologists at the Cognitive Intensive Outpatient Program (Cog-IOP), where he manages patient’s care and facilitates group psychotherapy for an adult population.  Dr. Reyes is also the primary supervisor for the psychology fellow at Cog-IOP and facilities lectures and seminars for the intern class at Sharp.  At Rady Children’s Hospital, Dr. Reyes performed developmental evaluations on infants and young children on a per diem basis.     

Dr. Reyes obtained his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and a Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.  He has worked and trained in a variety of settings including: Cook County Juvenile Court, DePaul University Counseling Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Polinsky Children’s Center, Scripps Health, Psychiatric Centers at San Diego and Alliant International University. 

Dr. Reyes is bilingual and bicultural. He is fluent in Spanish and can comfortably conduct therapy both in English and Spanish.  He is currently accepting new patient’s and is available to provide seminars and lectures on request. 

To view Dr. Reyes’ resumé click here

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Reyes, or for more information click here.

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Alessandra Wall, Ph.D.

Dr. Alessandra Wall is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of PsychSanDiego. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, childhood behavioral problems and parenting. Through the most appropriate combination of individual and/or group psychotherapy, seminars and workshops, she helps individuals restore balance and regain control in their daily lives.

At times negative moods, thoughts, and behaviors seem to come from nowhere and can make you feel like you are losing control. Dr. Wall works with each of her patients so they understand why they experience negative thoughts and feelings, and learn effective methods to create lasting change. Using a combination of cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic approaches, she focuses both on short-term symptoms, as well as on long-term factors that underlie her patients’ issues, to help them reach a greater understanding of themselves.

Dr. Wall obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas, Texas. She has worked in a variety of settings including: Henry Wade Juvenile Detention Center, the psychiatric emergency room, Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, and the Chronic Pain Management Program at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital, as well as the Day Treatment Program and Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Program at Dallas’ Childrens Hospital.

Dr. Wall moved to San Diego in 2004 to work for Psychiatric Centers at San Diego (PCSD) where she conducted individual and group psychotherapy, as well as parenting and psychological testing at their Child and Adolescent Center. She briefly worked with Applied Interventions Methodologies (AIM), a program that provides psychological, behavioral and educational services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other Developmental Disorders. She currently conducts psychological screenings for incoming candidates to the Southern California Seminary’s graduate psychology program.

Dr. Wall can conduct sessions in English and French. She is currently accepting new patients, and is available for daytime and early evening appointments. For more information on the types of services she provides, and to learn more about her workshops and seminars please go to the services page.

To view Dr. Wall's resumé click here

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wall, or for more information click here

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Dimitra Takos, Psy.D.

Dr. Dimitra Takos is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in treating adults with depression, anxiety, bipolar, and eating disorders.  She works closely with each of her patients to understand the presenting problem in order to tailor treatment to achieve lasting change.  With focus on a collaborative relationship, she assists the patient in understanding the relationship between negative thought patterns and emotions, and teaches them effective coping skills to decrease symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. 

Dr. Takos uses an array of empirically validated treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her practice.  She has several years experience in the field of psychology and has worked and trained in a variety of settings including: University of California Irvine Child Development Center, Family Service Agency of San Francisco, Contra Costa County Community Mental Health, San Francisco Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Newton Medical Group, and the Eating Disorders Program at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital.

Dr. Takos obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco with an emphasis in health psychology.  She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Irvine with a minor in Women’s Studies.  She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Boston VA Healthcare System/Harvard Medical School, and her post doctoral fellowship at the Cognitive Intensive Outpatient Program at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital in San Diego. 

Dr. Takos keeps evening hours at PsychSanDiego.  In addition to her work at PsychSanDiego, she is one of the primary therapists at the Cognitive Intensive Outpatient Program (Cog-IOP) and the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Intensive Outpatient Program at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. 

Dr. Takos is bilingual in English and Greek and can conduct therapy in both languages.  She is currently accepting new patients. 

To view Dr. Takos' resumé click here.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Takos, or for more information click here.

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Amy Ornelas, R.D.

Amy Ornelas is a Registered Dietitian. She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, weight management, and wellness nutrition.  In addition to her specialties, she has a broad background in medical nutrition therapy.  Utilizing the non-diet approach, she works with her clients in a collaborative way in order to elicit behavior change and help them reach their personal nutrition goals. 

