Now offering the T.O.V.A test for $198.00. Call to schedule!
Meet the caPsychdr team
Dr. Heather Kaplan-Santos
Licensed Psychologist/Owner
Primary Clinical Supervisor
Dr. Heather Kaplan-Santos is a Psychologist with over 20 years of social service work in a wide variety of settings. Some of her previous experience includes working with at-risk youth as a United States Peace Corps volunteer, working as the Clinical Director for an addiction treatment center, 8 years as the Director of Support Services for an agency supporting adults with developmental disabilities, providing direct support for clients at a center for traumatic brain injury and now predominately providing individual therapy and psychological evaluations to clients of partnered community agencies. Dr. Heather works by providing psychoeducation related to presenting symptoms as well as by teaching clients to understand how trauma, anxiety, depression, overwhelm, and chronic stress impact the functioning of the brain. Her comprehensive assessments and therapeutic treatment plans guide clients with clear recommendations to enhance their cognitive functioning, reduce distressing symptoms, and improve their overall well-being and vitality. Dr. Heather is committed to working with clients in a partnership that values transparency, open communication, respect, and safety.
Psychologist License (Ph.D) #PSY32531
Dr. Leyla Rasooli
Licensed Psychologist
Delegate Supervisor
Dr. Rasooli serves as the Delegate Supervisor for CaPsychDr psychological assistants and trainees. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and also a licensed Marriage and Family therapist. She is also a Certified EMDR therapist. She provides counseling services both in English and Farsi/ Persian languages. Counseling services from an Integrative Approach to treatment. She believes that each person needs to be considered as a “whole,” and in doing so, therapeutic techniques must be tailored to their individual needs and personal circumstances.
Dr. Rasooli's primary therapy specialties and interests focus on depression, anxiety, trauma, and Adjustment to life changes. She has extensive experience and interest in working with Cultural issues within families such as LGBT identified, conflicts between parents and children, and other culturally related issues within Middle Eastern and South Asian Cultures. She has also enjoyed working with individuals, couples, and families experiencing relationship and life-changing issues.
Psychologist License (PSY) # PSY32486
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (MFT) # 103757
Dr. Lechelle Brueggeman
Psychological Associate
Disability Leave Specialist
Therapy, Disability Evaluations & Documentation
Dr. Lechelle Brueggeman is a part Native Hawaiian born and raised in Kealakekua, Hawaii. She moved to Orange County, California over ten years ago to be with her beloved husband and to pursue her professional passion for psychology. She has made it her lifelong mission to help others in need whether in public or private practice, and she is absolutely thrilled to join the CaPsychDr team! Dr. Brueggeman has many years of professional experience providing rehabilitation counseling and therapeutic support for individuals, couples, families, and youth. She specializes in treating issues related to mental, emotional, and physical disabilities, complex and traumatic injures, rare conditions, chronic pain, crisis intervention, emotional distress, severe stress, substance use disorders, divorce, separation, parenting, postpartum and postnatal depression and anxiety, miscarriage and infertility, interracial relationships, multicultural counseling, communication barriers and breakdowns, career and college counseling. Dr. Brueggeman loves being a mother and a wife. She enjoys hiking outdoors, playing ball with her Pomeranian, hula dancing, and teaching her daughters how to surf at baby beach.Dr. Brueggeman genuinely believes in the importance of having compassion and empathy for all of her clients with special consideration for those identifying from diverse cultural backgrounds, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic status.
Registration #PSB94028008
Supervised by: Dr. Heather Kaplan-Santos
%20(1)-1e49893.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1209,h:1612,cg:true)
Dr. Vanessa de Barros
Psychological Associate
Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LAADC)
Dr. Vanessa de Barros holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and two master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and Pacifica Graduate Institute. She specializes in trauma, substance use and addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions. Her compassionate, collaborative approach integrates evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and relapse prevention. She is also trained in Brainspotting and incorporates depth psychology to explore underlying patterns, dreams, and unconscious experiences. Dr. de Barros provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients can build self-awareness, process difficult experiences, strengthen relationships, and develop practical coping skills. Treatment is tailored to each individual’s needs and goals, supporting resilience, recovery, and lasting emotional well-being.
Registration #PSB94028709
Supervised by: Dr. Heather Kaplan-Santos