compassionate | knowledgeable | collaborative | diverse
Dr. Stephanie Byrd
psychologist / director
Hi! I’m Dr. Stephanie Byrd and I’m a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. I help adults from varying backgrounds and with all different kinds of struggles. With over 20 years of experience behind me I still find myself curious to learn more about my clients and the amazing resilience and strength they possess. I am passionate about the work I do and grateful to be part of your courageous journey! I truly believe in the value of therapy, the power of the therapeutic relationship and the healing we can do together. I would love to have you learn more about my work and how I may be able to help you.
Lesli Mathis, LCSW
therapist / clinical supervisor
Hello! My name is Lesli Mathis and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with teens and adults who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, life transitions, or traumatic experiences. Whether you are experiencing crisis in your life, or working to manage daily stressors, I can provide the help you need to feel successful and fulfilled. I look forward to helping you on your journey toward healing and growth!
Taylor Poppmeier, LCSW
director of business development
I’m glad you are here! My name is Taylor. I am a Clinical Social Worker with experience in community health and substance use treatment. I enjoy helping people through tough transitions, whether that be from one stage of life to another, through loss, or even a career transition. Taking a step towards prioritizing your mental health can be intimidating. Exposing our vulnerabilities isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. I would be honored to accompany you as you lean into those difficult spaces.
Claudia Dominguez, LPCC
Therapist / practice manager
Hi there, my name is Claudia Floros (she/ella) and I am a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California. My clinical experience varies from working with young to middle aged adults, first- generation individuals, and those caught in between life transitions wanting to feel a bit more at ease with the decisions that lie ahead. I’ve helped individuals struggling with a number of issues including intimacy with both self and others, communication barriers, and the burden sometimes felt from responsibilities and life commitments. It would be an honor to get to connect with you to learn of helpful tools and practices for you to reach your truest, deepest self.
Tiffany Lin Lasky, LCSW
Therapist
Hi there! My name is Tiffany Lin Lasky, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I earned my master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Southern California. My diverse experience in working with adults, adolescents, children, and families in multicultural settings have allowed me to gain an in-depth understanding of unique challenges that people experience. I currently specialize in working with individuals and couples who have struggles with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, difficulty managing stress, life adjustment, trauma, grief and loss, and familial conflict.
Chelsea Walkerow, LPCC
Therapist
Hey there! My name is Chelsea (she/ her) and I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. My journey began on the east coast in south Florida, I studied Psychology & Studio Art at the University of Central Florida and then moved west to complete my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of San Diego. I’ve had a range of experiences from providing individual & group therapy to a diverse community college student population to offering field-based mental health services to the most in- need individuals experiencing homelessness, severe mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. I use a person- centered and trauma- informed approach with every client by working collaboratively together to identify what a rich & meaningful life would look like for you.
Julia Burke, LCSW
THERAPIST
Hi, I’m Julia and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I strive to create a space where my clients feel validated and supported. Using a collaborative and solution-focused approach, I work with my clients to help them be their most authentic selves and process life’s stressors. Whether it is to manage work stress, family turmoil, life stages, or everyday stress, everyone deserves space to work through these challenges and for someone to listen. I am honored to partner with you during your process!
Gissell Rodriguez, LMFT
THERAPIST
Hello! My name is Gissell Rodriguez and I am a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am committed to providing all my clients with compassionate support, an affirming space to be themselves, and a lens of curiosity and acceptance free of judgment. I work with adults and couples challenged by relationship issues, trauma, grief, life transitions, anxiety, somatic symptoms, identity confusion, gender dysphoria, depression, and neurodivergence. My hope is to help you identify and break out of cycles that are no longer serving you, renew your sense of hope & zest for life, and create lifelong changes. Resilience brought you here, and may vulnerability, compassion, curiosity, and connection light the way home to your truest self.
Miriam Collada, LMFT, LPCC
THERAPIST
Hi! I am Miriam and I am originally from Oregon but relocated to San Diego where I obtained my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy with Latinos/as at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Psychology in Irvine. While identifying as a narrative therapist, over the years I have been trained to use other theoretical interventions such as CBT, DBT, Harm Reduction, and Motivational Interviewing. As a clinician at bareWell I hope to help you by working collaboratively on identifying what adventures you might want to go on as well as how to navigate what they might encounter along the way.
Dr. Ericka Wray
Psychological Associate
Hello - I have over a decade of professional experience in the mental health field accrued in both the US and Europe. Most of this experience has been spent working with older adolescent and adult populations. I have significant experience providing individual and group therapy to military service members and their families. Through focusing on firefighter mental health issues during my doctoral program (as well as being a “fire wife”), I have also become a specialist in mental health issues within the fire service.
Jessica Egan, ACSW
Associate THERAPIST
Hi, my name is Jessica Egan. I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker. I bring a comprehensive understanding of human development and psychological processes to my clinical practice thanks to my educational foundation. I have worked in a variety of settings providing support to clients from hospice patients and their families to veterans and their dependents. More recently, I have focused on teens and adults struggling with eating disorders. I am passionate about normalizing clients' struggles and value an individualized approach to therapy. I recognize that every individual is unique and find value in tailoring treatment strategies to suit the specific needs and circumstances of each client.
Laura Todd, LPCC
THERAPIST
I’m Laura and I’m so happy you’re here. I’m a licensed therapist with years of experience working with a variety of clients in a multitude of settings - from schools to community agencies to meetings at the beach and/or residential treatment facilities. I tailor my approach to the individual and their needs, as opposed to a rigid, overly-clinical agenda. My dynamic experiences, personally and professionally, allow for a unique, open-minded, and adaptive perspective that supports me in establishing a comfortable place for you to grow, be challenged, be seen, and heal.
Sherri Ardekani, LCSW
THERAPIST
Hi there! I’m Sherri and I’m a graduate of Saint Louis University with over 20 years of clinical experience working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I started my career in community mental health working with adolescents in a residential substance abuse program. From there, I provided counseling to children at schools, ran an adult substance abuse Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and was also part of my father's private practice. I most recently worked at St. Louis Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and ran my own practice as a Linehan Board Certified DBT therapist.
Jonathan Ramos
Intake Coordinator
Hello! My name is Jonney Ramos and I am an intake coordinator at bareWell, as well as a therapist trainee at Palo Alto University. I'm originally from the Bay Area and have been living in San Diego since 2018. In my clinical training, I've worked with adults dealing with personality disorders, substance abuse, life adjustments, and relationship goals. I am dedicated to learning different ways to help people find healing. In previous career experience, I've worked with medical billing, customer service, scheduling, and marketing.
Ariana Hernández, AMFT
Marketing Assistant
Welcome! My name is Ariana, but most people know me as Ari. As a marketing assistant, I manage bareWell’s social media and blog. These platforms provide insights on a variety of mental health topics and help you get better acquainted with the dedicated team at bareWell. I’m also a therapist and have worked with clients of all age groups in different settings, offering my services both in-person and through telehealth sessions. These dual roles give me a unique perspective that enable me to create content to help you navigate your mental health journey.
