Meet Our Team

Jill received her B.A in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Jill began working in intensive outpatient and residential programs giving her experience working with individuals, families and couples experiencing anxiety, depression, relational stressors, disordered eating, substance use, and trauma. Through her clinical training, Jill received Evidence-Based Practice treatment certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Seeking Safety, Disordered Eating CBT, and Risking Connections for Trauma. Jill is passionate about providing compassionate support to clients, creating an individualized treatment plan, and helping them uncover their purpose in life.

Kami has extensive experience in education, both academic and vocational, and a background in clinical psychology specializing in adolescents and young adults. After graduating from UCLA in 1998 and earning a Masters in Education in 2003 from Pepperdine University, Kami taught all levels of high school English. In 2008 she earned a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and worked at ECHO, a dual-diagnosis adolescent treatment facility in Malibu. Kami continued to teach high school English, journalism, and Advanced Placement (AP) psychology, as well as running three career technical academies: the Multimedia Careers Academy, the Environmental Careers Academy, and the Culinary Careers Academy. She has developed curriculum for the UC Curriculum Integration Institute, led professional development at the district level, and presented at multiple academic and career technical conferences. In 2011, Kami completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from USC specializing in Educational Psychology. Launch’s mission is consistent with Kami’s integrated background in education and psychology and passion for helping young adults find their purpose through experiential learning and self-discovery.

Katie earned her MS degree in Counseling from Cal State Fullerton, as has experience working in community mental health and intensive outpatient facilities. Her experiences have given her extensive training in working with individuals and families, who are primarily going through life transitions, dealing with grief and loss, substance use and trauma. Katie is an EMDR and Narrative trained therapist who approaches working with her clients from a holistic model, incorporating all aspects of an individual’s life and well-being with the aim of helping her clients create a stronger sense of self and purpose.

In addition to her work as Director of Family Programming with Launch, Katie is passionate about advancing the practice of mental health through social justice interventions and advocacy. While in graduate school she volunteered with Empower Nepali Girls to help advocate for, and promote education for girls and women.

Dr. Chaghouri is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his B. A. in Biology with Summa Cum Laude honors. He earned his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California where he also served as Chief Resident in psychiatric emergency services and as Resident Clinical Instructor and Volunteer Faculty in the Department of Psychiatry. After residency, Dr. Chaghouri completed a fellowship in forensic psychiatry at the USC Institute of Psychiatry and Law. Dr. Chaghouri’s clinical work focuses on the treatment of co-occurring psychiatric and addictive disorders. He also has extensive experience consulting and providing expert opinion in trial and for the film and television industry.

Meg received her B.A. in Education/Child Development from Pepperdine University and her Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Southern California. She initially worked as a therapist at a community-based counseling center where she first realized the power of approaching therapy from a person centered, family systems-based approach. Meg then moved into working with adults experiencing long-term major mental illnesses and homelessness. After seeing how much of their struggle stemmed from their adolescence and young adulthoods, Meg felt called to return to work with people in those pivotal years. She comes to therapy with a person-centered approach and understands the need to meet clients where they are at in order to connect fully and work towards healing. Meg utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and Narrative Therapy to assist clients in understanding and accepting their stories and emotions to move forward.

Ciara Blackwell received her BA in psychology from California State University Channel Island and her M.A. in Clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Pepperdine University. She brings a diversity of clinical experience to Launch Centers, including recent work with formerly incarcerated men and women in a diversion program, providing individual, group therapy, and case management to clients. Ciara’s approach to therapy is person-centered and pulls from attachment theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and concepts from postmodern therapy, among others. In her work as a therapist Ciara invites clients to consider how race, class dynamics, culture, and media impact mental health. She is adept at treating the impacts of trauma and creates space where clients can explore their inner selves and maximize their full potential.

