Our Team
Jade Starleaf, PsyD
Founder & Licensed Clinical Psychologist
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Dr. Jade Starleaf is a dedicated clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience supporting children, adolescents, and young adults through complex developmental and mental health challenges. Her expertise includes comprehensive psychological assessments for autism, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety-related conditions, with a compassionate and collaborative approach that empowers both children and their families.
Trained in gold-standard diagnostic tools, including the ADOS, and evidence-based treatments such as CBT and Exposure and Response Prevention, Dr. Starleaf provides care that is both clinically rigorous and deeply human. As a parent to a neurodivergent child, she brings a rare combination of professional insight and lived empathy to every case.
Her strength-based, neurodiversity-affirming philosophy recognizes the unique talents, perspectives, and potential of every individual she serves.
Laura Waters, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
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Dr. Waters is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing in the field for over a decade. She has worked in a variety of settings, including community mental health, private practice, and university counseling centers. Dr. Waters has extensive experience providing therapy and psychological assessments to children, adolescents, and adults, and has been a supervisor for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees for over five years. She works with a variety of psychological challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, autism, behavioral problems, performance anxiety, and phobias.
Although Dr. Waters utilizes evidence-based treatments to support her clients in achieving their goals, she approaches treatment from a relational and developmental framework, preferring to see her clients as whole persons rather than symptoms to be managed. She believes in creating a safe, neuro-affirming, anti-racist, allied space for her clients to explore their challenges while identifying and utilizing their strengths. Dr. Waters particularly loves conducting psychological assessments and strives to make that process efficient, enlightening, and enjoyable for her clients.
Julissa Cortes, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
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Dr. Julissa Cortes is a licensed clinical psychologist with over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of settings. Her training spans hospitals, schools, community mental health clinics, and private practice, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the many factors that influence a person’s well-being.
Dr. Cortes has specialized training in working with individuals with neurodevelopmental differences, including ADHD, autism, intellectual disability, and learning disabilities, as well as those navigating chronic medical conditions. She also treats a range of mental health concerns, including OCD, anxiety, depression, specific phobias, and behavioral challenges.
Her work includes conducting comprehensive psychodiagnostic and neurodevelopmental assessments, as well as providing psychotherapy. She utilizes standardized assessment tools and evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), while also incorporating relational and attachment-based perspectives into her work with families. In addition, Dr. Cortes offers consultation for parents navigating school-based supports, including IEPs and 504 plans, as well as Regional Center services.
Dr. Cortes takes a collaborative, client-centered, and strength-based approach grounded in a multicultural perspective. She values understanding the cultural and environmental systems that shape each client’s experience and views individuals as more than their symptoms. She believes clients are the experts of their own lives and works alongside them to provide insight, support, and empowerment, helping them feel confident advocating for their needs. She thoughtfully integrates each client’s unique background into all aspects of conceptualization and treatment planning.
Dr. Cortes is also pleased to offer therapy in Spanish for clients who prefer sessions in Spanish. She is committed to creating a safe, supportive space where every client feels seen, valued, and understood.
Andrea Berrios, PsyD
Registered Psychological Associate
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Dr. Andrea Berrios is a bilingual (English/Spanish) clinical psychologist specializing in neurodivergence and culturally responsive care. She has extensive experience working with neurodivergent children, adolescents, and young adults, including those with autism, ADHD, OCD, and learning differences. She also very much enjoys working with the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with high risk, Anxiety, Depression and PTSD. Her approach is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and grounded in a deep understanding of cultural identity and family systems. Dr. Berrios is committed to creating inclusive, affirming spaces where neurodivergent individuals and their families feel understood and supported.
Dr. Berrios earned her doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, where her research focused on destigmatizing therapy in Latinx communities. She has trained in diverse clinical setting, including community clinics, schools, and APA-accredited programs such as the Child and Family Guidance Center. She conducts psychological and psychoeducational assessments and provides therapy using evidence-based
practices like PCIT, TF-CBT, and Seeking Safety.
In addition, Dr. Berrios has completed extensive training through the UCLA PEERS Program and is officially PEERS® Certified to provide social skills interventions for school-age children, adolescents, and young adults. This specialized training further enhances her ability to support neurodivergent individuals in developing meaningful social connections, communication skills, and confidence in social settings.
During her free time, Dr. Berrios enjoys activities such as dancing, watching documentaries, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family. She also enjoys being in nature, hiking, playing volleyball, and pickleball. She has a passion for traveling and enjoys learning about new cultures and traditions. Dr. Berrios’s decision to pursue Psychology started at a young age and stems from the desire to support others during difficult times and support the well-being of the community as a whole.
Tayler Berez
Operations Lead
Tayler Berez is the friendly face (and inbox!) behind the scenes at Starleaf Psychological Services. As the Operations Lead, Tayler keeps things running smoothly—whether it’s scheduling sessions, organizing paperwork, answering questions, or making sure every client feels supported from the very first hello.
A proud psychology major, Tayler is passionate about mental health and especially interested in clinical work with children, adolescents, and families. As a neurodivergent adult, Tayler brings personal insight and deep empathy to their role, especially when it comes to supporting clients who may also experience the world a little differently.
Working at Starleaf offers them a front-row seat to the clinical world she hopes to join one day as a mental health professional. Tayler brings a thoughtful, calm, and compassionate vibe to the practice and a healthy dose of humor when things get busy. She thrives on creating order from chaos and is always happy to help clients and clinicians navigate whatever comes her way.
When she is not coordinating care or geeking out over psych theories, you can find Tayler exploring LA, hanging out in nature, bonding with animals, or playing music.
