The MMCP Team
We are a community of trainees, associates and licensed practitioners dedicated to the study and practice of narrative therapy.
MMCP Staff
Carolyne is currently pursuing her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Carolyne brings a unique perspective shaped by her medical background that honors the remarkable resilience and capabilities of individuals. She views therapy as a collaborative journey, where the therapist acts as a guide, empowering clients to navigate their own paths toward growth, healing, and self-discovery.
Carolyne Amin, MFT Trainee
Assistant Clinical Director
Jennie received her MA in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. She has experience meeting with adults, children, and families of diverse backgrounds in a variety of counseling settings and works in private practice in Tarzana, CA. She joined Miracle Mile Community Practice in 2015 and currently serves as Assistant Clinical Director and is a Clinical Supervisor on staff. Some of her interests include helping people with life transitions, overwhelm, and conflictual relationships. She is committed to collaborative counseling practices that work in support of helping others pursue their preferred ways of living when faced with life’s challenges.
Jennie deForest, LMFT
Lucy Pinkwater, MFT Trainee
Lucy Pinkwater is a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Trainee currently pursuing her M.A. in Psychology at Pepperdine University. Before transitioning into therapy, Lucy taught middle and high school History and Government and worked in admissions at an independent school in Los Angeles. With a background in education, Lucy views therapy as a collaborative process and strives to empower clients to lead authentic and fulfilling lives. She is dedicated to creating a warm, supportive environment where humor and empathy are central to helping clients navigate their challenges and foster personal growth.
Taylor completed her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Prior to transitioning to the mental health field, she earned a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Southern California and worked in theatre and television. Due to her background in the entertainment world, Taylor believes that our stories are an essential part of our identities. She aims to create an open, affirming environment for collaborative exploration in the therapy process and uses humor, creativity and warmth to connect with her clients
Taylor Kass, Marriage and Family Therapy Associate
Wrye Martin, MFT Trainee
Wrye is currently pursuing his M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pacific Oaks College. Before moving into the field of therapy, Wrye worked as an award‑winning Producer and Director in film and television. His creative background has given him a deep appreciation for the power of stories and how they shape the ways people understand themselves and their lives. Wrye carries this perspective into his therapeutic work, honoring each person’s unique narrative and collaborating with them to explore new possibilities for growth and meaning. He is dedicated to creating a supportive, compassionate space where people feel seen and empowered to re‑author their own stories.
Dominique Medina, MFT Trainee
Dominique is currently pursuing an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pacific Oaks College after graduating from UCLA in Civil Engineering and working as an engineer. Past experiences have provided her with an appreciation of the nuances of people’s lives and perspectives. Dominique’s focus is on helping teens, adults, and couples recognize their emotions, communicate more effectively and authentically, and develop strategies to foster emotional resilience. She believes in a friendly, non-judgmental, and encouraging approach to help clients navigate life’s challenges, understand their personal narratives, and explore possibilities to pen new stories. .
Shima is currently pursuing her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Pepperdine University. She holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Iran. Before moving to the U.S., she was a university professor and brings extensive experience in human development and cultural sensitivity. Shima views therapy as a collaborative process where the therapist supports clients in exploring growth, healing, and self-understanding. She is dedicated to creating an inclusive and compassionate space, empowering individuals to explore their personal narratives and make meaningful, lasting changes in their lives.
Shima Barati, MFT Trainee
Nich cares deeply about building strong, authentic relationships with people. He believes storytelling can help people reclaim their strengths and envision new possibilities for the future, leading to healing that can extend into their communities. Viewing therapy as both a personal and social process of change, Nich is curious about people’s cultural contexts and aims to advocate for his clients in therapy and beyond. Nich is currently pursuing an M.S. in Clinical Counseling at CSU Fullerton. Previously, he worked as a software engineer. His experiences in therapy inspired him to be with others in their own journeys.
Nicholas (Nich) Kwon, MFT Trainee
Pam LePage, MFT Trainee
Pamela LePage is currently pursuing an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pepperdine University. Prior to her transition to the field of mental health, Pam earned a Ph.D. in Special Education from UC Berkeley and San Francisco State. With a background in teaching in nonprofit service agencies and in higher education, her past experiences have given her a sense of the rich complexity of people’s lives and their resilience in overcoming challenges. She now works to create a caring and supportive environment where people are empowered to reimagine their stories and engage in personal growth.
Administrative Consultant, Clinical Supervisor
Debi joined Miracle Mile Community Practice (MMCP) in 2014 with a strong interest in narrative therapy. She has since pursued extensive training in narrative and poststructural ideas. She has served as the Director of Operations at MMCP, is an Administrative Consultant to the team of Directors and provides clinical supervision. Previously, Debi served as the Clinical Director and Senior therapist at Evo, an outpatient treatment center focused on addiction treatment. She is in private practice in Los Angeles and El Segundo where she works with teens, adults, families, and couples. Debi is committed to working toward social justice, equity, and dignity for all people.
