The Team

Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Laugeson is the Founder and Director of the UCLA PEERS Clinic, which is an outpatient program providing evidence-based social skills training for individuals from preschool to adulthood. Dr. Laugeson is also the Director for the UCLA Tarjan Center, which is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and Program Director for the Predoctoral Psychology Internship Program in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at UCLA. Dedicated to supporting those with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families, she has also held positions as Founding Director of The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance (2007 – 2017), Training Director for the UCLA Tarjan Center (2014 – 2021), Director of the UCLA Early Childhood Clubhouse Program (2007 – 2010), and Associate Director for the UCLA Parenting and Children’s Friendship Training Program (2007 – 2010).

Dr. Laugeson received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and completed her pre-doctoral psychology internship in developmental disabilities at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. She was a two-time recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health in 2004 and 2006, the recipient of the Semel Scholar Award for Junior Faculty Career Development in 2008 and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Pepperdine University in 2010. Dr. Laugeson has been a principal investigator and collaborator on a number of nationally funded studies investigating social skills training for youth with social difficulties from preschool to early adulthood and has authored four books related to social skills including the critically acclaimed, The Science of Making Friends.

As the developer of PEERS, Dr. Laugeson has trained tens of thousands of mental health professionals, educators, and families worldwide, and is dedicated to developing, testing, and disseminating evidence-based treatments to improve social skills for individuals across the lifespan and across the globe. As one of the only empirically supported and internationally recognized social skills programs for neurodivergent youth, her programs are currently used in over 150 countries and have been translated into over a dozen languages. Her work has been featured is numerous media outlets, including People Magazine, USA Today, the Washington Post, LA Times, New York Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and the Netflix series, Love on the Spectrum.

Shannon Bates, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in Los Angeles. Dr. Bates facilitates our parent/social coach groups across our preschool, teen, and young adult programs. She also leads PEERS^® Training Seminars for the adolescent, school-based, and young adult curricula. Dr. Bates was the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic Coordinator from 2010 to 2012, during which time she led teen, young adult, and parent/caregiver groups. She also co-led domestic and international PEERS^® Training Seminars alongside Dr. Laugeson. Dr. Bates obtained her undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech and her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. She completed her internship training at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center and her postdoctoral fellowship at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, where she specialized in the treatment of young adults and adults with severe mental illness, including trauma, chronic depression, addiction, suicidality, and self-harm.

Christine Moody, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Director of Research at the UCLA PEERS® Clinic. In her role, Dr. Moody facilitates many of our research efforts on the efficacy and implementation of the various PEERS® social skills programs. She also coordinates a large team of research assistants and contributes to the professional development of these aspiring clinicians and researchers in the field through various forms of mentorship. Dr. Moody is also a licensed clinical psychologist and serves as a group leader in our programs. Dr. Moody first joined the UCLA PEERS® team in 2018 and has experience in all of our groups, including the newer PEERS® for Careers and PEERS® for Dating research interventions. Outside of PEERS®, Dr. Moody leads the postsecondary education and employment initiatives at the UCLA Tarjan Center. Specifically, she is involved with multiple partnerships with the California Community College Chancellor's Office and California Department of Rehabilitation to support those serving young adults with developmental disabilities in these systems. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from UCLA and has been working with youth and young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families for over ten years. She completed her predoctoral clinical internship at St. John's Child and Family Development Center and her postdoctoral fellowship here at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in a split appointment between the PEERS® Clinic and UCLA TIES for Families, which provides mental health services for youth in foster care or who have been adopted from foster care. She is especially passionate about the importance of mental health, positive relationships, and bolstering systemic supports and awareness at all levels (e.g., families, schools, society) to promote positive outcomes.

Dr. Elina Veytsman is a licensed clinical psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist. She is an attending psychologist at the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic and facilitates youth and parent/social coaching groups across our preschool, adolescent, and young adult programs. She also facilitates groups for the PEERS^® for Dating and PEERS^® for Careers research programs. In addition, Dr. Veytsman leads PEERS^® Certified Training Seminars for mental health professionals and educators and PEERS^® Boot Camps for families and professionals. Dr. Veytsman obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology at UCLA and her PhD in School Psychology at UC Riverside, where she studied the experience of youth with developmental disabilities and their parents during their transition into adulthood. She completed her doctoral internship at The Help Group, where she specialized in providing therapy and parent training, and conducting diagnostic assessments for neurodiverse youth in school and outpatient settings. Dr. Veytsman began working with the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic in 2014 as a clinic coordinator and has since conducted the PEERS^® program in group and individual formats across clinical and school settings. She conducts individual PEERS^® with a limited number of clients through the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology, a private practice in Los Angeles.

