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 mom of the most wonderful gay son. Her allyship is expressed through her commitment to providing Kaleidoscope’s programs and services to LGBTQIA+ children, teens, young adults, and their families. Jeri began her career as an attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office 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 with a specialty in School Counseling. For over twenty years, Jeri has assisted young people, and their families, to manage challenging academic, social, and emotional issues. She is a National Board Certified Counselor, Certified Parent Educator, and trained Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line.

Jeri’s goal is to support neurodivergent and neurotypical LGBTQIA+ youth to feel comfortable being their authentic selves and to achieve the goals they set for themselves. In her free time, Jeri enjoys cooking, needlepoint, and playing mah jongg.

Sarah, Psy.D.

Post-Doctoral Psychology Fellow

She/Her
Dr. Bruce is currently serving as a postdoctoral fellow specializing in working with individuals on the autism spectrum at The Help Group.  She earned her master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium and a B.A. in psychology from California State University, Northridge.  Dr. Bruce developed expertise in the treatment and assessment of individuals on the autism spectrum at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  She also sought out training experiences that supported her clinical interests working with child and adolescent populations, young adult adjustment concerns, and concerns related to LGBTQIA+ identities at various community mental health centers in the Bay Area.  Dr. Bruce recently completed her clinical internship at Asian Americans for Community Involvement, where she pursued her interest in the intersection of various cultural identities and LGBTQIA+ status and developed the agency’s first clinical program for youth who identified as LGBTQIA+.

Jay Baldwin

Kaleidoscope Program Navigator

(They/Them)
Jay Baldwin (they/them) is currently serving as Kaleidescope’s Program Navigator for DCFS Involved LGBTQ+ youth and has been working with young people in the fields of education and social services for the past 7 years. Growing up as a queer kid with very few resources or community had a lasting impact on Jay, and ultimately led to their passion for serving youth in the LGBTQ+ community. Jay earned their Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Cal State Long Beach, is a long time performance poet and has witnessed the many ways that storytelling and poetry can change lives, particularly for folks whose voices often go unheard. Jay previously served as the co-director of a summer camp for LGBTQ+ teens, an experience which inspired them to further their education in youth development through a one-year program at Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, an organization that trains professionals to bring in depth mindfulness based, trauma informed curriculum to youth. Jay is so thrilled to join the Kaleidescope team and to support the well-being, growth and happiness of LGBTQ+ young adults and their families.

Leo Kirkham

Program Coordinator

(They/Them)
Leo Kirkham (they/them) obtained their B.S. degree in Public Health from the University of Washington Seattle in 2016. Leo has worked with LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults for 8 years as a youth advocate, camp counselor, and volunteer. They also have experience working with homeless youth, foster youth, and neurodivergent youth. Leo also volunteers as a mentor to community college students who are transferring to university. They are passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and giving them the skills to grow and thrive.  Leo is new to Los Angeles by way of the Pacific Northwest and loves the sunshine and beaches of California. In their free time, they like to write, read, and skateboard.

Jordan Sasiela

Pre-Doctoral Intern

(He/Him)
Jordan Sasiela, M.A., LPA, HSP-PA, is currently a pre-doctoral intern working primarily within the Kaleidoscope Program at the Help Group. He completed his doctoral training and coursework at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where his research centered on treatments for depression, as well as motivation and goals. Clinically, Jordan has worked with a range of populations and ages, but specializes in supporting LGBTQ+ populations, providing affirming therapies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He also specializes in working with autistic populations, providing services for children, families and young adults. His clinical training has included an emphasis on both individual and group therapies, and he has also gained specialty experience working with a pediatric GI integrated care team. He is currently working to obtain his doctorate in Clinical Psychology, under the supervision of Dr. Priscilla Barajas, PhD.

Luckie Alexander

Luckie as a passionate advocate and founder of Invisible Men, aa organization focused on uplifting and building community among trans men and nonbinary transmasculine folks centered on people of color. Luckie is an important connector across LGBTQI community groups and organizations and a steadfast advocate for transmasculine people and trans parents. You may also know Luckie as:

• a member of Gender Justice Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Transgender Advisory Council; AND
• a proud member & Historian of Brown Boi Project; AND
• an HIV Commissioner and a community advisory board member for UCLA’s Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services ; AND
• a recipient of the Lou Sullivan Award for his work centered around transmasculine individuals in the HIV/AIDS arena; AND
• 2018 Mr. Quest, a community advocacy award with APAIT.

Luckie is a crucial voice in health education and organizing, trans justice, and the movement for black lives. In 2019, he was the Assistant Strategy Director for the historic 2019 National Trans Visibility March. In 2020, he was the designer of the “ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER” art installation on Hollywood Blvd.

Cleo German

Cleo is a resident of the San Fernando Valley as well as one of the first transgender professors at UC Santa Barbara, where she is currently a Professor of Psychology and Brain Science, in addition to being the Co-Chair of the JEDI Committee (Justice, Equity, Diversion, Inclusion). In addition, she is a member of the zombie-pop band, Alright Alright, which has been rockin’ Southern California venues since 2008.

Jen Gruskoff

Jen has worked in television for over 20 years as a writer.  In 2016, Jen founded the Girls Soccer Network, as a hub for fans, players, and anyone who supports girl’s soccer across the globe. As the GSN Editor in Chief, Jen provides daily original content and curated stories across social media platforms. Jen and her wife Jeje are the proud parents of a non-binary college junior.

Caroline Menjivar

Caroline served in the United States Marine Corps for seven years where she held leadership roles in training military platoons. She holds an EMT License as well as a Masters of Social Welfare from UCLA. Caroline is now the East Valley Area Representative for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office

Julie Nony

Julie is a 26 year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. In 2015, Julie was named the Senior Lead Officer/Community Engagement Officer and she is now dedicating her full attention to a citywide community relations team committed to relationship building and ongoing working groups with the Los Angeles LGBTQIA+ community and other diverse communities. She believes that if we can bring people together in dialogue, we can prevent an “us vs them” mentality because we are all in this together.

Jessica Oami

Jessica is the proud parent of transgender daughter. She is also the Director of Transforming Families, a Los Angeles-based family support group creating a positive environment for children, adolescents, and their families to explore issues of gender identity.

Joseph Porter

Joseph has worked as the LAUSD School District Magnet Coordinator since 2002. In 2018, Joseph created SAGE, the Social and Gender Equality Magnet program at Milikin Middle School in Sherman Oaks.

JR Small, AMFT

JR is a passionate and motivated therapist committed to providing trauma-informed, strength-based, person-centered, and culturally responsive psychotherapy in Spanish and English. They are a transgender youth support leader and Program Developer at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles.

Reverend Reyna Sills Montoya

Reyna is a Christian mystic and interfaith minister whose goal is to bring all faiths together in love and unity. She currently serves as a lay delegate at Founders Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles.

Juan-Carlos Zuberbuhler, MD, MSMEd

Juan-Carlos is a board-certified psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Curriculum Development at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, LGBTQIA+ focus.