Dr. Alyssa Switaj​

Dr. Melissa is truly amazing. She is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, empathetic, and patient, and we are so grateful for the care and support she provided to our family. Our experience with both Dr. Melissa and Therapy SoCal has been wonderful. I cannot recommend her or the practice highly enough! Less

I cannot recommend Dr. Melissa highly enough. When I needed her services for my 3-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, she was absolutely wonderful. Dr. Melissa and her team played an integral role in helping them understand and process what was happening, creating a safe and comforting environment for them. We are so grateful for her expertise and deeply compassionate care. Less

Dr. J ´"Melissa Jinariu`" has been an incredible blessing to our family. Navigating life after a divorce is a minefield, and my three children were experiencing severe anxiety and emotional distress. Dr.J and Therapy SoCal stepped in with immense compassion, patience, and expertise. They tailored their approach to each child's specific needs, helping them express their feelings and manage their anxiety safely. The positive transformation in my kids' confidence and daily lives is remarkable. We are so grateful for their guidance! Less

My daughter has been seeing one of the therapists here and it has truly changed her life! She absolutely loves coming and actually looked forward to seeing Dr. Vivian every week. EMDR therapy has done wonders for her overall well being and I would highly recommend Therapy SoCal to anyone struggling with any kind of mental health issues. Less

I highly recommend Dr. Jinariu as both a skilled therapist and a wonderful source of support for parents. She has worked with our family to provide much-needed therapy while also connecting us with additional resources, including support and guidance as we navigate the school system with neurodivergent children. Dr. Jinariu has been an especially good fit for our family because of her training and experience with trauma-related issues and adoption. We completed Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with one of our children alongside Dr. Jinariu, which was helpful not only for that child but also for our entire family. She has been able to take evidence-based practices and help us figure out how to apply those to our family and our specific needs. Sometimes, application of therapy at home can feel overwhelming, but Dr. Jinariu makes sure to come alongside us to create a plan that is both helpful and doable. Less

Dr. Melissa Jinariu's depth of knowledge, clinical expertise, and understanding of the unique needs of children and families impacted by the foster care system is a gift to the community. I have learned so much from Melissa over the years, and I was grateful for her expert lens on my book, First-Time Fostering. She understands the intersection of childhood trauma, mental health and developmental needs, the constraints of the system, and the dynamic of co-parenting with biological families. She brings this expertise to her clients and to the other mental health professionals within her practice. I recommend So Cal Therapy to foster and adoptive families in California." Less

Dr. Melissa Jinariu is amazing to work with and I really enjoy collaborating with her. She works with families in high conflict divorce to help them heal and move forward. She is wonderful with children and incredibly intuitive. I appreciate her thoughtfulness and dedication to her patients. Less

As a School Psychologist working within a public school setting, it has been an absolute pleasure collaborating with Therapy SoCal. Their commitment to utilizing evidence-based practices and individualized treatment strategies to support the diverse needs and developmental goals of our shared students, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression, has been truly commendable. Their ability to collaborate effectively with members of the educational/academic teams to support students through IEPs and 504 Plans has been a tremendous asset. This collaborative approach has helped create a meaningful bridge between the home and school environments, ensuring that students receive consistent, well-rounded support across settings. I greatly appreciate their professionalism, dedication, and genuine commitment to supporting the well-being and success of the students and families they serve. Less

My experience with Therapy Socal was excellent. One of my students had pretty severe ADHD and was receiving excellent treatment and care by Therapy Socal. Melissa attended every meeting we had (including 504's and IEP's) and offered many helpful ideas and suggestions while collaborating with counselors and administration. In the variety of sessions with Melissa she offered evidence based practices to address conditions ranging from ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, etc. I have since referred other students to Therapy Socal because I know they will receive the additional support needed. She advocates for her clients but also remains realistic about the challenges they face. Parents are also involved in the process and feel extremely supported by her. I couldn't be happier with Melissa and will definitely continue to recommend her services. Less

Dr Jinariu is a well-trained and dedicated licensed psychologist with lots of expertise. More important than even that, Dr Jinariu is full of compassion and warmth. She leads an exceptional team at Therapy SoCal and her skill and character is evident through the culture of the organization. Less

As Director of Clinical Training for the PsyD Program at Azusa Pacific University, I have had the privilege of collaborating closely with Dr. Melissa Jinariu. Dr. Jinariu is an exceptional trauma expert whose depth of knowledge, clinical intuition, and commitment to evidence-based practice are outstanding. Beyond her own practice at Therapy SoCal, she serves as an invaluable mentor to our doctoral students, training them with immense patience, insight, and warmth. She models the highest standards of professional excellence, compassion, and leadership. Less

I had an amazing training experience with Therapy SoCal. Dr. Jinariu is an excellent supervisor and utilizes a strengths-based approach with her practicum students. I feel very confident in my skills working with trauma, adoption, and ADHD thanks to the training offered at Therapy Socal. Less

Therapy SoCal has been an integral part of my clinical training and professional development. I have completed two years of postdoctoral training there and feel more confident in my use of evidenced based practices and conducting psychological evaluations. What sets Therapy SoCal apart from other training I have received is how comprehensive the treatment is, specifically I appreciate the bridge between research and theory to application. This has made me a stronger clinician in conceptualization skills, clinical decision making, and theoretical understanding. I also value the training in treating trauma, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, and depression across children with an emphasis on foster and adoption competency as there are limited providers with such training in our field. I would highly recommend TSC for its rigorous training and supportive and positive working environment. Less