Our Team
Meet our team of experienced, dedicated, and compassionate professional therapists, yoga instructors, interns, students and administrative staff. We believes that our most important asset is our people. Each member of our team is linked to a full bio containing conditions treated, modalities used, ideal clients, and their ultimate wish for every client.
- Administrative Team
- Directors and Supervisors
- Clinicians
- Practicum Students
- Undergrad Interns
- Therapy Animals
Ryleigh Strong is in charge of the operations of Mala. She wants to make sure that every client has a positive experience.
Holly is in charge of getting clients started with the therapy process. She strives for a positive experience for every client she interacts with.
Brynna handles the testing process from the first phone call to administration. Brynna strives for a comfortable experience with clients and hopes that being there from account set up helps clients feel comfortable throughout the process.
Dr. Raveau embraces working with individuals and families who identify with a range of ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
Karlin Stern, LMSW
Since I was very young, I knew I wanted to go into a helping profession. I care deeply about others and their wellbeing, and I love making a difference in their lives. I chose social work specifically because I feel it’s important to consider the ways in which individuals are affected by different systems, whether it’s their family system, school system, community, or the larger world at play.
The family is the environment in which we develop, grow, learn, and prepare for life. Helping a family to be as strong and stable as possible is one of the greatest services one can provide. I am honored and humbled to have a part in helping your family to be a little stronger and more stable.
My roles at Mala consist of providing care to individual and family clients, and providing training and supervision to pre and post-graduate social work fellows.
Dr. Kalymon is currently accepting clients for parent coaching/training.
Areas of specialty include trauma-informed care, relationship issues, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA2S+, and family systems.
From the time I was little, I knew I wanted to work with children and help people. My own experiences have led me to want to be an outside source for these children, youth and families.
Ariella Sandoval has received a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Liberty University She is a Wayne State University alum with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Alexis Fraser completed her Master’s degree at Wayne State University, and plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Infant Mental Health.
Karlin Stern, LMSW
Since I was very young, I knew I wanted to go into a helping profession. I care deeply about others and their wellbeing, and I love making a difference in their lives. I chose social work specifically because I feel it’s important to consider the ways in which individuals are affected by different systems, whether it’s their family system, school system, community, or the larger world at play.
Areas of specialty include trauma-informed care, relationship issues, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA2S+, and family systems.
Brooke Wood, MA, TLLP
Society, emotions, relationships, and life in general can be so overwhelming. I have always believed that even an hour of freedom a week, to get things off our chest, can do wonders for our well-being. My favorite part of my job is being able to offer a safe space for those who need it.
The family is the environment in which we develop, grow, learn, and prepare for life. Helping a family to be as strong and stable as possible is one of the greatest services one can provide. I am honored and humbled to have a part in helping your family to be a little stronger and more stable.
Through providing a safe space and supportive environment George Khamis helps children, adolescents, and families recognize where the problems are and works with them to implement effective, measurable solutions.
Amy is a Clinical Psychology Fellow, a researcher, and a mother of five. She understands the very human struggles associated with managing intense emotions and thoughts without feeling consumed by them, living in the present moment without being haunted by memories of the past or worries about the future, and arriving at a place where our lives are dictated by us and our values, rather than by traumas and other stressful life experiences.
Nina Brown, MA, TLLP
Nina is a school psychologist and currently a PhD student in counseling psychology at Wayne State University. She received her bachelor’s degree with a major in psychology from Michigan State University. She specializes in working with LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as the treatment of eating disorders. She treats eating disorders with a Health at Every Size viewpoint to foster a safe, non-judgmental, and welcoming setting.
Antoinette Ulmer has a passion for helping children and teens seek support to improve social and emotional well-being and alleviate distress. As an advocate for you, your family, or your child, Antoinette will help you create solutions that will lead to healing, growth, and resiliency.
Safety, relationships, play, and stories all have a special place in the psychotherapy journey. Healing and growth flourish when we feel safe enough to explore our feelings and thoughts freely and without fear of judgment.
My work focuses on supporting individuals to build stronger relationships with themselves and the world around them, develop an awareness of their strengths and contributions, and achieve meaning as they define and work towards a life worth living.
As an Arab-American female, I have experienced personally and worked with issues related to acculturation, immigration, and identity. I provide services in both English and Arabic. I offer therapy in both virtual and in-person settings.
Katie discovered her passion for working with children, teens, and families at a young age. She always knew she would work with kids. She became extremely interested in the neurodivergent population after learning more about the way her own brain works and finding the importance of community. Katie specializes in Autism, ADHD, other neurodivergence, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community. She is passionate about helping children and families to develop tools, manage emotions, and identify burnout and coping skills.
Alexa strives to provide a welcoming and safe environment where her clients can feel comfortable exploring who they are. She has a passion for working with children, teens, and adults struggling with addiction. As an athlete herself, she has a passion for working with athletes of all ages to understand and support their overall health and wellness.
I enjoy working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. In our work together, I like to pull from various orientations, including cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, family systems therapy, and motivational interviewing.
Currently, I am working on completing a PhD in clinical psychology at Wayne State University. I provide psychotherapy and clinical assessment services at Mala Child & Family Institute and through Wayne State University’s Psychology clinic.
Ryleigh is a graduate student at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor studying Social Work with an expected graduation date of July 2023.
I received my bachelors degree in social work from Madonna University in May of 2022. I am currently enrolled in the masters of social work program at Madonna University and will be graduating in May of 2023. I am specializing in working with children and adolescents.
Celia is a Social Work practicum student at Mala. She is currently completing her Master’s degree at the University of Michigan. She is passionate about working with pre-adolescents, adolescents, young adults, and their families. She finds value in interactions with people from diverse backgrounds and getting to hear about their life experiences. She strives to build a healthy and comforting relationship between her and her clients to promote growth and support social-emotional wellbeing.
Taara Clarke
The expectations society places on us, and those we place on ourselves can be overwhelming! As a Black woman, I am intimately familiar with the pressure society places on individuals, and the ways in which this pressure can lead to perfectionism and a disconnect with our emotional and mental health needs.
My favorite thing about my job is the opportunity to learn from many mental health professionals in the field and build transparent and trusting relationships with faculty and clients. At Mala, I get to provide high-quality care that brings out a client’s strengths, utilizing a strength-based approach that promotes resilience and personal growth. I desire to continuously learn how to skillfully advocate for clients from various backgrounds, and acknowledge and embrace their individuality.
Rayna is an undergraduate student studying psychological sciences at Wayne State University. On campus, she serves as a mental health ambassador and activist for students through her leadership roles in different student organizations. She is currently researching physical and psychological health and public service use of homeless individuals in Wayne County. She is planning to graduate in 2024 and start her graduate studies in clinical psychology to further explore her interests in child and adolescent mental health.
Mushu is a 2 year old bearded dragon that was rescued from an unloving home and taken into Mala. The clients of Mala love to learn about their reptilian brain with the help of Mushu.
Mushu loves raspberries and cranberries. You will often find him lounging his hammock.
Mushu does not come to sessions often, but you're welcome to pop in to see him in his home.
