Palm Desert, CA Local Support & Community Resources

Dr. Alisa Huntington, a dedicated marriage and family therapist with a PhD and LMFT credentials, focuses on supporting children and teenagers during these challenging times. With the recent shift from online to in-person schooling, many kids and teens may feel overwhelmed and anxious. Dr. Huntington is committed to helping this generation navigate their difficulties, offering effective coping mechanisms that facilitate their journey from merely surviving to truly thriving. Utilizing a unique blend of art and play therapy coupled with her personal experience as a mother, she provides a safe and nurturing environment for her young clients. In addition to her work with children and teens, Dr. Huntington specializes in adoption-related matters, understanding the unique challenges faced by foster and adoptive parents. Her modalities of treatment include Solution-Focused, Experiential, and Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy, enabling her to address the diverse needs of families.

Deborah Meints-Pierson is a compassionate and dedicated Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, who brings over three decades of experience in guiding adults through their mental health challenges. Graduating from Chapman University in 1985, Deborah has built a diverse set of skills that includes Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She excels in addressing top issues such as depression, anxiety, and relationship challenges through a variety of therapeutic modalities tailored to her clients' unique needs, including individual, couples, and family therapy. Her eclectic and interpersonal approach creates a safe and trusting environment, allowing clients to explore their feelings and develop effective coping strategies for a brighter future.

Dr. Richard Sinacola brings nearly 40 years of teaching and clinical experience to his practice, specializing in the treatment of depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, and sexual issues. With a robust background in substance abuse treatment and behavioral addictions, including obsessive spending and pornography addiction, he skillfully addresses a myriad of challenges faced by his clients. His expertise extends to aiding individuals with religious guilt, spirituality, and grief issues, tailoring treatment approaches for maximum personal effectiveness. Dr. Sinacola’s extensive clinical insights uncover the connections between depression and anxiety and root causes such as job stress, grief/loss, chemical addictions, dysfunctional relationships, COVID fatigue, and low self-esteem. Recognizing that spiritual dilemmas often affect overall well-being, he provides supportive guidance in these areas. Additionally, he addresses career-related struggles, including job dissatisfaction and burnout. Alongside his therapy practice, Dr. Sinacola serves as a university professor and is well-versed in psychopharmacology, psychotropic medications, addictions treatment, relationship counseling, and conflict resolution, ensuring a comprehensive approach to mental health and well-being.