Episode 5: Integrating Behavioral Health: Insights and Experiences from the Field

Join Dr. Afik Faerman as he interviews experts Dr. Daniele Levy and Dr. Helen Ma on their career paths in Behavioral Health.

Episode 5: Integrating Behavioral Health: Insights and Experiences from the Field

Episode 5 | Integrating Behavioral Health: Insights and Experiences from the Field

Join Dr. Afik Faerman as he interviews experts Dr. Daniele Levy and Dr. Helen Ma on their Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) career paths. This episode delves into the real-world aspects of building a career in integrated medical and behavioral health settings. Our expert guests share their career journey, experiences, and lessons learned while discussing the importance of clinical skills, empathy, and even a touch of humor in the realm of health psychology. We'll also explore how psychology integrates into broader healthcare settings and the personal growth that comes with a career in this specialty. 

Join us on an inspiring journey with 'Talking Mental Health Careers' brought to you by Palo Alto University and CONCEPT, its Division of Continuing & Professional Studies

About Our Host

Afik Faerman, Ph.D., is a clinical neuropsychology postdoctoral scholar and an incoming NIMH T32 fellow at Stanford University. He completed his clinical training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Baylor College of Medicine and earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology from Palo Alto University. His research centers on the modulation of consciousness and its clinical relevance. His work has been acknowledged and supported by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Sleep Research Society (SRS), the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH), the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), and more. He is the Membership Chair of the APA Division 30 and the past chair of the Student Committee at the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC).

About Our Guests

Guest 1 | Daniele Levy, PhD 

Dr. Daniele Levy is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in Menlo Park, CA. Dr. Levy specializes in providing cognitive and behavioral therapy to adults struggling with an array of emotional and interpersonal concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, work problems, and relationship difficulties.  She is a Level 5 Master Clinician and Trainer in TEAM-CBT, an innovative framework for delivering evidence-based psychotherapy developed by Stanford University’s Dr. David Burns, and is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). She was previously chief of Integrated Behavioral Health at the San Mateo Medical Center, where she led all clinical operations and an APA-accredited training program in addition to providing psychiatric services in primary and specialty care. She is the recipient of San Mateo County's Excellence in Leadership Award, among other recognitions. She also practiced in college counseling, community mental health, and at the VA. Her psychology career follows a prolific business career where she led diverse organizations for global brands and start-ups. You can learn more about her background at cbttherapy.com.


Guest 2 | Helen Ma, PhD

Dr. Helen Ma is a pain psychologist working at the Loma Linda VA, where she completed her internship and postdoctoral residency in clinical health psychology. She has conducted suicide research in Hong Kong and in the United States and pursued training in diversity and cultural issues. Her clinical interests include health psychology, Asian American mental health, cultural adaptations of psychological treatments, and reducing mental health care disparities for minority and underserved communities. She has always had a passion for culture and was in global brand management prior to switching to a career in psychology. 

Episode Resources


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