Kristen is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice who primarily supports women with perinatal mental health disorders, PTSD/trauma, anxiety, and sleep concerns. Kristen grew up in New York and attended Boston University where she studied advertising and psychology. She earned her doctorate at Fordham University and completed internship at University of San Diego and post-doctoral fellowship at UC San Diego with a specialization in Behavioral Health. Kristen has advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, and Perinatal Mental Health Disorders through Postpartum Support International.

In her previous role as PHA Education Chair, Kristen provided a platform for educating about underrepresented groups within the field of perinatal wellness. Now as PHA President, Kristen seeks to honor the organization’s mission to increase access to care for new parents who may feel overwhelmed. She encourages commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the organization’s activities, including program materials, grant funding, trainings, and membership recruitment. Outside of work and PHA, Kristen keeps busy with her two young children, volunteering at her son’s elementary school, and serving on the Board of St. Sarkis Armenian Sunday School.

Kristine holds a doctorate in clinical forensic psychology with a background in assisting youth in juvenile detention. Becoming a mom shifted her focus back home and to spending time with her inquisitive and energetic tiny human. Not having an easy transition into parenthood herself, Kristine is passionate about increasing awareness and access to support for those living with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

In her free time, Kristine enjoys camping with her family, dog rescue, and developing her photography skills.

Allana has volunteered with the Postpartum Health Alliance Warmline since 2015. Having experienced postpartum psychosis without sufficient resources or support, she considers giving back to the mental health community a part of her life’s purpose. Allana holds her BS in Business Administration - Accounting from San Diego State University and has experience working in accounting and finance locally and internationally in various industries. On the PHA Board, Allana leverages her financial skills and finds fulfillment in serving the perinatal community of San Diego. In her free time she enjoys surfing, singing, traveling, and having mommy-daughter days with her 11 year old.

Norma is a bilingual Spanish/English Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has been providing mental health services for families, children, adolescents, and adults for over seven years. She has worked with victims of crime, survivors of trauma, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

Norma is a wife and mother of two children. After experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression after the birth of each of her children, she developed a special place in her heart and a deep connection with women who experience the same.

Norma is currently in private practice specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She is especially passionate about helping mothers and couples navigate the transition to parenthood. She has completed advanced training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders through Postpartum Support International and is trained in EMDR to treat trauma.

Veronna Dizon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has dedicated much of her professional career to the field of perinatal mental health. She is thrilled to serve on the board of Postpartum Health Alliance, an organization she considers essential to the San Diego Community. She began her career as a medical social worker over 20 years ago at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital when youngest son was just six months old. She still remembers this difficult transition back to work like it was yesterday (dealing with “letdown” at inconvenient times, think walking into the NICU.) Today, Veronna remains committed to maternal mental health and maintains her own small private practice, specializing in perinatal mental health disorders and serving the BIPOC/Asian American community. In her spare time, Veronna enjoys going on walks with her dog, attending live music, theater and sporting events and spending time with her husband and two grown sons.

Cynamon is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice who is passionate about helping people heal through meaningful and deep connection to others. Cynamon specializes in complex trauma and relationship conflict utilizing both EMDR and Gottman methods to treat individuals and couples. Cynamon believes people should not need to suffer in silence, all people should have access to affordable care, and a community of support makes all the difference.

Cynamon’s values align with PHA’s mission to increase knowledge about perinatal mental health and access to care for individuals and families impacted by the ever-fluctuating emotions involved in building a family. Through experiencing her own difficulties in creating a family and being a source of support for others struggling with similar challenges, Cynamon encountered barriers to finding appropriate support for new parents, expecting parents, caregivers, and survivors of loss. She hopes to create lasting change for the San Diego perinatal community by helping to bridge this gap in care.

Tina Poudrier, a proud San Diegan, attended San Diego State University and holds her Masters degree in Cross-Categorical Special Education. She has over 15 years of experience in education and currently works as a special education consultant and service coordinator. Tina’s passion for equity as an education consultant carries over to her service on PHA’s Board, where she seeks grant and funding opportunities to sustain PHA’s mission to provide education, awareness, and resources to the perinatal community of San Diego.

