Corporate Mental Health Director
Dr. Payes brings a wealth of expertise in forensic psychology and general mental health care. She has extensive experience working with diverse populations, offering expertise in forensic, rehabilitation and substance use, and multicultural research. Dr. Payes’s career includes impactful work with the Skid Row community in Los Angeles before transitioning to youth corrections at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility. There, she provided trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and managed caseloads for individual therapy while addressing complex challenges, including substance addictions, chronic mental illnesses, dual diagnoses, personality disorders, and complex trauma. Dr. Payes employs evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as the Integrated Behavioral Treatment Manual, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has applied these principles effectively to both male and female youth populations, developing individualized, holistic treatment plans that integrate social, medical, legal, and long-term goals. Dr. Payes excels at conducting intake assessments, scoring, and diagnostic report writing, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive and tailored treatment strategies.
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