Our Team
PsychiatryOC Team
Founder
Sina Safahieh, MD
Dr. Safahieh's mission is to provide personalized, high-quality care on an as-needed or preventative basis. We have created a practice that we believe in and would choose for our own family members
Dr. Safahieh is the founder and director of psychiatryOC since first opening in 2014 and is a double board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in business management. Dr Safahieh graduated with a medical degree from University of Texas Medical Branch and completed his adult psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship at UC Irvine.
Dr Safahieh has staff privileges at Hoag Hospitals and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). He has been the medical director of the ASPIRE and young adult intensive outpatient programs since their inceptions at Hoag Hospitals in Newport Beach and Irvine. Dr Safahieh is a team psychiatrist for the Los Angeles Chargers and an NFL and MLB certified clinician. He takes pride in being directly accessible to his patients and treats his patients as they were part of his own family.
2
Board Certifications
4
Medical Directorships
28+
Press Articles
17+
Years Clinical Experience
Team Member
Michael Hwang, MD
Dr. Hwang is a is a double board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist
Dr. Hwang graduated San Diego with a bachelor of science in Biology. Additionally, Dr Hwang graduated with a medical degree from New York Univeristy (NYU) of completed his adult psychiatry residency at Tulane University. Furthermore, He completed a child & adolescent fellowship at UC Irvine.
Dr Hwang has been on staff at Kaiser Permanante, was medical director of SoCal Adolscent Wellness Intesnive outpatient program. He was also on staff at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) where he was an attending physician at the inpatient center, outpatient psychiatry clinic and BAN clinic (eating disorder clinic).
Team Member
Stella Cai, MD
Trained at UCI and USC, and a former Trustee of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Cai is dedicated to supporting lasting emotional well-being
Dr. Stella Cai is a double board-certified psychiatrist in Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, with years of experience helping children, teens, and adults thrive.
She has a special interest in ADHD, mood disorders, and women’s mental health, providing personalized, evidence-based care tailored to each patient’s needs.
Dr. Cai has worked in a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities for teens, inpatient and crisis services, and outpatient care, helping patients build resilience through a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach.
Team Member
Reinald “Rei” Revilla, PMHNP
Rei Revilla is a board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with 11+ years of clinical experience
His professional 11+ years of experience are dedicated to excellent patient outcomes through a team-oriented approach, thorough assessment, judicious pharmacology, patient education, and development of individualized treatment plans. He graduated from California State Univeristy, Dominiquez Hills with a bachelor of science in nursing and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a master of science In nursing. He has been a clinician at College Hospital medical center and Del Amo Hospital.
Team Member
Jonathan Wu, PMHNP
Jonathan Wu is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, who has years of experience working in a variety of settings with both psychiatry and emergency medicine.
His experience includes working at hospitals such as Long Beach Memorial, Children's Hospital Orange County (CHOC) and Kaiser Permanente. He has worked on the Mental Health Inpatient Center at CHOC as well as being on the Consult Psychiatric Liaison Services team at Kaiser Permanente. Jonathan also has many years of experience working in the emergency room.
Jonathan graduated from California State University Long Beach, while also attending Roseman University for his undergraduate degree in nursing. Jonathan loves working with all ages, but has developed an affinity in caring for children, adolescents, and young adults. Jonathan has years of experience working in the inpatient setting, dealing with ADHD, depression, anxiety, psychosis, mood swings and more.
He believes that the foundation of effective treatment begins with kindness and a willingness to listen. He values open communication, transparency, honesty, and encourages his patients to voice their questions, concerns and feelings.
Team Member
Prerna Rao, LMFT
Prerna Rao is a licensed marriage family therapist with 15+ years of clinical experience working with the adolescent and adult inpatient and outpatient populations
Her experience has encompassed working in collaborative environments that have extended from supervising interns, facilitating treatment team meetings to leading and orchestrating quarterly psychiatric meetings and operations of large mental health and chemical dependency programs.
Prerna prefers working directly with patients and their families utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectal behavioral therapy and is trained in trauma therapy EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing). Prerna graduated from California State University Fullerton with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and graduated from National University with a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology -MFT.
