Under the leadership of Dr. Blanca Orellana, the UCLA STAR training program was awarded the 2023 Distinguished Contributions to the Education and Training of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Psychologists Award from the American Psychological Association. The program provides clinical training in evidence-based, trauma-informed evaluation and intervention for psychologists who wish to work with children and families exposed to trauma and stress. Over the course of the year, STAR trainees provide a wide range of services to families that include consultation, evaluation, and individual, couple, family, and group therapy. Dr. Orellana has grown the STAR traineeship to serve over 20 psychology interns, psychology postdoctoral fellows, practicum students, psychiatry fellows, and pediatric residents each year.
Dr. Orellana leads a team of attending psychologists that support our STAR trainees in developing the competencies needed to become a licensed psychologist. They are Agustina Bertone, Catherine Mogil, Janine Shelby, Jessica O’Leary, Lauren Marlotte, Liz Ollen, Nastassia Hajal and Nicole Hisaka.
