Clinical Interests and Specialty Areas:
Dr. Hansell specializes in the treatment of emotion dysregulation and the effects of trauma and chronic stress. One of her specialties is in relational trauma, which can occur at any stage across the lifespan. Dr. Hansell enjoys working with clients who meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as those who may not meet full criteria, but are struggling to effectively manage their emotions and associated behaviors. She is trained in several evidence-based therapies, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE), as well as in the combined DBT-PE protocol for the dual treatment of trauma and emotional/behavioral dysregulation. Dr. Hansell is a behaviorist at heart who enjoys helping clients conduct their own "behavioral experiments" with the goal of building both insight and skills. She also believes in the value of meaning-making and spiritual exploration to enhance overall wellbeing.
About the Staff Member:
Dr. Hansell earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in Los Angeles and her post-doctoral fellowship at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, where she developed and co-led a Moral Injury and Repair group for Vietnam Veterans. Prior to her doctoral training in clinical psychology, she earned an M.A. in International Policy with a focus on Terrorism Studies and Nuclear Non-Proliferation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Her research at the RAND Corporation included work on cult and paramilitary groups, as well as on programs aimed at building psychological resiliency in military service members.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers