Vindia G. Fernandez, Ph.D. | PSY28365
Founder and Clinical Director
Dr. Fernandez obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Houston where she studied pediatric neuropsychology and completed research on the neuroanatomical markers of dyslexia. She completed her APA-accredited internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Semel Institute. Her specialty training includes working with children, adolescents, and young adults with neurodevelopmental issues including autism, epilepsy, ADHD, and learning disabilities as well as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Dr. Fernandez has also worked closely with the UCLA PEERS Program and developed a passion for teaching social skills to neurodiverse youth. In 2017, Dr. Fernandez founded the Center for Pediatric Neuropsychology in part to address the growing need for culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations for Latino/a children. She is the director of pediatric neuropsychology at the UCLA Cultural Neuropsychology Program and collaborates with the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health on program development and training.
Elina Veytsman, Ph.D. | PSY34449
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Elina Veytsman is a licensed psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist. She is the Director of Clinical Services at the UCLA PEERS Clinic, where she facilitates social skills, career skills, and dating skills programs for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder and their parents, and trains mental health professionals and educators in the implementation of these programs. Additionally, Dr. Veytsman conducts private individualized social skills, career skills, and dating skills coaching for teens and young adults with a range of social challenges. Dr. Veytsman earned 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 has over 10 years of experience working with neurodiverse youth and families across school, clinical, and research settings. She specializes in supporting teens, young adults, and their parents, in achieving their social, professional, and independence goals.
James Yang, Ph.D.
PEERS Certified Provider
Dr. James Yang is a postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, working in the UCLA PEERS Clinic. He earned his PhD in Human Development and Psychology at UCLA, where he researched employment and post-secondary education outcomes among neurodivergent high school students. Dr. Yang brings extensive experience working with neurodivergent students in educational settings and has conducted teacher trainings aimed at promoting self-determination in these students. His clinical and research interests include examining the role of adaptive functioning skills, soft-skills, and co-occurring conditions in shaping the employment and educational outcomes of neurodivergent individuals. Currently, Dr. Yang supports the PEERS for Young Adults clinical groups and facilitates the PEERS for Careers research program. He also provides individualized PEERS interventions for adolescents and young adults in clinical settings.
Chanel Nettle, M.A.
PEERS Certified Provider
Chanel is a third-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at UC Riverside. Chanel previously earned her B.A. in Psychology with a double-minor in Applied Developmental Psychology and Disabilities Studies from UCLA. At UCLA, Chanel was a research assistant at the Childhood Anxiety, OCD, and Tic Disorders program and was a child development intern at UCLA's Early Childcare and Education center. After graduating, Chanel worked at UCLA as the clinic coordinator and research lead for UCLA's Parenting and Children's Friendship program and a therapist for UCLA's Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization program. She is currently a graduate student researcher at the UCR SEARCH Family Autism Resource Center, a free autism assessment clinic for Latino families in the Inland Empire.
Kevin Han, M.A.
Practicum Student
Kevin Han is a fourth-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at the University of California, Riverside. He received his Master of Arts at UCR and has previously earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University Long Beach. He has worked extensively with neurodivergent children conducting psychoeducational testing, individual and group therapy, and implementing behavior interventions. He is currently a research assistant at the Child and Adolescent Resilience and Equity (CARE) research lab at UCR which studies the complete social and emotional well-being of children and adolescents. He is interested in providing evidence-based assessments for identifying students with developmental disabilities so that they can access early interventions and support to improve their overall outcomes.
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Guadalupe Heredia, B.S.
Administrative Assistant
Guadalupe is a recent UCLA graduate with a B.S. in Psychobiology. At UCLA, she was a part of the Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences. She volunteered through Hearts Over Hands as a “Big Sib,” mentoring and providing virtual supplementary education for children throughout the pandemic. Guadalupe was also a member of the UCLA Association of Students in Child Development, where she expanded her understanding of the field and gained additional experience working with children. Guadalupe wants to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical child and adolescent psychology.