The Heart & Soul of CTLC
Meet the people who bring CTLC’s work to life.
Our Team
Sherry Casper, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Founder & Clinical Director
Dr. Sherry Casper founded CTLC in 2008 to bridge a gap between rigid behavioral interventions and developmental approaches, bringing together the practical tools of behavior analysis with a deeper understanding of development and relationships. Her work integrates developmental science, clinical psychology, relational practice, and more than 20 years of experience supporting children, adults, families, and professionals.
She has also shaped CTLC as a place where clinicians, trainees, and other professionals can discover the work they want to do and grow toward meaningful careers of their own. Mentoring that growth is one of the deepest joys of her work, offering knowledge, resources, and encouragement while helping each person build a path that reflects who they are and what they hope to contribute.
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Her clinical work considers the whole person, including development, relationships, history, strengths, environment, and the patterns contributing to current concerns. This perspective has shaped CTLC’s guiding principles of understanding before intervening, relationship before technique, development before diagnosis, and strengths before deficits.
Her experience spans psychotherapy, autism and neurodevelopmental assessment, infant and early childhood mental health, parent guidance, and clinical supervision.
Her career began in group homes and residential treatment programs supporting children with significant emotional and behavioral challenges. She later worked with children with traumatic brain injuries at the May Institute and served as Autism Services Coordinator for the San Diego Regional Center.
Her background also includes research in Dr. John Cone’s Behavioral Assessment Laboratory, examining children’s social behavior, parent-child interactions, and behavioral assessment methods. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, applied behavior analysis, and reflective practice.
As a founding member of the Southern California BRIDGE Collaborative, she contributed to the collaborative work that developed Project ImPACT for Toddlers. She also served multiple terms on San Diego County’s Children, Youth and Families Behavioral Health System of Care Council and on the board of the Infant Development Association of California.
She is a California-licensed clinical psychologist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level, and a California-endorsed Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Reflective Practice Facilitator II. She provides supervision and consultation across CTLC’s clinical programs, supporting thoughtful, individualized care and the development of emerging clinicians.
Assessment Psychologists
Dr. Maria Frailey
Assessment Psychologist
Dr. Frailey brings more than 30 years of experience in child neurodevelopmental assessment. Her evaluations are grounded in getting to know the whole child, identifying individual strengths and needs, and looking beyond a diagnosis alone. She also brings bilingual Spanish-English expertise.
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Her evaluations focus on understanding each child’s individual developmental profile rather than reducing the process to a diagnostic label. She works collaboratively with families to recognize strengths, identify areas where additional support may be helpful, and translate assessment findings into practical recommendations.
She also recognizes that the diagnostic process can feel unfamiliar or overwhelming and strives to make it understandable and supportive for families from beginning to end.
Dr. Frailey is bilingual in English and Spanish and has specialized expertise in culturally and linguistically responsive bilingual assessment.
Dr. Erich Haezebrouck
Assessment Psychologist
Dr. Haezebrouck provides evaluations for children and young adults with concerns related to autism and other neurodevelopmental differences. His work is thorough and research-grounded, with attention to understanding how developmental, cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive factors fit together.
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His extensive assessment experience spans the lifespan and includes work in schools, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, jails, and juvenile detention settings. He has also worked with individuals experiencing serious mental health conditions, giving him a broad perspective when considering complex diagnostic questions.
His evaluations emphasize well-validated measures, careful clinical reasoning, and an understanding of how developmental history, abilities, challenges, and everyday functioning fit together. The goal is not simply to determine whether a diagnosis applies, but to provide a clearer picture of the individual and recommendations that are useful in daily life.
He earned his doctorate in psychology from the University of Denver, where he specialized in psychodiagnostic assessment and testing, and has more than ten years of experience as a licensed psychologist. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, backpacking, nature photography, and spending time with his family and pets.
Dr. Nierika Gilbert
Assessment Psychologist
Dr. Gilbert works primarily with older children and adolescents, with particular experience in neurodevelopmental evaluations for youth ages 11–17. Her approach emphasizes understanding the young person first, then considering how assessment findings help clarify strengths, needs, and diagnostic questions.
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Her approach considers development, behavior, strengths, challenges, and everyday functioning alongside standardized testing. Her clinical experience includes outpatient, inpatient, and juvenile justice settings, as well as earlier work providing ABA services to children with autism.