Debi Kitay, LMFT
Ilissa (pronounced il-lis-ah) believes that people write their own stories and the way those stories are developed has a powerful influence over how life is experienced. She has dedicated herself to creating safe spaces to work collaboratively with individuals and couples in developing their preferred stories. Before embarking on a career in Mental Health, she worked in Hospitality for 15 years where she enjoyed developing lasting relationships with her guests. She is currently pursuing a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Chicago School and holds a BA in Psychology
Ilissa Paggett, MFT Trainee
Director
David became intrigued with narrative therapy in 1991 while training at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto. He developed one of the first Los Angeles based narrative therapy programs at Jewish Family Service in 1992 and went on, in 1999, to establish Miracle Mile Community Practice. He has taught at the graduate level for years, the last 15 of which in Pepperdine University’s Training Clinic. He has taught abroad for Dulwich Centre and is on the faculty of the Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy. He has co-authored several articles and book chapters and, along with David Epston and Laurie Markham, the book: Narrative Therapy in Wonderland.
David Marsten, LCSW
Jared Nicol, Marriage and Family Associate
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jared had the pleasure of serving his hometown for 6 years as an English Teacher. His work as an educator drove his decision to pursue the Marriage & Family Therapy (M.S.) program at the University of Southern California, as a different way of supporting the mental health and well-being of young people and their families. Jared approaches the process of therapy with curiosity, humor, a strong sense of justice, and a commitment to working with his clients toward positive and creative self-expression.
Elizabeth is currently pursuing their M.A. in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Pepperdine University. They hold a B.A. in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies. Prior to pursuing clinical work, Elizabeth worked in psychological research for several years, exploring well-being, discrimination, and social support. They view therapy as deeply relational—a collaborative process between therapist and client that involves warmth, empathy, and openness. Elizabeth feels that life is a collection of living, breathing stories; in therapy, we have the ability to rewrite these stories in a way that’s faithful to the strength, uniqueness, and depth within them.
Elizabeth Hecht, MFT Trainee
Renée is currently pursuing her MA in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University, following a successful career in the entertainment and finance industries. Motivated by a deep passion for understanding and supporting others, she transitioned into therapy to make a meaningful impact. Renée is committed to meeting people where they are, honoring their individual journeys with empathy and openness. She is guided by Narrative Therapy practices to work with couples in premarital counseling with the hope of honoring their strengths, knowledges, and preferred futures.
Renée Thurau, MFT Trainee
Angelyn Rose, APCC, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Director of Operations
Angelyn received her MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. She holds a BA from UCLA, where she majored in English Literature and minored in Disability Studies. Through her work with children and families as a sensory-motor and certified IBCCES coach, she became interested in practices that shift the conversation from 'limitations' to possibilities. These theoretical underpinnings led her to Narrative therapy, which has been the guiding principle throughout her work as an Associate therapist under the supervision of Deborah L. Kitay, LMFT. Angelyn is passionate about joining individuals on their journey through a collaborative process that draws on preferred identity and invaluable lived-in experiences. Learn more about Angelyn and her work here.
Olivia Smith, MFT Trainee
I have a deep appreciation for individuals who defy societal norms and embrace their unique creativity. My focus lies in working with underserved/underrepresented communities, particularly those navigating grief and loss, caregiving, overcoming addiction, and tackling body image issues. I strongly believe in accepting/meeting individuals where they are, and recognizing the value they bring. With a warm and empathetic approach, I encourage individuals to embrace their true selves and remove any masks or pretense. Personal development, manifestation, and gratitude are integral to my life. I firmly believe in dreaming big and daring to ask for what we truly desire.
Ashley is pursuing an MA in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she focuses on narrative therapy to help individuals reimagine and reclaim their stories in a space free from societal expectations. Having a background in fashion design, Ashley brings a creative touch to her therapeutic approach, playfully suggesting that our stories often need a bit of restyling. Committed to cultural humility, Ashley strives to create a warm, inclusive environment where clients are compelled to embrace their unique stories. She believes that individuals' narratives are constantly evolving, and that change and personal growth are ongoing processes
Ashley Song, MFT Trainee
Sigmund brings an eclectic background to his therapeutic practice, having worked in academia, hospitality, manual labor, and education. He’s currently earning his MA in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pacific Oaks College, which he will add to his existing MA in Philosophy. He believes strongly in therapy as an affirming, supportive space where clients feel safe to confront the whole array of the human condition. He explores with clients both the changes they desire in their lives as well as the strengths and joys they already have, and strives to help bring words to the stories that underlay them all.