Dr. Yasamin Bolourian, Ph.D., is the Research Supervisor at the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic. She received her doctorate in Education from the University of California, Riverside. Outside of PEERS^®, Dr. Bolourian is the Director of Outreach and Dissemination at the UCLA Tarjan Center. Her research focuses on neurodiversity, including postsecondary outcomes for neurodivergent students and service pathways for autistic youth and their families in community and school settings. She has led a number of initiatives aimed at reducing disparities and service inequities for families of youth with developmental disabilities in Inland Southern California that have been supported by the California Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS), the UC Riverside Center for Health Disparities Research (HDR), and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). Dr. Bolourian serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research and is the Co-Chair of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Special Interest Research Group for the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD). 

Dr. Rebecca Kammes is a licensed marriage and family therapist and completed her doctoral degree in Couple and Family Therapy as well as postdoctoral research training at the Center for Research in Autism, Intellectual, and other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities both at Michigan State University. Rebecca has 10 years of experience working as a couple and family therapist for individuals with Autism and other intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families. Rebecca’s research and clinical area of expertise is on the systemic risks and challenges of developing positive sexual identities and romantic relationships for older adolescents and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her work is based in the principles of community-based participatory research, with an emphasis on program evaluation to inform wider policy and practice issues. She has significant experience working in developing and delivering social skills trainings for individuals and families with disabilities across the lifespan. Rebecca is currently a clinical attending in the PEERS^® clinic and primarily works with the parents and social coaches in the teen and young adult programs, as well as running the PEERS^® for Dating program.

Dr. Lucy Vo, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and the owner of a private practice in Newport Beach, CA. Her practice specializes in providing comprehensive outpatient therapy for adolescents and adults facing challenges related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and mood concerns. She obtained her undergraduate degree from UCLA and earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University. Dr. Vo's professional journey includes roles at the UCLA Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program and the Kasari Lab. Her early involvement with the UCLA PEERS^® team as a research assistant in 2009 marked the beginning of her enduring passion for social skills training, a theme that has remained central throughout her career. Dr. Vo is PEERS^® certified and is bilingual in Vietnamese and English. Throughout her training, Dr. Vo demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusivity in mental health care. She completed her predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Western Youth Services, a community mental health clinic that specializes in trauma-informed care for children, youth, and families. During this period, Dr. Vo developed expertise in various evidence-based treatments, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Functional Family Therapy (FFT). Her passion is motivated by her interest in helping individuals learn how to navigate the social world in areas such as making friends, dating, career and stress-management.  

Sarah Bruce, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and serves as a clinical attending in the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic. Dr. Bruce also works in private practice at Spectrum Psych LA, where she provides individual therapy, family therapy, and diagnostic assessment to neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan and their families. Her areas of clinical interest and expertise include the intersection of autistic and LGBTQIA+ identities, complex clinical presentations, and family systems. Dr. Bruce earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, where she received advanced training in the treatment and assessment of autistic individuals. Dr. Bruce completed her postdoctoral fellowship at The Help Group and UCLA’s Semel Institute, where she provided clinical services to autistic individuals and their families and contributed to autism research. Currently, Dr. Bruce facilitates the PEERS^® for Young Adults clinical groups.

Leila Glass, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist specializing in comprehensive, evidence-based assessment in private practice as well as serving as a clinical attending in the UCLA PEERS® Clinic. Dr. Glass is PEERS® certified and has experience working across preschool, adolescent, and young adult programs. Dr. Glass received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and previously worked at the NIH as a trainee. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in San Diego and completed her internship and postdoctoral training at the UCLA Semel Institute. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Glass has been the recipient of several NIH grants and her research has focused on understanding the academic, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes associated with prenatal alcohol exposure, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities. Her primary interests lie in understanding individual neurobehavioral profiles to guide treatment planning for best outcomes.

Deanna Dow, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who facilitates the UCLA PEERS for Preschoolers Program. She is also the Founder and Clinical Director of Spectrum Psych LA, a private practice that specializes in working with children through adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and mood concerns through outpatient therapy, medication management, and assessment services. Dr. Dow has trained with the leading experts in ASD across the country, contributing to research in the field related to early detection and diagnosis of autism, parent-implemented treatment strategies, and co-occurring disorders including anxiety and depression. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, completed post-baccalaureate training at the University of North Carolina, and earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University. Dr. Dow completed her internship training and postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, where she worked in the Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental (CAN) Clinic, Parent Training Program, JASPER Baby Bears intervention study, Family STAR (Stress Trauma and Resilience) Clinic, ABC Child Partial Hospitalization Program, Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital Inpatient Service.