Tina keeps busy with her family, consisting of a spirited 4-year-old kiddo, two dogs, and husband who flies helicopters for the US Navy. Tina enjoys volunteering at a senior dog rescue in Ramona and has a love for music. She previously enjoyed going to music festivals to see her favorite artists perform live. Now she finds herself introducing music to her son and taking him to concerts whenever she can.

Prior to entering the mental health field, Jen started her career gaining a background in education and non-profit management with Junior Achievement, an international organization dedicated to serving K-12 students through hands-on experiences that demonstrate financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship. As a program manager, she spent years developing curriculum, leading trainings, and stewarding corporate volunteers and donations.

In 2010, Jen made a career switch and proceeded to obtain a Master's degree in Marital & Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. She completed most of her clinical training at the UCSD Reproductive Mental Health Clinic working alongside physicians, midwives, and psychiatrists to provide a unique collaboration on the screening and treatment of perinatal mood disorders affecting women and their partners during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She also has experience counseling youth and military families while working for the Coronado SAFE Foundation.

Jen is currently in private practice in Point Loma and enjoys supporting couples as they transition into parenthood. She has specialized knowledge in the areas of maternal mental health, attachment & bonding, birth trauma & loss, infertility struggles, and adjusting to parenthood while preserving your marriage.

In her free time, you can find Jen spending time at the beach or in the desert with her husband and 3 children.

With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Gina currently serves as Senior Director of Family and Community Services at Jewish Family Service of San Diego. At JFS, she oversees a breadth of initiatives, including refugee resettlement, positive parenting education, and family support services. Gina holds an MSW and MPH, both from Boston University, and a BA from American University. After the birth of her first child in summer 2023, informed by her background in mental health and supporting families, Gina decided to join the Board of PHA as co-chair of Equity and Inclusion, to support efforts to further destigmatize perinatal mental health disorders, particularly within communities of color.

Natalie holds a B.A. from the University of San Diego and her background is in Secondary Education. Natalie's years as a classroom teacher ended when she started a family, however her passion for teaching has only grown exponentially. Now as a mother of three, and Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Postpartum Doula, Natalie carries her skills from her teaching career into the motherhood realm, educating new parents on infant development and sleep fundamentals, and helping families develop sustainable routines with their babies so that everyone stays well rested during a time that can be extremely exhausting and overwhelming.

Natalie first became involved with PHA in 2018 after finally taking control of her own PMADs, realizing there was an arsenal of resources available to new parents that she only wished she had known about as a new mom.

Jalene is an accomplished healthcare administrator with a strong background in healthcare administration, backed by a BS degree in Healthcare Administration. With over a decade of experience in the field, she has demonstrated expertise in managing healthcare facilities and improving operational efficiencies.

In 2020, Jalene experienced a significant life change when she became a first-time mother. This transformative experience brought to light the challenges faced by new parents, including feelings of fear and isolation. Motivated by her personal journey, Jalene sought ways to contribute meaningfully to the community of parents facing similar struggles.

Recently, Jalene discovered PHA (Perinatal Health Alliance), an organization dedicated to raising awareness about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and connecting families with crucial support resources. Inspired by PHA's mission, Jalene decided to align herself with the organization, eager to play a role in their efforts to support and empower parents through education and advocacy.

Jalene enjoys spending time with her husband and two small children with outdoor activities.

Renata is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and mom of two young boys. Born and raised in San Diego, Renata received her undergraduate degree at San Diego State, and her Master in Children and Family Therapy at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. For over a decade, Renata specialized in working with children and adolescents who have undergone significant trauma at various San Diego non-profits; such as, New Alternatives, Mental Health Systems, and San Diego Youth Services.

In 2013, Renata's own transition into motherhood opened her eyes to the glaring lack of support, and unrealistic social pressures/expectations, parents received during the postpartum period. In 2016, Renata officially pivoted her focus and practice to Maternal Mental Health and has since received extensive experience and training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), perinatal loss, and the maternal transition/experience within the postpartum period and parenthood.

In between picking up legos and making PB&Js for her boys, Renata runs a private practice that exclusively focuses on providing supportive and educational wellness groups for new moms. Her mission to ensure all moms have a trusted space to navigate the complexities of their role, thus she is ecstatic to join PHA and honored to be a part of an organization that continues to promote the importance of Maternal (and Paternal) Mental Health.