Carol Lynn Hecht (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor with a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in counseling from Chatham University. Dr. Hecht’s clinical work includes community engagement and extensive experience counseling individuals with cancer. Her work alongside individuals with terminal illness has inspired her research into end-of-life counseling.

Additionally, Dr. Hecht’s interest in mindfulness informs her contemplative approach to her clinical work as well as her teaching philosophy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, painting, reading, practicing yoga, and exploring the outdoors.

Dr. Jason Branch has almost 20 years of experience in the mental health and counseling profession. Dr. Branch has worked in higher education, community and agency mental health centers, city government, and substance abuse treatment facilities. Dr. Branch is the Founder and CEO of J. Branch and Associates, a virtual clinical group private practice that provides therapy services to adults, adolescents, couples, and families in multiple states (CA, GA, NJ, PA).

Dr. Branch is an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a National Board for Certified Counselor (NBCC) Minority Fellow (2016). Dr. Branch is also a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC), a consultant, and a counselor educator that engages in professional and scholarly work focused on Black male experiences, mentoring, cultural awareness, and increasing the practice of self-care for helping professionals.

Dr. Branch obtained a dual degree in psychology and sociology from the University of West Alabama. He completed his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Branch earned his doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Auburn University

Dr. Curry graduated from Alliant International University in 2013 as one of only five graduates of the inaugural cohort in the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program then housed in the San Francisco Bay Campus and began her academic career in the same program as adjunct faculty in 2018. Facing adversity and lack of public understanding of the behavioral health license of Professional Clinical Counseling. Dr. Curry embarked on a continued journey of professional advocacy for the license in public policy, academia, government institutions, community organizations, and a multitude of other professional settings. As part of Dr. Curry’s advocacy journey, she completed her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision specializing in Advanced Research Methods and co-founded a nonprofit organization UnseenXS to address social justice issues around the world including the acceptance and understanding of the LPCC license, professional development of novice counselors and graduate students, and positive impact of LPCC/APCC in the field of behavioral healthcare.

In addition to her roles in academia and as CEO of UnseenXS, Dr. Curry has also served as a Subject Matters Expert with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and holds several professional organization memberships including Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), and the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC). Dr. Curry has worked in both the public and private sectors of behavioral healthcare and is dedicated to continuing to encourage and empower clinical counselors and encourage higher education to expand the options for graduate education in the field of clinical counseling in California. Dr. Curry’s research interests include both domestic and international women’s studies, refugee and transmigration experiences, intergenerational trauma, multiculturalism, race relations, and government policy.

Dr. Reihaneh Mahdavishahri has earned her Psy.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University.  She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California.  Dr. Mahdavi has worked at community-based agencies and non-profit clinics as a therapist and served on several boards as a director and co-founder including the board of training and education, research, and diversity, equity and inclusion board.  Most recently, Dr. Mahdavi has offered consulting services to community-based providers and agencies, helping them create trauma-informed care systems and enhance the mental health professionals' ability to support clients from diverse backgrounds. Her clinical work has focused on women's issues, maternal wellness, immigration, intense couples therapy using Emotionally Focused Therapy, and working with LGBTQIA+ clients and their families.

Dr. Mahdavi's research continues to focus on addressing the needs of clients of color navigating the mental health care system and identifying barriers to effective and culturally informed care.

Roxanna Cooper, received her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix in 2016. Now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), she specializes in Solution-Focused , Attachment Based, Theraplay Therapies with children, adolescents, primarily in the School-Based setting. Her clinical interests include empowering children and strengthening their interpersonal relationships, supporting women in helping them to better understand themselves and their evolving roles, and supervising and training Trainees in entering the workforce. 

Currently, Roxanna works full-time as a Licensed Mental Health Clinician through San Diego Unified School District, supporting students with IEP's and developing assessments, goals, and collaborating with other related service providers to meet the needs of the students. Additionally, Roxanna is now an Adjunct Faculty for the San Diego Campus and supporting students through their Practicum course. Her goal is to start her own clinical practice in months that follow.

Dr. Ashley Maureen Diaz is an Assistant Professor in the Online MA in Clinical Counseling program at Alliant International University. She graduated with a PhD in Counselor Education from The Pennsylvania State University, with a specialty in counseling children, adolescents, and families. She is dedicated to social justice advocacy through teaching, clinical work, and service. In addition, Dr. Diaz enjoys regularly presenting her research at regional, state, and national conferences. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from The University of Texas at El Paso. Her clinical experience includes bilingual mental health counseling services in multiple settings: outpatient, inpatient, partial hospitalization, and college counseling centers. Dr. Diaz has also worked as an Equity Liaison and clinical counselor in a K-12 school district and facilitated efforts and initiatives to create a more equitable learning environment. Her research interests include culturally and linguistically responsive counselor training and supervision, counseling Latinx adolescents and families, and social justice/equity concerns in K-12 and post-secondary education settings. Her self-care includes traveling across the world, hiking in National Parks, spending time with family and friends, and salsa dancing.

Deborah Koons-Beauchamp is a doctoral candidate in the Couple & Family Therapy program at the University of Iowa and is anticipating graduation the summer of 2023. Deborah earned a MA in Marriage & Family Therapy from Mount Mercy University, MBA from University of Phoenix, and a BS in Psychology from Brigham Young University. Deborah worked as a corporate executive for over 20 years before beginning her career as a Couple & Family Therapist.

Deborah’s research focuses on relationship qualities that serve as protective factors against the negative impact of body image distress. Deborah is a TLMFT with a small private practice, and also practices at the University of Iowa LGBTQ Counseling Clinic. Deborah loves to teach, and her goal is to help develop the next generation of Couple & Family Therapists.

I’ve been in the mental health field since 2008 and have held positions in research, peer support, administrative support, program management, private practice, teaching, clinical supervision, and County administration. I completed my PsyD in 2020 at Alliant San Diego and published my research that explored relational dynamics in married gay Asian Americans.  

As a therapist, I value diversity and I use trauma informed approaches including Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Feminist Family Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy to support change in my clients.  As an educator, I use strengths-based methods to teaching and learning with strong attention to diversity and equity.

Ms. Bauerle holds a Bachelor of Science in Management, and a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Alliant International University.  

Practicing since 2017 as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she focuses her work in couples and sex therapy. 

She enjoys working with clients who identify as LGBTQI, and/or practice Polyamory, BDSM, and other alternative lifestyles.  Her clinical focus includes individual and couple’s therapy, relationship and conflict resolution, pornography and sex therapy, infidelity and affair recovery. 

She has been married for 38 years and has 2 grown children and currently is completing a Sex Therapist certification with The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) on Advanced Training in Problematic Sexual Behaviors, as well as her Supervisory certificate with AAMFT.

Ms. Bauerle takes great joy in her clinical work and teaching.

Emily Ringle is an adjunct instructor with the Alliant Online Campus. A clinician with approximately ten years experience (and going :) ), Emily has worked in community mental health and private practice, working primarily with children ages 5-19 and their families. Emily has training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Collaborative Assessment and Measurement of Suicidality (CAMS) protocols.