Amy obtained her Bachelor's of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition from San Diego State University.  She then went on to complete a rigorous internship at the VA San Diego Medical center, after which she earned her RD.  She has worked in a variety of settings including:  Kitchen Specialist for the Research and Development department of Jack in the Box; Clinical Dietitian in the ICU and Cardiac units at Scripps Chula Vista Medical Center; Consultant Dietitian providing weight management and wellness counseling services for Science Fitness; and as the Director of Nutrition for the Residential, Partial Hospital, and Intensive Outpatient treatment of eating disorders at Puente de Vida. 

Amy is currently accepting new patients, and is available for daytime, evening and weekend appointments.

To schedule an appointment with Amy, or for more information click here.

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Terra Schmookler, Ph.D.

Dr. Terra Schmookler is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in treating adults with anxiety and mood disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, phobias, depression, and bipolar disorder. She also specializes in working with clients who feel that they don't fit into a specific category of disorder, but who struggle with difficult life transitions, decision-making, relationship issues, or enacting the change that they would like in their lives. Dr. Schmookler works collaboratively with her clients to identify their values and their goals for treatment in order to achieve the change they desire in their lives, relationships, and mood.

Dr. Schmookler is committed to integrating treatments that research shows to be effective. Her therapeutic approach combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with psychodynamic and humanistic principles. Negative thoughts and feelings can seem overwhelming and, at times, unbearable. Dr. Schmookler uses proven techniques to help clients understand what causes these feelings and works with clients on strategies for managing and reducing them. Therapy is tailored to an individual's specific needs to meet immediate goals, as well as help clients build tools for long-term balance and well-being. The focus of therapy is generally on current struggles, situations, and feelings, with an exploration of earlier experiences when they seem to be interfering with present-day difficulties.

Dr. Schmookler earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. She was trained in a variety of clinical settings, including a university counseling center, outpatient hospitals and clinics, inpatient hospitals, a forensic setting, and a substance abuse treatment program. The focus of her clinical training has been providing individual and group therapy, as well as conducting psychological assessments (including neuropsychological, cognitive, personality, and ADHD assessments). She has also worked with bariatric surgery patients, both in pre-surgery evaluation and post-surgery therapeutic support. Her research has focused on ego development, positive personal growth, gender differences in relationships, and medical health risk-perception and decision-making. Dr. Schmookler has worked for the past several years in private practice, focusing on individual therapy and psychological assessments with children and adults.

Dr. Schmookler is currently accepting new patients, and is available for daytime and evening appointments.

To view Dr. Schmookler's resumé click here.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Schmookler, or for more information click here

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Mariel Diaz, LCSW, Esq.

Mariel Diaz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in the treatment of adults with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, grief and loss, and unresolved grief.  She is also interested in working with people going through divorce and helping to facilitate co-parenting of children during and after divorce. Mariel has experience providing individual, group, couples and family therapy.  Mariel also specializes in teaching boundary setting and assertive communication skills. 

Through a combination of skills based and insight oriented psychotherapy she identifies the underlying causes of problems and collaborates with her patients to create an action plan to bring about lasting change. Mariel takes an eclectic approach tailoring the treatment to fit the client and draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy.  Mariel also frequently uses concepts of Mindfulness in her delivery of psychotherapy.

In addition to her work at PsychSanDiego, Mariel is one of the primary therapists at Sharp Mesa Vista’s Outpatient Eating Disorder Program where she provides individual, group, couples and family therapy on a daily basis.  Mariel also teaches courses in the Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy program at University of Phoenix in San Diego.

Mariel holds a Masters degree in Social Work from San Diego State University and Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Family Issues from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.   In addition, Mariel hold a Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law.

Mariel is currently accepting new patients, and is available for daytime, evening and weekend appointments.

To view Mariel's resumé click here.

To schedule an appointment with Mariel or for more information click here

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Erin M. Foley, Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. Erin M. Foley is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and families.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Loyola University New Orleans and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.  In addition, Dr. Foley has obtained Specialty Board Certification in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Dr. Foley has over ten years of experience in the field of psychology.  She completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital in San Diego.  Her postdoctoral fellowship included a specialty concentration in child and adolescent treatment issues.  Over the past ten years Dr. Foley has worked and trained in a variety of clinical settings including: Seamen's Society for Children and Families in Staten Island, New York; ARC of Monmouth County New Jersey; Lyons VA of New Jersey and Montrose VA of New York; the Cognitive Intensive Outpatient Program and Changes Adolescent Chemical Dependency Program at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital; and Travis County Juvenile Probation Department in Austin, Texas. 

Dr. Foley serves as editor and writer for The MindBender, PsychSanDiego's monthly newsletter.  She regularly contributes articles and news items that are relevant to the field of psychology and offer helpful tips for balancing life and improving functioning.