She is currently adjunct faculty at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she teaches graduate students. She was the clinical manager for outpatient mental health for the ASPIRE and young adult intensive outpatient programs at Hoag Hospitals in Newport Beach and Irvine. Prerna was clinical director of Laguna Treatment Hospital and clinical director of Solid Landing Behavioral Health, as well as Director of Social Services at Bayfront Youth and Family Services.
Team Member
Joey Estella, LMFT
Conduct comprehensive individual, group, and family therapy for male youth and their families
With expertise in CBT, mindfulness, EMDR, and DBT, Joey makes therapy a space for healing, mental fitness and resilience. Embark on a transformative journey where you finally master anxious thoughts, break free from trauma, and find balance in your relationships. In our sessions, you will find a safe space to share, while also be challenged to embrace change. For personal and professional
development, I provide strategies for motivation and clarity to help you excel and achieve ambitious goals. Together, we will break free from barriers, unlocking your full potential for a happier, balanced and purposeful life.
The modalities I use are Trauma informed CBT, DBT, motivation and Mindfulness. I also offer EMDR Therapy. EMDR targets & reprocesses traumatic/ distressing memories, allowing the mind to heal and find new meaning- leaving the past in the past and giving you strength, insight and peace in the present.
Team Member
Eric Foti, LMFT
Over 20 years’ experience treating mental health and addiction issues
Eric uses a solution focus that incorporates a wide variety of modalities tapered to your needs. He treats many issues including family of origin, addiction, primary mental health, couples, trauma, and more.
Eric is an EMDR trained therapist who help clients process painful experiences that disrupt their life and well-being. Everybody is different, therefore, he combines breathwork, meditation, ACT, CBT, as well existentialism and spirituality to help you on your path to wellness.
Team Member
Melissa Paramo, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in:
- working with couples/marital relationships, individuals, and families since 2007
- Psychedelic Integration and Ketamine Assisted Therapy
- Certified Gottman therapist Level 2
Melissa specializes in a broad spectrum of symptoms and disorders including depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. She received her undergraduate degree in Child and Adolescent Studies from California State University, Fullerton in 2002 and went on to complete Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University in 2006. She has been in private practice for since 2012. In addition to being a psychotherapist, she is a mother to her 4 children and wife to her husband since 2010.
She is passionate about private practice and her clients where she utilizes an eclectic therapeutic approach, tailored to clients’ personalities and specific therapeutic needs. She often utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Psychodynamic, and Gestalt to name a few. Melissa is also certified in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Integration and offers both guided sessions and/or integration sessions. She has also completed some levels of certification in The Gottman Method, which can be helpful in working with couples. Facilitating connection in couples, helping individuals manage their symptoms by tapping into their own strengths and helping guide an individual to identify his or her most authentic-self is a value of Melissa’s and how she views her practice in psychotherapy.
Team Member
Valeri Trezise, LMFT
Valeri is a licensed marriage and family therapist, EMDR Consultant, clinical supervisor
She has been in the field of mental health for over 10 years and has worked with diverse populations in a variety of settings; including treatment centers, hospitals and schools. She has assisted her clients in navigating successfully through high risk behaviors such as cutting, suicidal ideations, suicide attempts, dissociation, personality disorders and complex PTSD. Valeri has specialized trainings in addiction, eating disorders, trauma, first responder mental health and EMDR therapy. She is knowledgeable and skilled in her practice and can confidently take on complex cases. Valeri believes that the most important part of therapy is connecting with her clients by showing up as her authentic self. She is gentle, yet direct and taps into “innate strengths and abilities that every person has; whether they realize it yet or not” to create lasting progress
Team Member
Kristina Lieu, LMFT
Kristina is a licensed marriage and family therapist that offers EMDR therapy with over 7 years of experience
Kristina is a licensed marriage and family therapist who offers EMDR therapy. With over 10 years of experience in mental health and specialized training in addictions, eating disorders, infant mental health, complex trauma processing and systemic therapy, Kristina has the capabilities to work with even the most complex clients. While she provides therapeutic services for both teens and adults, she especially enjoys working with couples and families. An advocate for accessible mental health services, Kristina operates in a social justice framework to provide a holistic approach that accounts for the correlation between personal experiences and broader systemic expectations and norms. As a neurodiversity- and LGBTIA-affirming therapist, Kristina prioritizes cultivating a safe space for clients to be able to be their unmasked and authentic self. Kristina helps her clients tap into their natural strengths and abilities to co-create an individualized treatment plan that emphasizes increased awareness and lasting growth.
