STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Click on a name to read a biography of an Integrated Teen staff:

• David R. Heckenlively, MS, MFT and CEO
• Parth Gandhi, PhD
• Dore Frances, MA
• Lorraine Platt, MA, MFT
• Richard Platt, MA, MFT, CPC
• Christina Credé Mellin, MPH
• Nancy Anderson

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David R. Heckenlively, MS, MFT
CEO and California Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #38744

David is passionate about Integrated Teen Services and its ability to offer more services than traditional consulting. He developed his expertise treating adolescents over 14 years in school counseling, outpatient recovery, and acute psychiatric settings. He more recently worked as a family reunion and field therapist at a reputable adolescent wilderness program. David has evaluated well over 100 therapeutic programs and schools over the past eight years, and continues to travel on a regular basis.

David is realizing his vision of guiding parents and their children out of difficult times and through the best social, emotional, therapeutic and educational programs and experiences that exist across the country. David loves spending time with his wife and young son. He re-energizes and finds peace in his own wilderness expeditions with family and friends.

 

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Parth Gandhi, Ph.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist

Dr. Gandhi received his doctoral education in Clinical Neuropsychology from Brigham Young University. He then completed post-doctoral training at Columbia Medical School specializing in the evaluation and treatment of Neurocognitive disorders throughout the lifespan. He currently works as the Director of the NeuroAssessment and Development Center (NADC), and is a consulting neuropsychologist to wilderness and residential treatment centers across the country.

Prior to founding NADC, he was the Director of Psychological services for the Aspen Institute, a nationally acclaimed Neuropsychiatric Hospital. In this position, he was responsible for the comprehensive and integrated understanding of each client and finalized each multidisciplinary report. He also oversaw the training programs for psychology and neuropsychology interns and supervised the psychology staff and consultants. Dr. Gandhi continues to be a clinical supervisor for doctoral students at the University of Utah, Utah State University, and Brigham Young University.

Dr. Gandhi has specialized in the assessment of children, adolescents, and adults with learning and/or emotional problems, brain injury, Autism-spectrum disorders, brain abnormalities, and other neuropsychiatric issues. He also spends time in therapy with the families of clients suffering with such issues and is involved with community education and advocacy.

 

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Dore Frances, M.A.
Therapeutic Consultant
Advocate

Dore offers therapeutic consulting services to families and their students as they navigate through the decision making process of addiction treatment, therapeutic boarding schools and outdoor wilderness programs. Dore specializes in assisting students who have special needs, including those with adoption issues, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), juvenile detention experiences, learning differences, sexual promiscuity and/or a history of at-risk behaviors.

Dore has assisted families since 2001 as a therapeutic consultant, and since 1993 as an advocate.

With a Master's Degree in Child and Family Studies, Dore travels extensively, evaluating programs and schools for children as young as 8, at-risk teens and young adults. In her practice, Dore strives to help each student realize their own individual and unique path.

Dore is a member of the American Bar Association as an Advocate and Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. She is also a volunteer CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).

In her free time Dore gardens, reads, travels and writes.

Please visit Dore’s website at www.HorizonFamilySolutions.com for additional information. You may contact her at (866) 833.6911 or by e-mail.

 

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Lorraine Platt, MA, MFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #38930

Lorraine developed her expertise counseling adolescents at Henry Ohlhoff Outpatient Program in San Francisco. She supported teens and their families to recover from addictions and eating disorders, along with the anxiety and depression that accompany these dependencies. After assessing hundreds of families, she is skilled at determining the level of treatment required for teens to get back on track and lead happy, successful lives. She is especially passionate about teaching young women to love and accept themselves.

She currently shares a private practice in Marin with her husband Richard called Teen Solutions. Lorraine and Richard also support parents to have a healthy relationship with each other, which can have a very positive effect on their teen.

Lorraine enjoys meditating, dancing, painting and spending time in the outdoors with friends and family.

 

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Richard Platt, MA, MFT, CPC
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #35161 and Certified Professional Coach

For over 12 years, Richard has counseled families through the toughest challenges of raising young men such as drug and alcohol abuse, and acting out behavior. He was a therapist at Adolescent Recovery Services, an Intensive Outpatient Program in Marin, where he effectively worked with teens and their families in individual and group formats. He has mentored at camps and outdoor education programs, including the Youth Leadership Conference and the Young Men’s Ultimate Weekend. He is the founder of Teen Solutions.

In addition to counseling, Richard mentors young men through hiking, groups and Native American sweat lodges. Richard enjoys helping young men discover their special individual qualities, as well as their role of responsibly serving and protecting their community. He loves spending time in nature, meditating, playing sports and being with his wife, family and friends.

 

 

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Christina Credé Mellin, MPH
Certified College Admissions Counselor

Christina offers educational consulting services to students and their families as they navigate the often overwhelming transition from high school to college, vocational school, or job. She finds it particularly rewarding to work with students who have special needs, including those with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning differences, and/or a history of at-risk behaviors.

Christina has championed the needs of adolescents since 1989. With a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from UC Berkeley, she evaluated high school health clinics and illustrated the benefits of early intervention programs for at-risk teens. Seeing the value of individualized support, she pursued a college counselor certificate. Now in her own practice, Christina strives to help each student realize their own unique path.

Christina is a member of the Western Association for College Admission Counseling and the Association of Recovery Schools. She is also an assistant leader of the Integrated Teen Services (ITS) Parent Support Group.

To relax, Christina gardens, collects ethnic art, does research, and reads.

Please visit Christina’s website at www.seekyourfuture.com for additional information. You may contact her at (925) 899.0862 or by e-mail.

 

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Nancy Anderson
Administrative Assistant

Nancy supports Integrated Teen Services as an administrative assistant. She has a degree in child development and has worked with children of all ages. For over six years, she worked at New Bridge Foundation, an adolescent outpatient program, where she provided administrative support, led art therapy sessions for teens, and assisted with assessments and family intake.

Nancy is passionate about the process of recovery for teens and parents. She herself has experienced the difficulties of parenting a teen in crisis, and has read about, studied, and adopted into her daily life the tools that make life more manageable.

Nancy enjoys spending time with her family, yoga, music, and Asian cultures.