Our Story

Our story started way back when a little girl named Ziba would play with her dolls. Her play themes always intrigued her parents, as she would always pretend (through symbolic play) that her dolls were hurt and she would take care of them by bandaging their eyes because they were blind, or make a wheelchair out of cardboard boxes because they could not walk. At the young age of 7, Ziba had no idea what a therapist was, so when people would ask her what she wanted to be when she โ€œgrew upโ€ she would say, โ€œA nurse, so I can take care of people who canโ€™t see or walk.โ€

Services

Behavior Intervention

Behavior Intervention Program is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

Social Skills Therapy

It provides children and teens with special needs social experiences in the center and the community.

The objectives of the DIRยฎ/Floortimeโ„ข Model are to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities rather than focusing on skills and isolated behaviors.

Mental Health Services

We are dedicated to supporting and empowering you through a collaborative process that addresses your goals and areas of need. We believe that the primary foundation to addressing these needs is the trust that is built in the therapeutic relationship between you and your therapist.

Music Therapy (MT)

Music therapy is the clinical use of music to facilitate therapeutic interventions that accomplish individual goals. Music therapy embraces the motivating and structural properties of music to create an effective and rich learning environment.

Adaptive Skills

The Holding Hands Adaptive Skills Program addresses the practical everyday skills a child, teen, or adult needs in order to function at home and in the community. Our program targets 5 Adaptive Skills domains: self-care, communication, behavior (non-maladaptive), social skills, and play-leisure.

Adult Social Skills Group

Adult social skills relationship-based program centered on the following 5 principles: Self-Advocacy , Empowerment, Education,  , and Support

Modified Cognitive Behavior Intervention (M-CBI)

Modified Cognitive Behavior Intervention (M-CBI) is a client-centered program designed for TEENS AND ADULTS (AGES 15 THRU 40) .

ABA

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a widely recognized, research-based treatment methodology for understanding and improving human behavior.

Our Staff

Sagine Philippeaux
Sagine Philippeaux
M.S., BCaBA, ABA Program Coordinator Los Angeles South, Clinical Supervisor
Karina Daoulatian
Karina Daoulatian
ABA Program Coordinator, Calabasas
Ziba Nassab
Ziba Nassab
Psy.D, Founder of Holding Hands, Clinical Consultant DIR Certified Clinician
Elicet Gonzalez
Elicet Gonzalez
M.S., AMFT, Social Skills Program Coordinator and Bilingual Parent Trainer
Patrik Boghouzian
Patrik Boghouzian
M.A., AMFT, Social Skills Coordinator, Clinical Supervisor
Simina Eshtenhardi
Simina Eshtenhardi
Ph.D., LMFT # 107463 License Marriage and Family Therapist
Candida Gallegos
Candida Gallegos
B.A, DIR Certified, DIR Program Coordinator
Lusine Akelyan
Lusine Akelyan
M.A., Associate Director for N.P.A A.B.A. Services
Carrie Hammond
Carrie Hammond
LMFT, BCBA, Director Of the ABA Program & Mental Health Services
Lisa H. Overbeck
Lisa H. Overbeck
MT-BC, Advanced DIR Floortime TM Provider Associate Director of Clinical Services
Eric R. Kane
Eric R. Kane
M.Ed. BCBA., ABA Program Coordinator
Samuel Nassab
Samuel Nassab
M.S., BCBA, Associate Director of ABA Program, Director of CPI Training

Recent posts

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Today at our Holding Hands headquarters and clinics we celebrated as a team to recognize World Autism Awareness Day. Today is a time to come together to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. As a community we will continue challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about autism and celebrating the unique strengths and contributions of individuals on the spectrum. ... See MoreSee Less
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Holding Hands Family,I want to express my deepest gratitude for your hard work, dedication, and contribution. You are the driving force behind our success, and we truly value your presence on our team.Your unwavering commitment to our clients and their families is truly inspiring. You show up every day, even on the toughest days, and in doing so, you are changing lives and elevating potential. What we do is a true calling, and it takes passion, perseverance, and integrity to make a difference. You embody these qualities and more, and I am in awe of your efforts.Thank you for being an invaluable part of our team and for making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed.Happy Employee Appreciation Day!Sarah Cho, Chief Executive Officer ... See MoreSee Less
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