Sabrina Darrow, PhD
Program Director
Dr. Sabrina Darrow (she/her/hers) is an associate clinical professor and licensed psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Sabrina obtained a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a doctorate degree in the clinical psychology program at the University of Nevada, Reno. She completed her internship at the Southern Arizona Veterans Health Care System and postdoctoral studies—including the T32 Clinical Services Research Training Program—at UCSF.
Sabrina directs the Wavefront Program at UCSF. In this role, she leads the evaluation and research embedded in the Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy clinics, implementation of innovative clinical services, and builds collaborations for Wavefront experts to provide training and consultation in evidence-based treatments for youth impacted by mood, anxiety, and OCD-related disorders as well as suicidal and self-harming behaviors.
Sabrina is passionate about improving the link between research and mental health services with the goal of empowering individuals to reach their personal goals. Her expertise is in clinical behavior analysis and her research focuses on ways to improve clinical services for youth struggling with emotion regulation. Sabrina is also a clinician within the Wavefront Dialectical Behavior Therapy clinic and enjoys supervising psychiatry and psychology trainees in both clinical and research roles.
Allison Libby, PsyD
CBT Clinic Director
Dr. Allison Libby (she/her/hers) is an associate clinical professor and attending psychologist with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in developmental psychology from UCLA and her PsyD from the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. Allison has been with UCSF since 2015 and specializes in exposure-based treatments for OCD spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma. She is passionate about teaching evidence-based treatments to psychology and psychiatry trainees.
Esme Shaller, PhD
DBT Clinic Director
Dr. Esme Shaller (she/her/hers) is a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF. Esme received her bachelor's degree in psychology with highest honors from UC Berkeley and her doctorate in clinical psychology from the State University of New York, Stony Brook. She helped build the Wavefront Dialectical Behavior Therapy Clinic and expanded it from just two clinicians in 2007 to the program we have today. She is the clinical director of the Wavefront Dialectical Behavior Therapy Clinic and a past board president of the International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT (ISITDBT), as well as a co-founder of the ISITDBT Antiracism Committee.
Esme’s passion lies in the teaching and dissemination of empirically supported treatments for complex psychological problems, particularly in adolescence. As such, she devotes a large percentage of her time to teaching and training, both within UCSF’s residency and fellowship programs and in the larger Bay Area community. She has worked with other members of the team to implement comprehensive DBT for low-income teens in three counties.
Ragini Bhushan, MD
Dr. Ragini Bhushan (she/her/hers) is an assistant professor and an attending psychiatrist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She received her bachelor of arts in biology from Northwestern University, medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB), residency in adult psychiatry at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH), and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at UCSF.
Within the Wavefront CBT Clinic, Ragini liaisons with our therapists on the CBT team, works with patients and families to provide psychoeducation on medications, and follow up care for them if interested. Her interests include working with patients with mood and anxiety disorders, working with diverse patient populations, supervising psychiatry residents and fellows, promoting wellness for faculty and trainees, and integrating global health into psychiatry.
Deepika Bose, PhD
Dr. Deepika Bose (she/her/hers) is an assistant clinical professor and licensed psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF. Deepika earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in cognitive science from UCLA and completed her doctoral training at Florida International University, where she specialized in the treatment of youth anxiety and related disorders. She completed her predoctoral internship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford/Children’s Health Council and postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, where she gained extensive experience working with youth with suicidal and self-harming behaviors, emotion dysregulation, anxiety, eating disorders, disruptive behaviors, and more.
Deepika is passionate about providing evidence-based cognitive and behavioral therapies to youth with anxiety, depressive, and related disorders. Her clinical approach involves active collaboration with children and families to personalize and adapt interventions in a manner that remains adherent to research-supported protocols. She is also interested in exploring strategies for increasing youth and family engagement in services, improving patient outcomes, and supervising psychology and psychiatry trainees in evidence-based practices. Deepika provides individual and group therapy in the Wavefront CBT Clinic.
Julia Charalel, PhD
Dr. Julia Charalel (she/her) is an assistant clinical professor and attending psychologist in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences who splits her time between the Wavefront DBT Clinic and the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs). Julia received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Emory University and her doctorate in clinical psychology from UCLA, after which she completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF. Julia has received extensive training in evidence-based assessment and intervention services for youth, families, and adults across a variety of settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and school-based clinics. She began her DBT training at UCLA in 2016 and was previously a member of the Wavefront DBT team from 2018–2021 during her internship and postdoctoral training before returning as an attending psychologist in 2023.
Within the DBT Clinic, Julia specializes in the treatment of chronic emotional dysregulation experienced by adolescents, young adults, and their families. Within the Center for ASD and NDDs, she specializes in assessment and treatment of autistic individuals/individuals with ASD and related NDDs (e.g., ADHD). She is particularly interested in adapting DBT for neurodiverse teens and young adults. In addition to providing clinical services, she is passionate about teaching and training psychology and psychiatry trainees.
Anthony Daggett, MD, PhD
Dr. Anthony Daggett (he/him/his) is an assistant clinical professor and licensed psychiatrist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF, where he serves on the Wavefront Dialectical Behavior Therapy Team. He earned his bachelor’s degree in neurobiochemistry and psychology at UC San Diego, followed by a medical degree and PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, where his research focused on the role of the immune system in neurodegeneration.
Anthony completed his adult psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UCSF, where he took a special interest in working with teens and young adults with borderline personality disorder, DBT, and peripartum mental health. As part of the Wavefront DBT team, Anthony is committed to enhancing clinical services through the implementation of evidence-based practices in psychiatry for people participating in DBT. He actively participates in the training and supervision of psychiatry trainees, sharing his expertise in adolescent mental health and complex emotional issues. His passion for bridging clinical practice with research drives his efforts to improve access to effective treatments for youth facing mood, anxiety, and self-harming behaviors. He provides individual therapy and psychiatry services in the Wavefront DBT program.
