Our Providers

PsyD, Site Leader

Akshay Naresh

Dr. Akshay Naresh (he/him) is a licensed clinical psychologist and has worked with patients across the lifespan in various contexts including community mental health clinics, hospitals, and educational facilities (secondary, community colleges, & universities). He has experience working with a wide range of mental health concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, body image issues, eating disorders, relationship issues, gender and sexual identity, and multi-cultural issues. He uses an integrative approach to create a space for meaningful life changes by helping patients develop self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-awareness.

Dr. Naresh enjoys working with adults and currently sees patients in Orinda and San Jose, and via telemedicine across the state of California.

Dr. Naresh completed his post-doctoral fellowship at Kaiser Permanente Adult Outpatient Psychiatry and his pre-doctoral internship at Santa Clara University’s Cowell Health Center. He obtained his doctoral degree from The Wright Institute and his bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine. Outside of his clinical work, Dr. Naresh enjoys playing and watching basketball (Go Warriors!) and also plays a variety of different musical instruments.

PhD

Benjamin Towns

Dr. Benjamin Towns is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience working with patients experiencing chronic pain, depression, anxiety, ADHD, interpersonal conflicts, school stress, work stress, substance use disorder and addiction. His therapeutic approach is client-centered, compassionate, culturally sensitive, and evidenced-based. He utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-based interventions to promote recovery, wellness, and improve quality of life. Dr. Towns has worked with diverse patient populations in treatment settings that include acute crisis, inpatient/outpatient drug rehabilitation, workers compensation, and outpatient (nonprofit & university) counseling centers. He has published research in the areas of chronic pain, peer victimization, and the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- based interventions in the treatment of late-life depression. In addition to his clinical practice, he is the Senior Coordinator and Counselor in the Disability Support Services department at California State University, San Marcos.

Dr. Towns enjoys working with adults and he currently sees patients in La Jolla and via video-medicine across the state of California.

Dr. Towns received his doctorate in Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Psychology from the University of Texas in Arlington.

PhD

Crystal Jimenez

Dr. Crystal Jimenez (She/Her/Hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in chronic pain management, behavioral medicine, adjustment to chronic health conditions and related life stressors. She has experience working with a wide range of mental health concerns, including generalized anxiety, depression, stress reduction, life transitions. Dr. Jimenez’s approach is culturally sensitive, evidence-based, and strengths-based, integrating CBT, mindfulness, and values-based interventions to help patients learn effective skills to increase connection, change, and empowerment in their lives.

Dr. Jimenez enjoys working with adults and currently sees patients in San Francisco and via telemedicine across the state of California.

Dr. Jimenez completed her postdoctoral fellowship with a specialty in chronic pain at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco and her predoctoral internship at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. She received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology-Palo Alto University.

PhD

Jeanette Chong

PhD, Associate Clinical Director & Clinical Supervisor

Josh Thomas

Dr. Josh Thomas is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in substance addiction, dual diagnosis, depression, anxiety, trauma, work-related stress, intimate partner and interpersonal relationship conflicts, and chronic pain. With an emphasis in clarifying and living from personal values, his approach is highly compassionate, culturally sensitive, strengths-based, and evidenced-based. He integrates CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based interventions to help individuals with uncovering, discovering, and discarding thinking and behavioral patterns that are blocking them from living enriched and empowered lives. He also practices internal family systems (IFS) therapy to support individuals with healing from posttraumatic experiences.

Dr. Thomas has worked at all levels of care for the treatment of severe substance addictions that include acute detox, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient. He is a former clinical director of a highly regarded dual diagnosis treatment center in San Diego. He has published research in the areas of alcohol addiction and neuropsychological functioning and CBT treatment-effectiveness for depression in late-life. He has also consulted with innovative tech companies to integrate mindfulness-based CBT, biofeedback, and telemedicine for the treatment of depression.

Dr. Thomas enjoys working with adolescents and adults and he currently sees patients via video-medicine across the State of California. In addition to his clinical practice, he provides clinical supervision services at several treatment centers in San Diego that focus on substance addiction recovery.