Josh Chou (he/they) is a Clinic Coordinator for the UCLA PEERS® Clinic. He coordinates and leads behavioral coaching in the PEERS® Social Skills Classes, PEERS® 5-Week Dating Classes, PEERS® Summer Boot Camps, as well as assisting aspects of the PEERS® for Adolescents and PEERS® for Dating programs. Josh graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology with double minors in Disability Studies and Global Health. His career interests focus on researching internalizing symptomatology development, maintenance, and treatment in socially-marginalized populations.

Kyra Fisher is a Clinic Coordinator for the UCLA PEERS® Clinic. She manages aspects of the PEERS® for Adolescents, the PEERS® for Preschoolers, and the PEERS® Virtual Boot Camp. She serves as a behavioral coach in these groups. She has also been involved with the PEERS® Social Skills Classes for Adolescents and Young Adults and has done research for the PEERS® Dating and the PEERS® for Careers Research studies. Kyra graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and disability studies. Kyra intends to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology in the future. Her research interests include the early assessment and intervention of young adults and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, and the intersection between these disorders and chronic illnesses.

Stephanie Gonzalez is a Clinic Coordinator for the UCLA PEERS® Clinic. She manages aspects of the PEERS® for Young Adults, PEERS® for Adolescents, PEERS® for Preschoolers social skills intervention, and the PEERS® for Careers research study where she serves as a behavioral coach. She coordinates the UCLA PEERS® Certified Training Seminars as well as the PEERS® for Dating research study. Stephanie graduated from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology where she earned her Master of Arts in Psychology. Prior to that, she graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development and a minor in Spanish. Stephanie intends to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology in the future. Her research and clinical interest include assessments and interventions for underserved adolescents with trauma history along with the impact parenting styles have on development.

Gabrielle Sotomayor (she/her) is a Clinic Coordinator for the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic. She manages aspects of PEERS^® for Young Adults and the UCLA College to Career Research Study. Additionally, Gabrielle supports PEERS^® for Preschoolers and PEERS^® Summer Boot Camps where she serves as a behavioral coach. Gabrielle graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. Her career interests focus on researching early intervention and assessment of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. She is especially passionate about the importance of mental health in neurodivergent populations and working with children and their families to foster positive relationships and mental health outcomes.

Diana Rodriguez is an Administrator for the UCLA Tarjan Center and the PEERS^® Clinic. She provides administrative and financial support for the programs. Administratively she assists with meeting planning, coordination of events, and the director's calendar, general staffing support and reimbursements for all Tarjan PEERS^® faculty and staff.  Diana joined the UCLA Tarjan Center and PEERS^® clinic in November of 2023. Her previous experience includes 7 years at the UCLA Department of Internal Medicine as an Administrative Assistant and 5 years in Family Medicine at St. John's Hospital as a Medical Assistant. 

Giselle Salinas is a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in the PEERS Clinic. Dr. Salinas earned her Ph.D. in Special Education at UC Riverside, focusing on the transition to adulthood experiences of young adults with developmental disabilities and their parents. As a graduate student, she supported Spanish-speaking families at a free autism screening clinic, offering guidance in special education advocacy and autism assessments. She also engaged in community-building initiatives with neurodevelopmental organizations in the Inland Empire to further connect families seen at the screening clinic. Her future research aims to explore the transition to adulthood for neurodiverse young adults while emphasizing cultural diversity and fostering community partnerships. In the PEERS^® Clinic, Dr. Salinas currently assists with the PEERS^® for Young Adults and the Educational groups.

Dr. James Yang is a postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in the UCLA PEERS^® Clinic. He earned his PhD in Human Development and Psychology at UCLA, where he studied the employment and post-secondary education attainment of high school students with autism under the mentorship of Dr. Connie Kasari. Dr. Yang has provided trainings and supported teachers from underserved communities to promote self-determination in students with developmental disabilities in school settings. His clinical and research interests include further understanding the role of adaptive functioning skills, self-determination, and co-occurring conditions on employment and educational outcomes of neurodiverse individuals. Currently, Dr. Yang supports the PEERS^® for Young Adults clinical groups and facilitates the PEERS^® for Careers research program. He also provides individualized format of PEERS^® for adolescents and young adults in clinical settings.  

Blake Warner is a Clinical Psychology Intern in the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Treatment Track at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. He is also a PhD candidate at the University of South Dakota, where he completed a two-year Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) traineeship. In addition to his work in the Tarjan Center at UCLA, Blake is involved with the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS^®), the Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental (CAN) Clinic, and EMPWR. Blake is passionate for policy and advocacy, and his research revolves around advancing access to clinical interventions such as PEERS^® for marginalized populations, including those in rural areas and the LGBTQ+ community.