Clint Green admits that he had never considered working in treatment until he was a client in treatment. A published author who wrote and produced in the entertainment industry under a pseudonym, Green turned to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism that quickly careened out of control.  “Before I knew it, I was doing rails and going completely off the rails,” he says.  “I ended up in rehab so broken and beaten, all I needed was someone to be nice to me. One of the resident assistants there was, which changed my life.”  That resident assistant inspired him and coincidentally, became the coworker who trained him at his first job in the field. A passion for connecting with both potential clients and their family members is what led him to admissions.  “I put my parents through so much for so long; I can’t help but feel compelled to help others. The most rewarding part of this job is seeing the change that occurs from that initial phone call to the client’s discharge, and beyond — but I’m not just talking about the client. The change I see in the entire family dynamic and structure: that’s what brings things big picture.”

After earning her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Central Florida in Marketing, She relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2013. Having found her passion early on in addiction treatment, she has held positions with Foundations Recovery Network/ UHS, Monte Nido and Affiliates and TrueLink Financial. In her free time, Kelly enjoys the company of her friends and family, exploring the beauty the outdoors of California has to offer and is a wiz at pop-culture trivia.

New to the Orange County Area, she is excited to meet and work with like minded individuals in the addiction field who all share the same common goal – building lasting recovery for our clients.

Megan graduated college with a BA in psychology and theatre arts. While she moved to LA to pursue her passion of acting, her interest in the human condition flowed over into the world of recovery. She enjoys getting to know each client as they come through the office, and loves getting a chance to give back to the community in any way she can. As an artist, she believes that life should be addressed “unto the whole person,” and loves watching clients find their own passions and pursue them, as well as finding good treatment for their mental health concerns.

For nine years Jose has been involved in alcohol and addiction recovery, helping people succeed in overcoming substance abuse and regaining control of their lives. He has experience in all aspects of the recovery world, from facilitating entry into treatment as an intervention specialist to counseling and case management at rehabilitation facilities. Jose has worked one-on-one with individuals as a sober companion and with groups as a resident counselor at addiction treatment centers and is certified by the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) to practice as a substance abuse counselor. Through his professional experiences in crisis intervention, drug and alcohol detoxification, substance abuse counseling, and relapse prevention, Jose has developed a unique plan for case management that bridges the gap between a person’s painful past of substance abuse and a future of sobriety.

Alan has been involved in the recovery community for over seven years. Through his own struggles he has become impassioned by the ability to be able to help other people who are in circumstances much like his were in early recovery. Previous work in a rehabilitation center and sober living has made Alan well-versed in what it takes to support somebody who is new to recovery. As an RADT, he is training at Launch to receive his CADC certification, and his favorite part of the job is connecting with each client.

Chloe first became involved in social justice at age 15 in which she volunteered at a camp for children and families affected by HIV/AIDs. She then created a fundraiser at her high school benefiting the organization that is still in effect today. Chloe received her B.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in Sociology from Sonoma State University and her Masters in Social Work from University of Southern California in which she was selected to participate in the Department of Mental Health’s Trauma Focused cohort. Concurrent with her Social Work degree, Chloe received her Masters in Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College in which she focused on Disruptive Innovation in the Nonprofit Mental Health world. Chloe initially worked in various community mental health spaces focusing on court mandated clients and partnering with various law enforcement offices to bring trauma informed services to LA’s most vulnerable populations. Through this work with both adults and youth suffering from Serious and Persistent mental health disorders as well as intergenerational substance use, Chloe was able to bring her experience studying epigenetic trauma to the frontlines of LA.  Chloe then decided to move to the private sector and bring her skills to those experiencing transgenerational trauma to support the community she grew up in. Chloe’s passion and commitment to helping adolescents and young adults struggling to fully individuate stems from her work spearheading family programming within the LA Jewish Community for over 8 years.  Chloe’s approach to helping young individuals unpack how their early trauma has led to maladaptive coping skills is based in Psychodynamic theory, Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and a Family Systems approach.

Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Channel Islands before earning her Master’s in Science in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Stephanie began her counseling career in outpatient services helping those recently released from prison. During this time, she also worked extensively with the Department of Children and Family Services to help bring families back together.

Stephanie then worked as a counselor and coordinator at a residential facility in Malibu, supporting clients’ sobriety and setting up their aftercare. Her specialties include motivational interviewing, action-focused solutions, and relapse prevention.