Spectrum CBT Treatment Team
Sarosh J. Motivala, PhD, Director
Dr. Motivala is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in CBT and exposure based approaches to treat OCD spectrum and Anxiety spectrum disorders. From 2011-2018 he worked in the UCLA Adult OCD Treatment Program and developed their externship training program for clinical psychology doctoral students and psychiatry residents. He currently serves as the Training Director for the UCLA Adult OCD Treatment Program and holds faculty appointments in UCLA’s Psychiatry Department and Psychology Department. He has presented at the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Annual Conference, has served on the IOCDF Task Force Committee and Diversity Council. He conducts community lectures annually through UCLA Health on OCD and anxiety.
He also oversees a longitudinal research project at UCLA looking at long-term follow up in OCD patients who have completed intensive treatment. He was the recipient of a 5 year Clinical Scientist Award from the National Institutes of Health. He received his doctorate from the University of Miami and completed his clinical internship at UCLA and was a postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology. He has authored or co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and has presented his work at numerous national and international research conferences. In his clinical work, he integrates traditional behavior therapy with CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and relies heavily on research validated treatments to guide his practice.
Christopher Nuñez, PhD OUTPATIENT & INTENSIVE
Dr. Christopher Nuñez is a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist with over 20 years of experience in assessment and treatment of individuals across the lifespan (children, adults, and older adults). He specializes in evidence-based psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral therapy, to treat mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. He has received intensive training in Exposure with Response/Ritual Prevention (ExRP) at the University of Pennsylvania Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Dr. Nuñez has previously worked as a neuropsychologist in the UCLA Department of Neurology where co-founded the Cultural Neuropsychology Initiative in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry. As Associate Clinical Professor in the UCLA Department of Psychology, he supervised and trained clinical psychology trainees. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuroimaging where he studied developmental neuroscience with MRI and fMRI techniques and was Assistant Professor of Research in the USC Department of Pediatrics where he conducted studies on brain development in typically developing children and children with neurodevelopmental disorders. His treatment approaches are informed by his knowledge of clinical and neuroscience research. Dr. Nuñez also works with clients who have medical and/or neurocognitive conditions, with an emphasis in behavioral medicine strategies to promote and improve overall health and quality of life (e.g. treatment for insomnia, stress management, behavioral changes to improve health, and adjustment to medical diagnosis). Cultural issues are of particular interest to him, and he is multilingual (Spanish and French).
Allen Liao, PhD OUTPATIENT & INTENSIVE
Dr. Allen Liao is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in research-supported psychological treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) individually tailored for a variety of mental health concerns, with a particular interest in OCD and anxiety disorders. He combines scientific expertise with a collaborative, caring, and genuine approach to treatment. Dr. Liao completed his APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship in Adult CBT/DBT at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. His research and clinical interests include improving precision treatment and dissemination of evidence-based practices. At Spectrum CBT he works with clients on an outpatient basis and also collaborates in our our Intensive treatment program as well. Dr. Liao is also clinical instructor at the UCLA CBT Clinic.
Mubeena Mirza, LCSW OUTPATIENT& INTENSIVE
Mubeena is a licensed clinical social worker with years of experience in the treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders. She developed expertise in treating OCD during a one year rotation at the UCLA OCD Intensive Outpatient Program. Since then she has received certification in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Over the years she has improved client outcomes by adopting mindfulness based practices, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, into treatment.
Mubeena received her BA in Psychology from UCLA. She received a Masters of Social Work from California State University Long Beach, with a focus on integrative health. She completed internships in an adult psychiatric hospital and in a community mental health setting. Mubeena strives to create a culturally sensitive and inclusive environment. She works to develop an understanding of each individual’s needs, circumstances, and limitations.
Tamara Bailey, PhD OUTPATIENT
Dr. Bailey is a postdoctoral registered psychological associate specializing in anxiety, OCD and related mood disorders and sport and performance psychology. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University with her research and clinical training at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. She spent a year working at the UCLA Intensive Outpatient Program for OCD doing ERP with individuals with severe OCD. Dr. Bailey specializes in treating OCD, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, health anxiety and she provides sport psychology services for athletes. Dr. Bailey completed her Ph.D. internship at the University of Oklahoma's Division-1 Athletics Department. Dr. Bailey was also previously trained in the performing arts at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and completed yoga teacher training and qi gong teacher training in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Bailey views clients' mental health concerns from a holistic, biopsychosocial perspective utilizing therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure response prevention therapy (ERP), and mindfulness. Dr. Bailey believes a strong therapeutic relationship, based on compassion, trust, empathy, and collaboration is vital to delivering effective, evidence-based and complementary treatments.
Julie Plutt, APCC OUTPATIENT& INTENSIVE
Julie Plutt is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC #9210) with extensive knowledge and experience in the treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders. She received her M.A in professional clinical counseling from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She completed her internship at Rogers Behavioral Health, working as a therapist in their Adult OCD/anxiety Partial Hospitalization Program, and continued to work for the organization several years thereafter in their Child/Adolescent OCD/anxiety Partial Hospitalization Program. Julie utilizes Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Behavioral Activation (BA) to assist her clients and individualize their treatment. She is passionate about creating a safe environment for those struggling with the shame, guilt, and embarrassment that is often accompanied by OCD, and collaborating closely with clients to target what’s important to them. Julie works with adults, adolescents, children, and families. Julie provides CBT and ERP for clients under the supervision of Dr. Sarosh Motivala.
Zoe Hartman, ASW OUTPATIENT& INTENSIVE
Zoe Hartman is an associate clinical social work therapist (ASW102202) specializing in OCD spectrum, anxiety and other mood-related disorders. She completed her Bachelor’s degree from Boston University and went on to get her graduate degree from Columbia University. She did post graduate work at UCLA’s renowned Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Zoe also works at UCLA’s Adult Intensive OCD clinic, and is involved with clinical research on OCD at UCLA. She has extensive experience using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In addition, while at Columbia, she trained and became certified in Trauma Informed CBT. Zoe believes her success is based on her warm and trusting relationships with her patients. She has in-depth experience treating adults, adolescents and children with chronic anxiety disorders and OCD. Zoe provides CBT and ERP for clients under the supervision of Dr. Sarosh Motivala.