Our Team
Dr. Nancy Muirhead, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist (Psy14996)
Specialist in Assessment and Testing
Dr. Kaycie Deane Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist (Psy29824)
Specialist in Assessment/Testing & Psychotherapy
Dr. Nancy Muirhead is a clinical psychologist and specialist in psychological assessment and testing. She has worked in the field of attention and learning disabilities since 1993. In 1995, Dr. Muirhead founded and coordinated services for the Attention Deficit Disorders Clinic at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. In 2000, she established the Center for Attention and Learning Disorders at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. In 2002, Dr. Muirhead developed a family services unit at a non-public school for children with complex neuro-regulatory disorders.
In 2000, Dr. Muirhead established Dr. Muirhead & Associates, now Attention, Learning, and Developmental Services (ALDS), a multi-disciplinary team of specialists providing comprehensive care to children and adolescents with AD/HD, learning disabilities, anxiety, mood disorders, and developmental delays. In addition, Dr. Muirhead has provided educational seminars and workshops on attention and learning issues to local agencies, public and private schools, mental health training programs, and parent support groups. Dr. Muirhead had the honor of serving as the keynote speaker at Egypt’s first conference on attention and learning disorders in youth.
Dr. Kaycie Deane is a clinical psychologist who earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has nearly two decades of clinical experience working with and assessing children and adolescents with a particular expertise in the areas of AD/HD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, anxiety, and mood disorders, as well as parent education. Dr. Deane also oversees all academic services within the practice.
Dr. Deane specializes in diagnostic assessment and is certified to administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), which is considered the gold standard in the field of diagnosing autism. In addition to assessment, Dr. Deane has extensive experience in both researching and implementing effective interventions for children and adolescents with autism and co-morbid disorders such as anxiety. Dr. Deane has a comprehensive understanding of the impact of executive functioning delays on academic performance and other school-related challenges, which she has obtained through her work with students from Kindergarten through college in private, public, and non-public schools and universities.
Dr. Tiffany Secrest, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist (Psy30958)
Specialist in Assessment and Testing
Lindsay Drennen, M.S.
Educational Advocate, Learning and Academic Services Specialist
Dr. Tiffany Secrest is a clinical psychologist with specialized training in assessment and testing. She earned her Masters Degree at Pepperdine University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University. Dr. Secrest gained extensive training conducting comprehensive assessments as a Post-Doctoral fellow at the Psycho-Educational Diagnostic Services (PEDS) program at the Reiss-Davis Child Study Center, where she provided psychoeducational, neuropsychological, attentional, and psychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults.
Dr. Secrest has been working clinically with children, adolescents, and their families for over ten years, including various school-based settings where she worked collaboratively with teachers, principals, behavioral aides, and school psychologists to ensure comprehensive care for the students she worked with. She has extensive experience working with AD/HD, learning disorders, anxiety, mood disorders, and trauma. Dr. Secrest has worked with many individuals presenting with complex diagnostic pictures and works to disentangle these issues through a strength-based approach to comprehensive assessment testing.
Lindsay Drennen holds a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. For nearly two decades, she worked in the school setting in a teaching, learning specialist, academic coach, and counseling capacity. She has supported students who have a variety of learning and neurodiversity needs including AD/HD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Specific Learning Disorders, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, Lindsay has provided holistic support through fitness, nervous system education, and nutrition counseling. For many years she has acted as an educational advocate helping guide families through the IEP, 504, and school placement process in a clear, collaborative, and supportive manner. Lindsay has partnered with many of the local independent private schools as well as public school districts to serve as a resource to students and their families.
In addition to earning an M.S. degree, Lindsay is also an Applied Behavior Analyst, certified nutritionist, and certified health and wellness coach. Her well-rounded academic and professional experience allows her to have a multifaceted and comprehensive approach when serving students and families.
Selene Boyd, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW117620)
Child, Adolescent, Adult & Family Psychotherapist
Academic Coaching Coordinator
Jackie Saldana, AMFT
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT127624)
Child, Adolescent, & Adult Psychotherapy
Selene Boyd is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Azusa Pacific University. As a therapist, Selene has experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as their families, to address challenges related to mental health. Selene strives to create a safe and welcoming space for all identities and has extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ youth and families with diverse backgrounds. She takes a strength-based approach when working with clients in order to create lasting change.
Selene is passionate about working with youth to improve their daily functioning and quality of life by increasing self-esteem and empowering clients to make positive changes in their thinking and behavior. She utilizes mindfulness, emotional regulation techniques, and interpersonal effectiveness skills to help clients address various areas of their lives and create enduring change. Her areas of focus include ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), anxiety, depression, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), family conflict, adjustment disorders, and substance use. Selene has worked in a variety of mental health settings, including crisis intervention and community mental health clinics. She is trained in various evidence-based treatment models including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and solution-focused therapy.
Jackie Saldana is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Her graduate education focused on providing therapeutic intervention with specific training in mindfulness, family systems, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Jackie is also personally interested in self-acceptance and understanding achieved through motivational interviewing.
Coming from a community mental health background, Jackie has an extensive understanding of mental health crisis support and integrative care. She has experience working with school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as the LGBTQ+ community, treating a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), strained family dynamics, challenges associated with life transitions, and interpersonal conflict. Her intervention work has also focused on identifying and validating feelings, self-acceptance, self-care, and life balance.