Samantha Fordwood, PhD
Dr. Samantha Fordwood (she/her/hers) is an associate clinical professor in the UCSF Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She specializes in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a goal-focused and skills-based treatment that addresses a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues and involves the practice of emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness skills. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University and her master's and doctoral degrees from UCLA.
While in graduate school at UCLA, Samantha was involved in clinical research on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and mood disorders in children and adolescents and on bringing such research-based treatments to community clinics. She completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral training at UCSF and then became an assistant clinical professor while working with the DBT Program when it first started at UCSF. While Samantha enjoyed working in a CBT/DBT private practice setting in San Francisco for several years, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to rejoin the UCSF Wavefront DBT Team in 2019. In addition to providing clinical services, she also supervises psychology and psychiatry trainees in the DBT program and teaches about DBT and related topics.
Jennifer Haley
Group Patient Navigator
Ms. Jennifer Haley (she/her/hers) is the group patient navigator for the UCSF Wavefront DBT and CBT clinics. With over three years of experience in the department, Jennifer transitioned into her current role in June 2024. In this position, she works closely with patients to ensure they have all the information they need about the various group programs offered. Her goal is to empower patients to make informed decisions about their care by providing the guidance and support they need. A passionate advocate for patient care, Jennifer collaborates with healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes and connect patients with the appropriate programs.
Joan Jou, PhD
Dr. Joan Jou (he/him/his) is an associate clinical professor and attending psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology in his native Barcelona, where he also worked for several years as a clinical research fellow in an alcohol addiction treatment program. He moved to California to earn his doctorate in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University and completed his graduate research training at Stanford University with a focus on emotion and emotion regulation. He completed his predoctoral internship at Denver Health/University of Colorado and his postdoctoral fellowship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
Joan specializes in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as chronic emotional dysregulation experienced by adolescents, young adults, and their families. He is particularly interested in the promotion of self-awareness to improve self-regulation, as well as in cultural adaptions of evidence-based principles and practices. In addition to providing clinical services in the Wavefront DBT and CBT clinics, he is passionate about teaching and training psychiatry residents and fellows, as well as clinical psychology trainees.
Lauren Jung, LCSW
Ms. Lauren Jung (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She completed her undergraduate studies at Fordham University and her master’s degree at UC Berkeley. Lauren received CT training under Dr. Allison Harvey at the UC Berkeley Golden Bear Sleep & Mood Research Clinic. She has worked with adolescents in different settings, including a psychiatric crisis stabilization unit and a high school student wellness program. Lauren also spent time working in community mental health providing brief intervention therapy to adults in an integrated behavioral health setting. Lauren’s clinical interests include evidence-based treatments for anxiety and mood disorders and the adoptee experience. She works in both the Wavefront DBT and CBT clinics.
Gabriella Moreno, MSW, LCSW
Ms. Gabriella Moreno (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in collaborative human services from California State University Monterey Bay and her master's degree in social work at University of Hawaii. Gabriella has been with UCSF since 2014 and helped start the psychosocial program with the Path Clinic (formerly known as the Early Psychosis Clinic). She has worked with the Wavefront Program since 2019 and specializes in evidenced based treatments for mood and anxiety disorders and trauma. Gabriella provides individual and group therapy to adolescents and young adults through the Wavefront CBT clinic.
Ann Parsons, MS, LMFT
Ms. Ann Parsons (she/her/hers) is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the Depatrment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She has an extensive background working with children, adolescents, and their families. After completing her undergraduate degree at UC San Diego, she received her Master of Science in counseling from San Francisco State University. During the course of her program, Ann focused on attachment theory and the role of neuroscience in relationship and social development. In addition to a certificate in early childhood education and development, she is also trained in parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) through the Children’s Hospital at UC Davis.
Ann trained in community mental health for several years at the Family Service Agency of Marin, where she focused on supporting families through pregnancy and early parenting. She gained expertise in family systems while working with families with children and teens of all ages at Networks Family Counseling Center in San Francisco. Ann has over a decade of private practice experience serving individuals, couples, and families in San Francisco and Marin County, in addition to performing duties of clinical supervision to MFT interns. Ann often combines skills-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with mindfulness-based education. Prior to being at UCSF, she worked at the NW Anxiety Institute in Portland, Oregon, where she specialized in individual, parent, and family therapy treating anxiety and mood disorders through CBT and exposure and response prevention (ERP). She provides both individual and group therapy through the Wavefront CBT clinic.
Christine Tran
Patient Navigator
Ms. Christine Tran (she/her/hers) is the patient navigator for the UCSF Wavefront DBT and CBT clinics and currently works as a liason between providers and patients in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She has a background in family and consumer sciences with an emphasis on child and family studies. This includes an understanding of family transitions and diversity; sensitivities to the needs and values of individual, families, and groups; and experience working as an advocate for early childhood learning through art and creativity at her local community center. Christine has been working at UCSF in patient-facing roles since 2018 and is ecstatic to be part of the growing efforts to promote happiness, health, and community for individuals and families around the Bay Area and beyond.
Melissa Wei, PhD
Dr. Melissa Wei (she/her/hers) is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF. Melissa earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Harvard University. She completed her clinical internship at the Stony Brook University Consortium and her postdoctoral fellowship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School at the 3East Adolescent DBT Program.
Melissa has worked in outpatient, inpatient, residential, community mental health, and psychiatric emergency settings. She specializes in treating adolescents, young adults, and families who are experiencing chronic emotion dysregulation. Her approach considers how previous life experiences may shape current relationships and difficulties. She provides clinical services through the Wavefront DBT and CBT clinics.
