About Us

Alessandra Fleming, Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Ali Fleming specializes in psychological assessment and psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and young adults. She works collaboratively with clients and families, using psychological tests as tools to understand clients through a new lens and effectively plan treatment. Her approach is relational and she integrates a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities into her psychotherapy practice including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Dr. Fleming was formerly the Adolescent Program Manager at Mission Harbor Behavioral Health, an intensive outpatient program for adolescents with mental health and substance use issues. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the APA-accredited Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA and her bachelor’s degree in both psychology and economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Fleming completed her predoctoral internship at Casa Pacifica Center for Children and Families and her postdoctoral internship as the Adolescent Program Manager at Mission Harbor Behavioral Health.

A bit more about Dr. Fleming:

After growing up in Santa Barbara, I moved away for university and graduate school, and spent time in San Francisco. I am happy to be back in my hometown with my husband and two children. I spend my spare time with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, delicious food, traveling, and coastal sailing. I take every opportunity to experience different parts of the world from a sailboat, where life becomes simple and everything becomes meaningful. I believe in the importance of finding balance, and strive for it in my everyday life.

Christina Cortez, Psy.D

Psychological Associate 

Dr. Christina Cortez is multiculturally informed and bilingual in Spanish. She has been dedicated to serving predominantly Latinx populations, specifically adolescents, young adults and families. Her clinical training niche includes Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as Mindfulness-Based practices to help increase the resilience, stability and overall wellbeing of her patients.

In addition to her role at OpenMinds, Dr. Cortez is a therapist at Mission Harbor Behavioral Health, where she supports adults, adolescents and their families in the treatment programs.  Dr. Cortez is a 2020 graduate of Antioch University Clinical Psychology Doctoral program in Santa Barbara. She completed her Master's in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University Santa Barbara in 2016. Dr. Cortez received an award and grant for her social justice research foci, which was a phenomenological investigation of the lived experiences of immigrant parents who have special needs children to identify themes with the aim of supporting this population. She completed her predoctoral training at the Santa Barbara School Psychology Internship Consortium (SB-PIC) in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Unified School District and Family Service Agency (FSA) and worked in the local high schools. She is currently working under the supervision of Alessandra Fleming, Psy.D. (PSY 31806).

A bit more about Dr. Cortez: 

A native of the Central Coast, Dr. Cortez enjoys living in the “American Riviera” with her daughter, and in their leisure they enjoy creating jewelry as well as watching Japanese anime. Additionally, Dr. Cortez has enjoyed photography, reading, travel and exploring the local dining options. In her free time Dr. Cortez loves spending time with family and friends and making memorable memories together.  Dr. Cortez believes we are all interconnected and in the power of positivity. 

patricia zadeh, Psy.D

Psychological Associate

A professional psychologist who draws on the contribution of the many approaches to help clients on a journey through self-discovery, utilizing their own unique traits to grow, heal, change, and develop their personal potential. Patricia helps guide clients to develop to their improved self, find meaning while emphasizing their concerns and being aware of the here and now. She utilizes an integrative approach in her practice, blending humanistic, psychoanalytic, and behavioral techniques while incorporating mindfulness skills, and tailors her treatment according to her individual client’s needs.

She has acquired a Master’s and a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology, with a focus on forensic psychology from Antioch University, both products of a pursue to follow her lifelong dream and intrinsic motivation to become a psychologist. It started simply with a curiosity and desire to understand human behavior and help others. She is currently pursuing a certification on Neurofeedback to enrich her practice. She has experience working with the most challenging of mental health issues throughout the years, she has worked with chronic mental illness, addiction, trauma, abuse, as well as patients with chronic and terminal illnesses. She is also a member of the Kind Mind team of facilitators in local schools, teaching children mindfulness, emotional and attentional regulation, as well as compassion and caring.

Victoria brier, amft, apcc

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Victoria is an associate Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as an associate Professional Clinical Counselor with extensive experience in providing individual, group, and family therapy for both adolescents and adults with a wide variety of mental, behavioral, and substance abuse issues. Victoria earned her master's degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Victoria is a huge proponent of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). One of her favorite parts of facilitating DBT skills groups is seeing the positive change in clients when they discover a skill that resonates with them. Victoria is passionate about fostering a therapeutic atmosphere of safety, compassion, and acceptance.

Victoria discovered her passion for mental health while working as a hotline volunteer for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) for 5 years. From there, she became trained in Applied Behavior Analysis and conducted ABA therapy for children with varying degrees of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A bit more about Victoria: 

When not working, Victoria enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and playing fetch with her 4-year-old chihuahua mix named Pig!