ABOUT US
At the California Psychology Center, we are dedicated to providing caring therapy using approaches proven to be effective. We tailor our extensive knowledge of psychology to your unique needs, helping you meet your goals.
Our Center was founded by Stanford psychologists with advanced therapy training and experience. We offer the highest quality treatments for anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, low self-esteem, and many other life struggles. We also help people who generally feel good to understand themselves better and thrive.
MEET THE TEAM
KATIE FRACALANZA, PHD
Clinic Director
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Katie Fracalanza is the Clinic Director and co-founder of CPC. She is a licensed psychologist (PSY28652) specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders, worry, OCD, social anxiety, panic, and depression. Dr. Fracalanza has expertise in providing supervision, consultation, training and support to other therapists and medical professionals.
In addition to her work at CPC, Dr. Fracalanza is a Clinical Associate Professor and the Director of Psychotherapy within the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Clinic at Stanford University’s School of Medicine.
PETER ASTON, PSYD
Director of Clinical Services
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Peter Aston is the Director of Clinical Services and co-founder of CPC. He is a licensed psychologist (PSY32050) who provides individual psychotherapy to older adolescents (14+) and adults. He specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders, OCD, depression, stress and trauma.
In addition to his work at CPC, Dr. Aston is a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, where he splits his time providing psychotherapy to individuals with mood and anxiety disorders and providing speciality treatments within the OCD clinic and with Stanford Athletics. Dr. Aston provides training and supervision to psychology fellows and psychiatry residents at Stanford.
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KAI ALEXANDER, PSYD
Psychological Assistant
Dr. Kai Alexander is a psychological assistant who provides individual and family therapy to children (7+), adolescents, and young adults under the supervision of Dr. Peter Aston. Dr. Alexander uses a cognitive behavioral framework that is informed by both person-centered concepts of ACT and family and community systems. Her work centers on youth and transitional age youth who are striving to overcome the challenges associated with anxiety, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorders, relationships, and transitions through different phases of life.
Dr. Alexander earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Pacific Clinics. Her research and clinical work have focused on developing and adapting interventions for youth and families from culturally diverse populations.
Dr. Alexander is passionate about collaborating with clients to find an approach that meets their needs and are in alignment with their personal and cultural values. She hopes to create a safe space for clients to gain confidence, better their mental and emotional wellbeing, and most importantly be their genuine selves.
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SUTHA JOHNSON, PHD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Sutha Johnson is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY33108) who provides individual psychotherapy to adults. She specializes in cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and other evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders, social anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, and stress.
Prior to joining CPC, Dr. Johnson was a psychologist at the University of Michigan’s Counseling and Psychological Services and MARI Rackham Psychological Clinic. In those positions, she provided insight and solution-oriented therapy to adults from diverse backgrounds with multiple competing demands and strong desire to succeed in academics and career settings.
MAYA SZTAINER, PSYD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Maya Sztainer is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY32215) who provides individual psychotherapy to adolescents and young adults. Her work is informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other evidence-based treatments with an interest in helping clients navigate concerns around anxiety, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, relationships, and life transitions.
Dr. Sztainer earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at San Jose State University Counseling and Psychological Services followed by a postdoctoral residency with the Kaiser Permanente Department of Psychiatry Child and Family Team. Her own identity and multi-cultural background informs her work and passion for working with clients from a diverse set of backgrounds.
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KEARA VALENTINE, PSYD
Director of Child & Adolescent Training
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Keara Valentine is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY32873) who provides individual psychotherapy to children (7+), adolescents, and adults. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety, panic, and depression.
In addition to her work at CPC, Dr. Valentine is a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. Dr. Valentine has experience treating individuals with OCD and anxiety disorders at various levels of care including outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential.
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AXEL VALLE, PSYD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Axel Valle is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY32979) specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy and other science-based treatments for anxiety disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other trauma-related problems. He conducts therapy in both English and Spanish.
In addition to his work at CPC, Dr. Valle is a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, where he provides therapy in the mood & anxiety, OCD, and PTSD clinics. He also works with Stanford student athletes who struggle with anxiety disorders. Dr. Valle is the co-director of La Clinica Latina, where evidence-based treatments are provided for people who speak Spanish.
OUR APPROACH
COMPASSIONATE
Therapy that Cares.
We view it as an honor to walk alongside you, the expert of your own life, and to understand your lived experience, values, and history. Research is now showing that being cared for and learning to be kind to oneself are fundamentally important to human well-being and personal growth. We care about our clients – their struggles, their treatment, and their progress. We work with you to thoughtfully pair you with a therapist on our team that you are most likely to connect with. All providers on our team are dedicated to offering a nonjudgemental, kind, and genuine relationship to all we work with.
SCIENTIFIC
Therapy that is Effective.
We are experts in therapy and in research on optimizing therapy. As such, we are committed to providing care with the strongest scientific support. We offer the gold standard treatments for our clients’ specific difficulties. These include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT), and mindfulness-based approaches. You can expect to learn about yourself based on the most up-to-date theories of human development, and to be guided in applying what we know from research to your specific situation and goals. We put science to work to help you thrive. Learn more about these approaches here.
TAILORED
Therapy that Fits You.
There is no one-size-fits-all therapy. We believe in personalizing therapy to you, our client. We work with you to establish a clear understanding of what keeps you stuck. Then we help you learn new skills to overcome unhelpful patterns, to move toward the life you want. We offer the therapeutic tools that are most relevant to each individual person, integrating elements from several scientifically validated therapy approaches with your unique life experiences, identity, and goals. The result - more efficient progress toward a full, meaningful life, consistent with your personal values.
OUR VALUES
Our values include connection, honesty, and lifelong learning. We strive to live out these important cornerstones both inside and outside of the therapy room.
Inside of the therapy room, you will be valued and treated with respect, care, and kindness. We operate transparently and give our clients honest feedback.
Outside of the therapy room, we engage in teaching with the mission of disseminating evidence-based training and decreasing mental health stigma.