Business Details
Your Partner for Connection-Based Mental Health Care
At The Center for Connection, we are dedicated to helping individuals and families discover joy and meaning through meaningful relationships. Our interdisciplinary team of experts in psychology, social work, pediatrics, and related fields collaborates to provide holistic, connection-based care. Guided by interpersonal neurobiology, we focus on understanding how the brain, mind, and relationships interact to foster growth and resilience.Our approach emphasizes regulation, collaboration, and celebrating neurodiversity, ensuring clients receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs. We prioritize creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive. With locations in Pasadena, Duarte, and Santa Barbara, we offer in-person and telehealth services to meet diverse community needs.
Services
Psychotherapy
Neuropsychological Assessments
Educational Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy
Parent Support Programs
Play Therapy
Telehealth Services
Neurodiversity Support
CAPDOTS Auditory Training
Highlights and features
- Interdisciplinary team collaborates weekly for holistic care
- Specialized assessments tailored to neurodivergent needs
- Relationship-driven therapies for emotional and developmental growth
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion across services
- Evidence-based approaches rooted in interpersonal neurobiology
What people say
Exceptional neurodiversity support
Highly knowledgeable specialists
Holistic, connection-based approach
Personalized treatment plans
Warm, inclusive environment
Services
Psychotherapy
Our psychotherapy services use connection-based approaches to address emotional and behavioral challenges across the lifespan. Therapists integrate interpersonal neurobiology principles to strengthen relationships, improve emotional regulation, and foster resilience. Sessions prioritize creating safe spaces for clients to explore personal growth while honoring neurodivergent experiences and cultural backgrounds.
Neuropsychological Assessments
Comprehensive evaluations examine cognitive, emotional, and neurodevelopmental profiles to guide personalized treatment plans. Our psychologists assess children, teens, and adults using neurodiversity-affirming methods that highlight strengths while identifying support needs. Assessments inform academic accommodations, therapeutic interventions, and family guidance strategies.
Educational Therapy
Individualized academic interventions address learning differences and executive functioning challenges. Therapists combine relationship-based teaching with sensory regulation strategies to improve literacy, math skills, and organizational abilities. Services support students from early childhood through young adulthood in both in-person and virtual formats.
Occupational Therapy
Brain-based occupational therapy helps clients develop daily living skills and sensory processing abilities. Our therapists use play-driven techniques in full-sensory gyms to improve motor coordination, self-care routines, and environmental adaptation for neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan.
Speech and Language Therapy
Relationship-focused interventions enhance communication skills for clients with speech delays, social communication differences, and language processing challenges. Therapists employ play-based methods to develop verbal and nonverbal expression, literacy skills, and social interaction abilities in neurodiverse populations.
People
Tina Payne Bryson
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Bryson is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author specializing in child development and interpersonal neurobiology. She founded The Center for Connection to integrate multidisciplinary approaches for mental health care.
Hanna Novak
Director of Speech and Language Therapy
A licensed speech-language pathologist with expertise in pediatric therapies, Hanna specializes in social communication and executive functioning support using play-based, developmental approaches for children through teens.
Desiree Misrachi
Speech and Language Therapy Director
As a certified speech-language pathologist, Desiree provides family-centered therapy for communication disorders, specializing in autism and early intervention using evidence-based, play-driven techniques.
Orli Lahav
Educational Therapy Director
A Board Certified Educational Therapist, Orli specializes in creating individualized learning plans that address neurodivergent students' academic and executive functioning needs through relationship-based interventions.
William Lacey
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Lacey provides neuropsychological assessments and therapeutic support for children and young adults, focusing on neurodiversity-affirming approaches to ADHD, learning differences, and emotional regulation challenges.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We provide services for infants, children, teens, adults, and families through specialized programs tailored to each developmental stage.
Do you offer virtual appointments?
Yes, we provide telehealth services for therapy, assessments, and consultations across California.
How do I start services?
Complete our online consultation request form to connect with our Director of Client Relations, who will match you with an appropriate provider.
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
Our practitioners employ evidence-based methods grounded in interpersonal neurobiology, including play therapy, regulation-focused interventions, and neurodiversity-affirming care.
Are your services covered by insurance?
We currently operate as a private pay practice and do not accept insurance directly, though some clients may seek out-of-network reimbursement.
Do you specialize in neurodivergent support?
Yes, we have dedicated programs and specialists for autism, ADHD, learning differences, and sensory processing needs across the lifespan.
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