Team Member
Karli Rutledge, LMFT
Karli is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist specializing in children, teens and young adults
She has had the privilege of working in schools and outpatient treatment centers with adults, adolescents, and couples. During these experiences, she has supported clients through a variety of life’s challenges, including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, self-harm/suicidal ideation, personality/identity issues, and trauma. Using a client-centered approach, Karli frames therapy as a safe and empathetic space for her clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment.
Karli has a passion for exploring the intricacies of attachment and inner child work; and believes that understanding these deeply rooted aspects of our lives can be transformative in healing past wounds and building healthier relationships in the present. She is dedicated to her client’s treatment as not only a profession, but as a sincere commitment to supporting them in achieving a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Team Member
Bahar Farzanmehr, LCSW
Bahar is a licensed clinical social worker with advanced training in evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders, trauma, mood disorders, and obsessive-compulsive
spectrum conditions
She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University, where she focused on clinical practice with complex mental health presentations, building on a strong academic foundation in psychology from UC Irvine. Bahar’s clinical experience spans psychiatric hospitals, outpatient programs, and private practice, giving her a deep understanding of a wide range of mental health needs. She integrates evidence-based modalities such as CBT, ACT, and ERP to help clients build resilience, reduce avoidance, and move toward meaningful change. Her therapeutic style is warm, direct, and collaborative. She works with adolescents and adults in person and virtually across California, supporting clients in navigating life’s challenges with clarity, strength, and self-compassion.
Team Member
Sara Kachineh, LMFT
Sara Kachineh, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience providing compassionate, culturally responsive, and evidence-based care to adults, young adults, couples, and families.
She has worked with diverse populations across a wide range of settings, including domestic violence shelters, treatment centers, victim-of-crime programs, and multicultural clinics. Her clinical specialties include anxiety disorders (including high-functioning anxiety and perfectionism), trauma, substance use, relationship concerns, burnout, and codependency. Grounded in the belief that “shame dies when stories are told in safe places,” Sara approaches therapy with empathy, authenticity, and curiosity. Sara offers therapy in both English and Farsi.
Sara holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA, with a minor in Near Eastern Languages. In addition to her private practice, she has held leadership roles in mental health clinics and institutes, supervising clinical and community care programs, managing multidisciplinary teams, leading federally funded initiatives focused on multicultural mental health, and designing and presenting nationally on Alzheimer’s and dementia care models. Her clinical approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based practices, and somatic and trauma-informed care. She is known for her warm, intuitive presence and her ability to support deep emotional work while helping clients develop practical, sustainable skills for daily life.
Team Member
Jennifer Moncrief, LEP
Jennifer Moncrief is a Licensed Educational Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in public education. She is passionate about supporting children with diverse learning needs and empowering families to navigate the educational system with clarity and confidence.
Jennifer’s career in schools across Orange County, as both a special education teacher and school psychologist, has given her a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities children and families face. Jennifer’s approach is compassionate, individualized, and strengths-based, with a focus on understanding and addressing the unique needs of each child.
Jennifer has an extensive knowledge of special education systems, laws, and student rights. She works collaboratively with families to interpret evaluations, navigate the IEP and 504 processes, and advocate for appropriate services and placements. Jennifer’s experience across the public school system allows her to bridge the gap in communication between families, school teams, and other service providers, ensuring student and family needs are clearly understood and effectively addressed.
Jennifer is driven by the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and every family deserves to feel that they are supported by their child’s educational team. Jennifer is committed to helping families feel informed, empowered, and supported at every step of the process.