Megan Micheletti is a Clinical Psychology Intern in the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Assessment Track at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. As an intern, she is involved in the Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental (CAN) Clinic, the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS^®) Clinic, and the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Clinic. She is a PEERS^® Certified provider and has experience with PEERS^® for Young Adults, PEERS^® for Adolescents, and PEERS^® Boot Camps. She is completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, where her research focuses on leveraging wearable sensors to examine the dynamics of everyday, naturalistic interactions between children and caregivers. Megan's clinical and research interests are rooted in supporting neurodiverse individuals and their families by improving early ASD detection and access to evidence-based interventions.

Chase Keyler is a Senior Research Assistant and Coach at the UCLA PEERS® Clinic, where he has served as a coach in the PEERS® for Young Adults groups, PEERS® for Dating groups, and PEERS® for Careers groups. Chase assists with certified training seminars, boot camp seminars, and is involved in coding projects related to PEERS® for Careers. Chase earned his M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University and will begin Pepperdine’s Clinical Psychology doctoral program this fall. His clinical interests include behavioral treatments for mood disorders within the ASD community.

Nathan is a research assistant and behavioral coach at the UCLA PEERS Clinic under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson. He is involved with the PEERS for Young Adults social training groups and is a member of the PEERS for Careers Employment Team. Nathan has several years of experience working in applied behavioral analysis and clinical assessment of individuals with developmental disabilities. He is completing his Master’s in Psychology at Pepperdine University and hopes to pursue a Clinical Psychology doctoral program. His clinical research interests include treatments for ASD, applications of music therapy, and cognitive effects of video games.

Mia Kim is a biology and education pre-major, who is passionate about promoting equal opportunities for education. She is interested in studying research-based pedagogical strategies, as well as working to implement these strategies in real-world settings. She enjoys volunteering in classrooms or other learning environments, because she gets to grow and learn alongside the people that she works with. In the future, she hopes to work as a teacher in public schools serving low-income communities, while also researching in the field of education.

Rose Malki is a second-year student at UCLA. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology and plans to attend Medical or PA school upon completing her undergraduate education. She has previous experience as a teaching instructor and hospital volunteer, and hopes to utilize her genuine love for science and helping others in all of her future work. Her research interests include neurological and developmental disorders and the effect of stress on health behaviors.

Liorit Kohanbash is a recent graduate of UCLA and plans on becoming a physician. Currently, she is taking her pre-med courses while working at different programs in order to broaden her experience and develop her skills. Some of the organizations that she works with include Cedar Sinai, UCLA KidsConnect, and Chai Lifeline. During her free time, she likes to spend time with friends and family, play sports, and go to the beach. She is excited to be a part of the Peers for Careers research team.

Anushka Chauhan is a third year at UCLA, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and hopes to attend medical school or PA school. She loves contributing to and supporting various underserved communities and enjoy exploring new fields of lab research. During her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends, family, and cooking.

Kimiya Aframian is currently an undergraduate student at UCLA pursuing a degree in Psychobiology (B.S.) and minor in Disability Studies. She intends to continue in a health care professional career following graduation. Kimiya's past research experience involves neuroscience and she has an interest and prior engagement in the neurodiverse community.

Emma Chang is a second-year undergraduate student at UCLA. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in psychology and hopes to continue studying psychology in graduate school. Her research interests include autism spectrum disorder and social psychology.

Ricardo Garcia is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology (B.S.) at UCLA. He intends to pursue medical school with the intention of entering the field of pediatrics. He currently writes for the Daily Bruin as a sports reporter.

Tyler Samuelson is a third-year undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Psychobiology and minoring in Disability Studies. She hopes to attend dental school after graduating from UCLA in a few years. She is involved in some pre-health clubs on campus, as well as leadership for her sorority. Outside of school, she likes to run, shop, eat, and spend time with friends.

Sania Tuli is a senior research assistant at the UCLA PEERS Clinic under the mentorship of Dr. Laugeson. She is currently a student at UCLA pursuing a major in Human Biology and Society and a minor is disability studies. After she graduates, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and also continue working with kids with ASD. Sania primarily works in the PEERS for Adolescents groups and PEERS for Preschoolers groups. Aside from her work in PEERS, Sania is an intern for the Indian Health Services and loves to engage in community service throughout the Los Angeles area.

Emma Miller is currently a senior at Harvard-Westlake High School and will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Northwestern University next year. She is a senior research assistant in the PEERS for Adolescents groups and the PEERS Friendship, Conversation, Dating, and Bully-Proofing Bootcamps. Emma hopes to eventually pursue a career in medicine while continuing to work with autistic adolescents and young adults.