The Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates Team
Our team of expert Psychologists and Psychotherapists specializes in the most effective and cutting-edge treatments guaranteed to sponsor you in Living Your Excellence. Life is an incredible journey. We believe everyone deserves to live their most fulfilled life, free from self-doubt, insecurities, depression, anxiety, and other painful and life impacting struggles—insomnia, chronic pain, trauma, and others.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Dr. Kate Truitt
Founder
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Kate Truitt is a neuroscientist and clinical psychologist with an M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration, and has dedicated her life to advancing treatment of trauma and stress-related disorders. She leads her flagship organization, Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates, which is headquartered in beautiful Old Town Pasadena, and is CEO of the Trauma Counseling Center (TCC), with offices in West Hollywood and Studio City. In 2014, Dr. Truitt also founded Viva Excellence, providing cutting-edge trainings and seminars that bring together the newest advancements in the fields of neuroscience, resiliency, as well as stress and trauma treatments. She is a Havening Techniques Certified Trainer and the Global Coordinator of Continuing Education.
Dr. Yolanda Céspedes
Director of Clinical Training
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Céspedes is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Clinical Training at Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates. Having worked across both academic and clinical settings, Dr. Céspedes brings with her extensive experience in training, supervision, and delivery of clinical care. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, with expertise in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Dr. Céspedes is committed to helping those who struggle with feeling overwhelmed, worried, and/or fearful. She understands that today’s world can sometimes feel unmanageable and that a mindset of “I can’t handle this” may define one’s daily experience. She focuses on building resiliency in her clients by empowering them with effective tools for healing and self-care.
Lorelei Batoon
Office Manager
Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates
Lorelei Batoon’s work as Office Manager is essential to the warm, professional and inviting service experience that our clients encounter every day. Lorelei has been a part of the Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates family since our opening, and she has been instrumental in growing and continuously improving our service and operations. Her competence and knowledge in scheduling, billing and customer service ensure that our clients receive proper, timely care. She is the glowing, welcoming presence all of our clients meet every time they walk through our doors. Behind the scenes, Lorelei provides active support to our team members—scheduling, setting up trainings and seminars, handling travel logistics and much more—freeing them up to focus on the most important part of their work—you.
Meet Our Clinical Team
Shannon Byrnes
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Shannon is passionate about helping people heal from the ‘inside out’ and within their relationships. In couples work her focus is facilitating each partner’s capacity to attune to and support the other’s personal growth. She fosters revealing one’s self through an expression of feelings and thoughts, without blame or accusing, teaching them to respond with empathy while holding onto themselves.
Dr. Justin Carter
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Carter turned his childhood dream of helping others into a lifetime commitment. In his clinical practice he has been committed to helping individuals and families heal. His research and experience have supported his passion for assisting those he works with reach their ultimate potential and achieve excellence in their lives. He is committed to being solution-focused, energetic, and efficient.
Damien Gonsalves
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Damien Gonsalves builds compassion and constructive rapport with clients to provide exceptional care as a solutions-oriented therapist. Damien specializes in LGBTQIA affirmative therapy, substance abuse treatment, and trauma therapy. He helps clients regulate their psychological states and release trauma stored in the body with a combination of innovative, cutting-edge techniques based in neuroscience.
Kayla Tse
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Kayla is an LMFT and an Attachment Trauma-Informed Art Therapist. For the past 20 years she has successfully empowered individuals to heal from trauma (including attachment and developmental trauma) and lead more joyful and authentic lives. She is trained and experienced in Interpersonal Neurobiology and Evidence-Based Practices. Her Integrative practice is based on the belief that your Body and Mind innately guide you toward healing.
Rebecca Turner
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Utilizing humor, creativity, compassion, and curiosity, Rebecca is dedicated to using effective and personally targeted treatments supported by insights from neuroscience to support your healing journey. She leads Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates’ Neurofeedback Program. This cutting-edge treatment process analyzes and retrains the brain’s electrical patterns for optimal wellness.