Kelly Ramnarine PgC
Program Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Kelly Ramnarine is a community organizer with a background in psychology and primatology. She is a certified SafeZone trainer and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Kelly is passionate about minority inclusion and social support systems as a means of building psychological resilience. Since 2018, Kelly has focused her efforts on creating inclusive, intersectional events and spaces for the LGBTQ+ population of Southern California and is excited to bring that experience and energy to The Help Group’s Kaleidoscope team.
Bryan Scheihing, LMFT 108543
Lead Therapist/Training Director
He/Him/His
Bryan came to The Help Group in 2018 to assist in the development of the Kaleidoscope Program while providing Outpatient therapy. Bryan helped to build the program with the vision of increasing affirming support to LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults within The Help Group as well as in the surrounding community. Bryan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides individual, group, and family therapy support as well as educational workshops to promote positive support of LGBTQ+ individuals in multiple systems. He has dedicated his professional life to helping provide affirmative support to members of the LGBTQ+ community by promoting awareness, acceptance, empowerment, and equality while also helping individuals realize their potential and achieve their goals.
Laurie Stephens, Ph.D. PSY1852
Senior Director of Autism and LGBTQ+ Programs
She/Her/Hers
Dr. Laurie Stephens is a developmental psychologist who has been working with children, teens, and young adults on the autism spectrum for nearly 30 years. She currently serves as The Help Group’s Senior Director of Autism and LGBTQ+ Programs. Dr. Stephens previously served as the Director of Autism Spectrum Disorder Programs with The Help Group for 12 years. While working with her ASD clients, Dr. Stephens became extremely interested in the overlap between transgender and gender queer identifications and folks on the spectrum, as many of her clients began to share their authentic selves to her. Dr. Stephens oversees all of Kaleidoscope’s programming and events, and has been instrumental in establishing a specialized diagnostic clinic for LGBTQ+ children, teens, and young adults who may suspect they have an autism spectrum disorder.
Jamie Barstein, Ph.D. PSY3170
Clinical Psychologist
She/Her/Hers
Dr. Barstein is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialization in the assessment and treatment of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While she was trained as a child and adolescent psychologist, Dr. Barstein is well-versed in working with individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities across the lifespan. Dr. Barstein has received extensive training in multidisciplinary and evidence-based assessment and treatment through her doctoral program at Northwestern University, doctoral internship at JFK Partners – the University of Colorado’s Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program, and finally her post-doctoral fellowship at The Help Group and UCLA’s Semel Institute. Dr. Barstein was brought on to Kaleidoscope’s team given her interest and experience in working with adolescents and young adults with ASD who are transgender, non-binary, and/or exploring their gender identity. She currently sees clients for individual therapy in addition to conducting diagnostic evaluations in our specialty clinic.
Jeri Rochman, JD, MS
Program Director
She/Her/Hers
Jeri is an Ally and the very proud mother of a wonderful gay son. Her allyship is expressed through her commitment to providing Kaleidoscope’s programs and services to LGBTQ+ children, teens, young adults, their families, caregivers and allies. Jeri began her career as a Los Angeles County Public Defender and became involved in the field of education when her now adult children started school. In addition to her law degree, Jeri holds a Masters Degree in Counseling, she is a National Board Certified Counselor, Certified Parent Educator and Trained Crisis Counselor. Her goal is to support neurodivergent and neurotypical LGBTQ+ youth to find success in their academics, fulfillment in their vocations, and health and happiness in their personal relationships.