She completed an APA-accredited internship with Monterey County Behavioral Health’s Children’s Division followed by postdoctoral training with Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i’s Child and Family Team. She has completed live training in the ADOS-2 and ADI-R and remains engaged with current research in neurodevelopmental assessment.
Dr. Shira Max
Assessment Psychologist
Dr. Max specializes in developmental and psychological assessment with young children, particularly ages 3–5. She works collaboratively with parents and adapts the assessment process to each child’s developmental needs while maintaining the structure needed for meaningful standardized evaluation.
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Her evaluations begin with the questions and concerns families bring with them. She works closely with parents to understand a child’s developmental history and adapts the assessment process to the child’s developmental level, communication style, and individual needs.
She earned her Doctor of Psychology degree from Chaminade University and completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Loma Linda VA Medical Center. She also brings more than a decade of experience within the Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency, including assessment, behavioral health consultation, clinical supervision, and provider training.
She is licensed in both California and Hawai‘i and remains actively engaged in continuing education and professional development.
Psychotherapists
Kristina Zion, MS
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Kristina works with children and adults, with particular experience supporting autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory needs, and emotional regulation. Her warm, flexible approach helps clients feel understood while finding practical ways to navigate everyday challenges.
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Her work begins with understanding how each person experiences the world, including what helps them feel regulated, what becomes overwhelming, and what they need in order to engage comfortably in therapy.
Sessions are adapted to the individual rather than following a single format. Depending on the client, therapy may incorporate conversation, movement, sensory strategies, mindfulness, art, or play. The goal is to help clients better understand themselves, strengthen regulation, and develop approaches that work in everyday life.
She earned her Master’s degree in Child Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Mental Health from San Diego State University. Outside of CTLC, she teaches children’s aerial yoga.
Carolyn
Newtson-Lukas, MA
Pre-Doctoral Trainee & Psychotherapist
Carolyn works with adults navigating a range of mental health concerns. She believes meaningful change takes time and that understanding, patience, and consistency are just as important as any particular technique.
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Her perspective is shaped by more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health. She began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2008 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2019. Her work has included children and families, school-based services, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In psychotherapy, she builds on that background using cognitive behavioral and process-based principles, with an emphasis on understanding the individual and the patterns contributing to current concerns before deciding how best to intervene.
Carolyn is pursuing her Doctor of Psychology degree at Capella University and holds a master’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University. At CTLC, she is also developing experience in psychological assessment and neurofeedback, including its use as an adjunct to psychotherapy.
Her psychotherapy work is grounded in cognitive behavioral and process-based principles, with an emphasis on understanding the person and the patterns contributing to current concerns before deciding how best to intervene.
Carolyn is pursuing her Doctor of Psychology degree at Capella University and holds a master’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University. At CTLC, she is also developing experience in psychological assessment and neurofeedback, including the use of neurofeedback as an adjunct to psychotherapy.
Kalle Tompro, MSW
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Kalle works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship concerns, work stress, self-esteem difficulties, and life transitions. She brings a collaborative, strengths-based approach to helping clients better understand themselves and create meaningful change.
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Her work focuses on understanding both what is difficult and what may already be working. She helps clients explore the thoughts, emotions, experiences, relationships, and patterns that may be contributing to current concerns while identifying practical opportunities for change.
Her approach is trauma-informed and guided by process-based cognitive behavioral principles. When appropriate, she may incorporate strategies associated with CBT, DBT-informed approaches, Internal Family Systems, and solution-focused therapy.
Kalle earned her Master of Social Work from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Her experience includes crisis counseling, services for people experiencing homelessness, telehealth, and outpatient psychotherapy. Outside of work, she enjoys running, ultimate frisbee, and spending time with her husband and dogs.Her work is solution-focused and incorporates strategies associated with CBT, DBT, IFS.
Kalle earned her Master of Social Work from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Her experience includes crisis counseling, services for people experiencing homelessness, telehealth, and outpatient psychotherapy. Outside of work, she enjoys running, ultimate frisbee, and spending time with her husband and dogs.
Pre-Doctoral Trainees
Idalys Flores, MA
Trainee – Psychological Assessments
Idalys is a third-year doctoral student who provides psychological assessment services to children and adolescents with a focus on developing diagnostic clarity while recognizing each young person’s individual strengths. Her clinical experience includes school, community mental health, residential, and forensic settings.
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Guided by a belief in “unity in difference,” she approaches assessment with an appreciation for individuality and strengths as well as areas where additional support may be helpful.
