Meet Our Team

Brandon Simpson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist with a Master of Arts degree from Antioch University. He specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and trauma-informed care. Brandon views therapy as a safe and supportive space where individuals can explore their concerns, with the belief that every client is in the driver’s seat on their journey to self-discovery and healing.

He is dedicated to fostering an environment where people can express their authentic selves without fear of judgment or stigma. Brandon works with individuals navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, out-of-control sexual behavior or pornography use, sexuality, and men’s issues.

As an LGBTQIA+, poly, and kink-affirming therapist, Brandon ensures an inclusive and compassionate approach to care.

Krystal Faust is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Sexual Addiction Therapist with extensive experience supporting clients facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and communication struggles. She is also a compassionate resource for individuals seeking healing from trauma and abuse.

Krystal approaches each client with sensitivity and respect for their unique way of navigating the world. She tailors her therapeutic approach to align with each person’s lived experiences, values, and perspectives, fostering meaningful change that clients feel ready and empowered to embrace.

With a non-judgmental and inclusive outlook, Krystal offers counseling for individuals exploring diverse consensual adult relationships, identities, and relationship structures. Her work emphasizes collaboration, cultivating self-compassion, and fostering acceptance for oneself and others.

Working with Krystal provides an opportunity to examine how your habits and ways of being either serve you or hold you back—and what steps you can take to create meaningful change. She firmly believes in our capacity to break free from patterns that no longer serve us, drawing strength from our experiences, identities, and openness along the way.

Supervisor: Duane Osterlind, LMFT #44567

Mateo Leonardo is a bilingual Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Cal State Long Beach. He specializes in working with addiction, trauma, and men’s issues, and understands the complexity of relationships between caretakers and their loved ones during a crisis.

Mateo’s objective is to work with individuals, couples, and families to help them minimize suffering and optimize their personal and interpersonal wellbeing. Having migrated from Spain at a young age, he brings a unique cultural sensitivity to his work and is eager to help people from all cultural backgrounds.

Mateo’s approach integrates psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies to increase awareness of maladaptive patterns, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Supervisor: Duane Osterlind, LMFT #44567

Dr. Christian has 28 + years in various settings and experiences helping clients develop positive and healthy sexuality. Her clinical focus is on working with multiple clients, including individuals establishing and sustaining recovery from addictions, partners of addicts, grief and loss, and goal setting. Barbara’s therapy methods include but are not limited to EMDR, Mindfulness, Meditation, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Emotion Regulation.

Dr. Christian earned her Doctorate of Psychology degree with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She also holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Antioch in California and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Sexuality, Life, and Psychology. She is trained with the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists (APSATS).

Barbara supports individuals and couples struggling with sex addiction, couples healing from betrayal, porn addiction, trauma and abuse recovery, couples counseling, sexual identity, and PTSD.

Curtis Coronado received his undergraduate degree, and master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from San Diego State University. He has years of experience working with diverse populations of clients with different backgrounds, cultures, belief systems, and ideologies.

Curtis’ approach to therapy is collaborative and transparent. He focuses on using a mindfulness approach in addition to emotionally focused therapy that helps individuals and couples ground themselves in their fundamental need for a deep and meaningful connection.

Curtis looks forward and welcomes couples and individuals as they are. Navigating the complexities of life’s many ups and downs can be overwhelming, but Curtis believes in supporting the individual just as they are.

Curtis supports individuals and couples struggling with couples, couples dealing with communication, intimacy, and betrayal, and individuals dealing with anxiety, stress, everyday issues, porn addiction, and sex addiction.

Kristen Parker received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Towson University, went on to earn her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Tulane University, and ended her educational endeavors with a Doctorate in Psychoanalysis from the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. In addition to her extensive education, she has additional training with the Masters and Johnson Clinic of Relational Therapy, EMDR, and DBT.

Kristen spent over 17 years as the Program Director for the National Treatment Center at the Del Amo Hospital, providing the foundation of work in PTSD, Dissociative Disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Military Trauma, Eating Disorders, and Sexual Addiction. She has worked with couples in private practice, relationship coaching, and treatment for anxiety and depression.

Kristen believes that every person is fascinating and complex. That therapy needs to support each individual’s unique story. She believes that the relationship between therapist and client is one that co-collaborators and problem solve.

Kristen supports individuals and couples struggling with couples, couples dealing with communication, intimacy, and betrayal, and individuals dealing with anxiety, stress, everyday issues, porn addiction, and sex addiction.

Earl has been working in the substance abuse and sex addiction field for over ten years and has extensive experience treating addictions in various settings working both in inpatient and outpatient environments. He earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and is licensed to practice in California and Maryland. In addition to his experience in substance addiction, Earl is a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT).

Earl is committed to supporting his clients through education and compassion. He spends time outside of his practice educating in human services at the university level and continuing to study.

Earl supports individuals and couples struggling with men, sex addiction, porn addiction, substance addiction, OCD treatment, men’s divorce, relationship experience, trauma, and substance/abuse recovery.

Duane received his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Long Beach, and trained with Patrick Carnes, Ph.D., specializing in sexual addiction issues. Duane has spent over a decade helping individuals find hope and healing. His clinical focus is on treating individuals and couples struggling with process addictions using a mindfulness and task-centered approach.

Duane approaches his client from a place of empathy, understanding, and softness. He believes that couples and individuals can heal profoundly and meaningfully with the proper support.

Duane supports individuals and couples struggling with sex addiction, porn addiction, deep trauma, couples, and betrayal.

Danielle’s formal education in Sociology from UCLA gained her experience working in a professional setting in which she developed strong organizational skills, administrative management, and accounting experience.

After working in the corporate space, she decided to go back to school for her Masters in Business Administration and Organizational Psychology to help support Novus and its team.

While at Novus, she hopes to successfully ensure all aspects of the business function to allow individuals to feel at ease while going through therapy.