As a therapist, Jackie works to foster an environment of acceptance, free from judgment, for all identities and backgrounds. As an Asian American clinician, she strives to embrace diversity, by focusing on the individual as a whole. She uses a culturally sensitive approach to work with those who are struggling with internal motivation and emotional expression. Through a strengths-based approach, Jackie aims to assist clients in managing emotions while building skills to overcome personal challenges.
Lindsey Gaudenti, M.A.
Educational Therapist
Amanda Hungate, M.A.
Educational Therapist
Lindsey Gaudenti has worked as an Academic Coach at Attention, Learning, and Developmental Services (ALDS) since 2015. With a strong dedication to education and academic support, Lindsey has worked as a teacher, learning specialist, supervisor, and test proctor at local non-public and private schools throughout the South Bay and Los Angeles. She has successfully worked with children and young adults with varying diagnoses (AD/HD, learning disorders, autism, anxiety, mood disorders, and developmental delays) and has a highly specialized understanding of each child's unique learning needs.
With a B.A. in philosophy and a minor in neuropsychology, Lindsey's academic studies centered on pedagogical philosophies, ethics, and neurological implications for those with learning and developmental disabilities/differences. Lindsey obtained her Master's Degree in Educational Therapy (2021) at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN). CSUN has one of the only two master's programs developed in coordination with the Association of Educational Therapists (AET). Lindsey specializes in reading development and interventions for children with executive function disorders, dyslexia, dyscalculia, giftedness, and twice-exceptional diagnosis.
While Amanda was still very early in her educational journey, she knew that she wanted to share the adventure of learning with learners of all ages. She earned her teaching credential in Early Childhood Education from the University of Northern Colorado and then went on to pursue her Master’s Degree in Educational Therapy from the University of Cal State Northridge.
While teaching, she discovered her love of working one-on-one with students to help ignite their confidence and motivation to learn. Amanda loves to bring education to life and she thrives on creating relationships to help students make learning “their own” as they grow to become successful, confident, and independent learners. As a teacher, Amanda was trained in the Love and Logic approach for educators. She has also completed several certifications and trainings as an educational therapist including Wanda Senseri’s Spelling to Write and Read (SWR), an approach based on the work of Romalda Spalding and Dr. Samuel Orton who worked with dyslexic children. She has additionally completed the multi-sensory Secret Stories curriculum, which uses brain-based strategies to help children learn “why” letters make the sound that they make, and most recently Amanda has begun her training in the Orton Gillingham practices.
Elizabeth Clark
UCLA PEERS Certified
Academic Coach
Joshua McCuen, M.F.A.
College and Life Skills Advisor
Elizabeth Clark has worked in the education field for nearly 5 years as an assistant/associate teacher and learning specialist supporting the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students. She has been dedicated to providing a compassionate child-centered approach to working with a neurodivergent population in order to foster a safe place for growth and individuality. Elizabeth has supported a number of children and adolescents with a variety of diagnoses, such as AD/HD, Autism, Dyslexia, specific learning disorders, OCD, Anxiety, Depression, ODD, and intellectual disabilities. Beyond the classroom, she previously volunteered at Pediatric Therapy Network’s Camp Escapades where she earned the Whitney Young Spirit of the Heart Award in 2014.
Since 2022, Elizabeth has worked as an Academic Coach at ALDS. Additionally, she earned her 3-6 Montessori credentials as well as her UCLA PEERS certification as a Coordinator for Adolescent Social Skills Intervention Groups. With a B.A. in Psychology, Elizabeth is capable of successfully analyzing the needs of each individual she works with in a holistic way and strives to create supportive connections that allow for positive personal growth. Elizabeth is currently applying to PsyD Clinical Psychology programs in the hopes of specializing in social, emotional, and behavioral support for the neurodivergent community.
Joshua McCuen holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing. For the last decade, he has been an adjunct professor of academic writing, an academic and career coach, and a writing and humanities tutor; he currently holds a part-time position as an academic coach and advisor at a university in the Pacific Northwest. Joshua has experience working with a range of students with varying educational needs including AD/HD, ASD, anxiety, depression, and complex learning profiles. He has expertise in helping college students maneuver through their newfound freedom and increased course load, as well as supporting high school upperclassmen in preparation for higher education.
Joshua collaborates with each student to craft a personalized mission statement. This statement draws out not only their academic goals but also their broader life ambitions, helping them to leverage their inherent strengths to overcome current obstacles. He also advises the student on how to make best use of the resources that each college possesses. Joshua employs a holistic approach that prioritizes both the development of executive functioning skills and the cultivation of a healthy balance between academic achievement and personal well-being.
Academic
Coaches
Our Academic Coaches are committed and compassionate professionals dedicated to supporting students for success both in and out of the classroom. Each coach comes with diverse life-experiences and are carefully matched with their student, taking into consideration the student’s individual needs, personality, and interests. Our coaches have a specialized understanding of the critical role executive functioning plays in academic success and are able to mentor students in improving time management, organization, motivation, self-advocacy, and effective study skills through empirically-supported interventions.