Her clinical experience includes schools, community mental health, residential programs, and forensic settings, working with individuals from toddlerhood through emerging adulthood. These varied experiences inform the curiosity and openness she brings to each assessment.
Idalys is pursuing her Doctor of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, including paddleboarding and hiking.
Michelle
Rodriguez Monge, MA
Trainee – Psychological Assessments
Michelle is a third-year doctoral student who works with children and families from a developmental, trauma-sensitive, and strengths-based perspective. Her work is informed by an understanding of early development, relationships, regulation, autism, attachment, and trauma, and she provides services in both English and Spanish.
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Her clinical interests include early childhood development, autism and developmental differences, attachment and early relational health, trauma, caregiver support, emotional and behavioral regulation, and pediatric psychology.
At CTLC, she participates in psychological and developmental assessment and intervention services using a developmentally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach. She values helping children feel safe enough to be themselves and sees caregivers as important partners in creating lasting change. Michelle provides services in both English and Spanish.
She is pursuing her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Family and Child Psychology at Alliant International University, where she also earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology. She previously earned bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from Northeastern University.
Supervising Psychologists
Dr. Stephanie Dunnick
Clinical Supervisor
Dr. Dunnick provides clinical supervision at CTLC, supporting developing clinicians as they strengthen clinical judgment, integrate theory with practice, and grow in confidence and professional identity. Her supervision is informed by experience in trauma and occupational stress as well as broader clinical practice.
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Her clinical background includes more than 10 years of experience with complex trauma, post-traumatic stress, occupational stress, and the psychological effects of chronic high-stress and critical incidents. She has particular expertise working with first responders, public safety professionals, medical personnel, and others exposed to occupational trauma.
She is trained in EMDR and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Level II. In supervision, she supports developing clinicians in case conceptualization, clinical decision-making, professional growth, and thoughtful selection of evidence-based interventions.
Her supervisory approach emphasizes collaboration, practical clinical thinking, and careful attention to the individual needs and experiences of each client.
Additional Clinical Supervision
In addition to Dr. Dunnick,
Drs. Sherry Casper, Nierika Gilbert, and Erich Haezebrouck provide clinical supervision in areas aligned with their training, experience, and areas of expertise.
Administrative Team
Alyssa Ziegler, MA
Office Manager
Alyssa is often one of the first people families connect with at CTLC. As Office Manager, she combines clinical understanding with warm, personalized support, helping families navigate services and making the process of getting started feel more manageable.
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Her background includes more than 13 years of experience working with children and several different roles at CTLC, including Registered Behavior Technician, Project ImPACT Provider, and Infant Education Specialist.
That experience gives her a valuable perspective as Office Manager because she understands both the services families are seeking and the practical questions that arise while accessing them. She works closely with families as well as CTLC’s psychologists, therapists, and other providers to help create a coordinated experience.
Alyssa earned her Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Counseling from San Diego State University. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, traveling, and spending time in the sun.
Donna Partis
Director, Business Services
Donna brings more than 30 years of experience in medical and mental health operations. She supports CTLC’s administrative and business systems with an emphasis on creating efficient processes while maintaining thoughtful, responsive client care.
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Her career has included more than three decades in medical and mental health settings, working alongside practice owners, executives, and clinical teams to build effective systems and sustainable organizations.
At CTLC, she provides strategic and operational support across the practice, with attention to efficiency, compliance, team development, and the overall client experience. She believes strong clinical care also depends on what happens behind the scenes, including clear systems, supported staff, and thoughtful leadership.
Her work helps create an environment where clinicians can focus on providing excellent care while families experience services that feel organized, responsive, and dependable.
Olivia Dunnick
Administrative Assistant
Olivia supports CTLC’s evaluation services by helping organize records, forms, files, and documentation so the assessment process can move smoothly from referral through completion. She is currently studying Liberal Studies at California State University San Marcos.
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Olivia is currently studying Liberal Studies at California State University San Marcos with the goal of becoming a teacher. Before joining CTLC, she worked in an after-school program supporting elementary-aged children with homework, activities, engagement, and safety.
Her role includes scanning, uploading, organizing patient files, and managing evaluation forms and related documentation. She brings a strong focus on accuracy, organization, and completing tasks thoroughly.
Her experience working with children and her organizational strengths come together in supporting CTLC’s evaluation services. Outside of work and school, she enjoys spending time with her sisters and playing with her dogs.