Milieu Manager

Serynna Von Gogh, BA

Serynna attended California State University, Fullerton and earned a B.A in Psychology and in Women & Gender Studies.

Serynna joins the team with a strong background in Behavioral Health and a passion for helping others. Prior to CFD, Serynna was a Behavioral Health Case Manager in Arizona in the Birth-to-Five Program, specializing in providing clinical support to children with trauma under the age of 5. Over the years, Serynna has interned and volunteered with several nonprofits locally and globally. Her background includes providing support with various populations affected by homelessness, poverty, and human trafficking. In college, Serynna traveled internationally to Thailand as a volunteer teacher. During that time, she renovated a local school, assisted in childcare, implemented preventative measures against natural disasters, and cared for endangered animals.

Serynna is creative, enthusiastic, and a pleasure to be around! We’re thrilled to welcome her to the Newport Beach team. In her free time, she enjoys anything art related, volunteering, hiking, and traveling.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Raquel Katangian-Ayala, Psy.D

Dr. Raquel Katangian-Ayala is a Registered Psychological Assistant who obtained a PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Katangian-Ayala received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine in Psychology and her Master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Dr. Katangian-Ayala entered the clinical field as an ABA therapist working with children who have been diagnosed with Autism and Developmental Disorders. She has experience in forensic, inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient settings. Diagnostically, she has worked with both adults and adolescents who struggle with depression, anxiety, mania, psychosis, substance use, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, eating disorders, and personality disorders. She also has extensive training in psychological testing assessing intellect, personality, and learning disorders.

Dr. Katangian-Ayala implements evidence-based modalities when providing treatment. Her theoretical orientation encompasses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Person-Centered, and Motivational Interviewing. She tailors each modality and treatment plan to best suit the need of each individual. She believes her ability to demonstrate empathy, compassion, and authenticity contribute to providing a safe environment towards a path of recovery.

Primary Therapist

Emily Rubenstein, AMFT

Emily Rubenstein is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Center for Discovery, having obtained her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University. A Massachusetts native, Emily completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Framingham State University.

Emily joins CFD with 5 years of experience working in residential treatment in different capacities. She has worked with adult men and women working toward treatment from co-occurring eating disorders and substance use disorders from a trauma-informed perspective. Emily has 2 years of experience in community mental health working with a diverse population of individuals, couples, and families on skill-building and emotional connection. She also has training in non-directive play therapy for the purpose of healing families through repairing attachment bonds.

Emily is passionate about the mind-body connection and helping guide clients on their recovery path using a holistic approach. She sees treatment through a person-centered, collaborative lens to help her clients voice their needs and set goals that feel attainable for where they are in their unique journey. Additionally, she utilizes narrative techniques to bring awareness to the importance of language in the way we perceive our past experiences, as well as how we continue to author our ongoing stories.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Stacey Rombough, RD

tacey Rombough joined the Center For Discovery team in January 2010 as a diet technition for the Whittier and Lakewood locations working with eating disorders. During this time she completed the ISSP Dietetic Internship through California State Long Beach, which furthered her education in nutrition while interning at Placentia Linda Hospital, College Hospital, and Newport-Mesa School District.
As a Registered Dietitian, Ms. Rombough hopes to further improve the health of the clients with eating disorders as well as assist them in incorporating the “All Foods Fit” motto into their daily lives.

Ms. Rombough attended California State University of Long Beach and graduated with a bachelors of Science degree in nutrition and Dietetics in May of 2011. She was on the President’s list (GPA 3.75-4.0) her last two years at Long Beach.

Counselor

Amy Messiha, MA

Amy M. Messiha graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Argosy University in Nashville, Tennessee.  She obtained her Masters in Counseling from Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado.  She has experience working in a setting that offers psychiatric residential treatment services to children and adolescents struggling with emotional and behavioral issues.  She also has experience working in a setting that offers residential treatment for young people with intellectual disabilities, problem sexual behaviors, emotional disturbance and co-occurring medical conditions, and extreme aggressive and defiant behaviors.

Amy runs Newport’s Saturday program and has been recognized for the creativity and passion she brings to every group. Amy tailors her groups to accommodate all learning styles. From Neuroscience to Whole-Hearted Living, Amy’s groups are fun, dynamic, and therapeutically rich.

She has been proudly serving in the U.S. Army since 2005.  In her free time she loves to spend time with family, friends and her two mini schnauzers – Rocky & Bella Rose.

PSYCHIATRIST

Michael Louie, DO

Louie received his medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences and went on to complete his psychiatry residency training at Loma Linda University.

Dr. Louie is well versed in treating adult, child and adolescent, and geriatric patients.  Dr. Louie has an understanding and ability to treat a range of disorders including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction, and psychosis.

Dr. Louie’s therapeutic and empathic approach to treating clients, as well as his composed and caring demeanor, are just a some of the many reasons why he is a beloved and respected member of the Newport Beach treatment team.

UR Care Coordinator

Alyssa Gonzalez, BA

Alyssa is the UR Care Coordinator in our Eating Disorder Outpatient Department. She developed a passion for psychology in her undergrad and received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. Alyssa has a background in working with college students at her former University and worked as a school-based counselor in Placentia. She began working at Center for Discovery as a counselor at our Lakewood residential location in 2018. While working there she gained insight into the complexity of eating disorders and wanted to learn more. In 2019 she accepted a position to work in the UR department; advocating and ensuring utilization of benefits for our clients. She is currently obtaining her Master’s degree in clinical psychology at Azusa Pacific University and will graduate in May 2020.