Rancho Cucamonga Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists
Jeffrey Mar, M.D.
Medical Director, Valenta, Inc.
Dr. Mar is the founder and Medical Director at the Valenta Eating Disorder Program for Anorexia and Bulimia. Since 1999, Dr. Mar has focused his medical career on the evaluation, treatment, and causes of eating disorders.
Dr. Mar believes that people with eating disorders need thorough medical care and skilled therapy for the multifaceted bio-psycho-social issues associated with eating disorders. Dr. Mar’s medical credentials are extensive with board certifications (specialization) in three specific areas of expertise: Board Certified in Pediatrics, Adult Psychiatry, and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Mar earned his MD from Dartmouth Medical School and his BA from Stanford University. He completed his residency at the University of Utah’s distinguished Triple Board program.
Prior to establishing Valenta in 2007, he was the Medical Director at the Loma Linda Behavioral Medical Center for Eating Disorders. Dr. Mar is a Fellow at the American Academy of Pediatrics; a Fellow at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED), the American Society of Adolescent Psychiatry, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, (CEDS), International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.
Dr. Mar has particular interests in the role of attachment and developmental trauma in eating disorders and he is actively engaged in research addressing these issues.
Kellie Nasont, Psy.D.
Clinical Manager · Depression & Anxiety Recovery Program
Dr. Nasont earned her doctorate in clinical psychology, and has specialized in the treatment of individuals and families suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and psychosis. She is also experienced in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological testing for these populations in order to increase insight and provide helpful recommendations for patient care. Dr. Nasont is trained in basic EMDR and finds it to be an effective tool to assist patients in the navigation of their challenges. She has worked at the Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, and Full-Service Partnership levels of care using individual, group, and family modalities.
Dr. Nasont is passionate about helping patients identify and live according to their values, while simultaneously pursuing hopefulness through intentional meaning-making.
Silvia I. Serna, M.S., LMFT
Clinical Therapist
Silvia is a Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her BS in Psychology and Masters in Clinical Psychology from California Baptist University. She joined the Valenta Team in 2013 as an intern and discovered a passion for working with eating disorders. She has led process and psychoeducational groups, individual and family/support sessions, and is one of the Lead Therapists in Valenta’s Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program. She is interested in understanding the role of trauma in eating disorders. She is appreciative and proud to work with a compassionate and professional team who are dedicated to providing excellent patient care.
Lizette Garcia, M.S., APCC, AMFT
Clinical Therapist
Lizette is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor and Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, her and Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology from California Baptist University. Lizette joined the Valenta team in 2020 as part of the administrative staff and patient advocate. Lizette also completed her Practicum/Internship at Valenta and is truly proud to be part of an honorable group that values and strives for team cohesion, professional development, and exceptional patient care. Lizette’s passion in learning and understanding eating disorders, trauma, and attachment continues to grow in her journey of professional growth.
Dianna Diaz, M.S., APCC, AMFT
Clinical Therapist
Dianna is an Associate Marriage and Family therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor who received her Bachelors in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino and her Masters in Clinical Psychology from California Baptist University. For her graduate practicum, Dianna gained experience working with the justice involved individuals who struggled with a variety of mental illnesses including, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Dianna focused on supporting the justice-involved individuals as they transition from being incarcerated to living healthy lives. She is interested in understanding how attachment and trauma influence eating disorders. Dianna is excited to be part of a multidisciplinary team that strives to provide exceptional patient care.
Danielle Stancikas, M.S., APCC, AMFT
Clinical Therapist
Danielle is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist as well as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. She received her B.S. in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University and her Masters in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University. She has experience working with mental illness within the criminal justice system as well as experience working with individuals battling substance use addictions. Danielle is passionate about serving and advocating for individuals with eating disorders. She is excited to be a part of the Valenta team and to provide exceptional patient care.
Michael (Sio Chong) Dao, M.S., APCC, AMFT
Clinical Therapist
Michael is an Associate Marriage and Family therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor who joined Valenta Mental Health in 2023. Michael got his BS in Nutritional Sciences from University of California, Berkeley, MS in Evidence-based Healthcare from University College London, and MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before embarking his mental health journey, Michael had worked overseas as a clinical dietitian at an acute hospital for 6 years. Michael completed his practicum at Chinatown Service Center where he gained experience in working with individuals struggling with ADHD, ASD, gender identity issues, depression, and anxiety, etc. Michael is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model. Michael is excited to join the multidisciplinary team at Valenta where he can integrate his clinical experience and training to accompany individuals achieving more holistic wellness. Outside of work, Michael enjoys volleyball, pickleball, reading, and writing.
Lorraine Rodriguez, ACSW
Clinical Therapist
Lorraine is an Associate Clinical Social Worker who received her Bachelors in Sociology with a Minor in Education from San Francisco State University and her Masters in Social Work from California Baptist University. While in her graduate program, Lorraine worked with foster youths, as well as providing telehealth services to individuals struggling with mental health.
Being a part of Valenta’s Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program brings excitement to her as she is passionate about working alongside individuals experiencing mental health issues and helping them reach their recovery goals.
Kara Park, M.S., AMFT
Clinical Therapist
Kara is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine and her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller School of Psychology. She has experience doing school-based therapy in middle and high schools as well as experience working with adolescents and adults in residential treatment care facilities for both mood and eating disorders. Kara is passionate about meeting all her clients with compassion and curiosity and is highly motivated to empower and advocate for individuals with eating disorders. She has a particular interest in understanding and supporting those working through cultural challenges in eating disorders. She is grateful to be a part of the Valenta team.
Shawna Rosa, RD, CEDS
Registered Dietician, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist
Shawna is a registered dietitian nutritionist who received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Loma Linda University. Shawna has 15+ years’ experience coaching and providing nutrition education to clients of all ages. Her focus has always been on properly fueling the body for optimal performance through a balanced and varied diet, with no hard and fast set of rules.
Her extensive experience working closely with athletes with disordered eating patterns, body image challenges and over-exercising has led her down the path to empower patients with eating disorders in obtaining a healthier relationship with food, movement, and their body. Shawna believes that having a better understanding of nutrition science will ultimately help her patients make peace with food through an understanding of how the body uses different foods and nutrients. Her passion is to help guide patients to take the focus off calorie counting, labeling foods and harmful food rules by debunking unfortunate myths that are heavily influenced by toxic diet culture.
Alondra Guajardo, RD
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Alondra is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who received her bachelor of science in Nutrition and Food Sciences from CSUSB. Alondra has 4 years of experience in food service, working closely with kitchen staff to ensure safe food practices and proper handling of food allergies.
Alondra is passionate about working with eating disorders and educating patients about nutrition and food. She enjoys working with patients to help them develop a healthy relationship with food based on flexibility, preference and balance. Alondra provides individualized and compassionate patient care to support patients in their eating disorder recovery.
Liliana Medina, BA
Patient Advocacy
Liliana is part of the administrative team and patient advocate. She received her BA in Human Developmental Sciences from UC San Diego in 2020. Her first exposure to the field was in 2019 when she volunteered for nonprofit organizations which strived for equitable access to eating disorder treatment for marginalized groups. Her interest in this field continued to grow and she worked as a mental health counselor at a residential eating disorder treatment center where she was able to help create a safe space for patients to recover. Now as part of the Valenta team, she is proud to work with others who are passionate about advocating and supporting patients through their recovery journeys. She is excited to continue to learn about this field as part of a team who cares for both patients and one another.