MC PROFESSIONALS
ERIKA L. BYARS
I am a Chicago-born, Los Angeles–based crisis care management professional with over 20 years of experience in behavioral health, addiction treatment systems, and family care coordination. My work is grounded in a strong Midwestern work ethic and a deep understanding of the clinical, operational, and financial complexities families face during behavioral health crises. I am a mother and ally of the LGBTQ+ community. As a member of Mensa, I also have a lifetime of understanding and education when it comes to neurodivergent needs. As the former Chief Operating Officer of the first dually licensed primary mental health and primary addiction treatment facility in Malibu, I gained firsthand insight into systemic breakdowns that often occur between families, treatment providers, and insurance carriers. Recognizing that poor coordination and opaque billing practices frequently intensify crisis situations, I became an expert in insurance reimbursement and facility operations to bridge these gaps. Giving families the peace of referring patients to the right care has led to families following and referring my services for the last two decades. My goal is to always keep the loved ones and patient focused on the successes and not preventable problems .
My reputation affords those involved a sense of security and peace through my advocacy. I strive to bring analytical precision, discretion, and strategic clarity to each case. I advocate for timely access to appropriate care while minimizing unnecessary delays, conflict, and financial burden. I am most rewarded with the phrases," I have hope", " I have my loved one back", and "I'm so happy to have your help." I look forward to working with every family.
CANDY FINNIGAN
Candy Finnigan is a nationally recognized author, addiction specialist, and professional interventionist featured on A&E’s Intervention. With over 30 years of experience in the field, she has worked across all areas of recovery including intervention, relapse prevention, assessment, placement, family programs, and aftercare. Candy is personally in long-term recovery and brings that perspective to her work helping individuals and families affected by addiction. She is also the author of When Enough Is Enough: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Intervention.
Robert Alexander (CIP)
Rob Alexander has worked in the behavioral health and addiction recovery field since 2006. He is a Certified Intervention Professional (CIP) who works directly with individuals and families navigating substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, and acute psychiatric crises.
Rob specializes in high-touch, family-centered interventions, pre-treatment stabilization, and complex case coordination. His work often involves supporting families during moments of high emotional intensity and helping guide loved ones into appropriate levels of care with dignity, structure, and clinical integrity.
With extensive experience collaborating alongside clinicians, treatment programs, and multidisciplinary teams, Rob is known for his calm presence, direct communication style, and ability to build trust quickly with both clients and families. He approaches intervention work through a systems-based lens, emphasizing accountability, safety, and long-term recovery outcomes.
Rob is an active member of the Association of Intervention Specialists and remains committed to ethical practice, continued professional development, and advancing standards within the intervention field.
PAUL B. LEE
Paul Lee was a highly recruited High School football player in Southern California. As a Division 1 football player, injuries occurred and he became addicted to pain killers and alcohol. He lost direction and experienced depression. With a change of lifestyle and direction, Paul started his own recovery journey and began to live more consciously with an intention to be healthy and develop a mindful lifestyle. With over 15 years of experience in Behavioral Health, Paul has made it his mission to support and guide individuals and their families through drug addiction and alcoholism. His passion is to assist, support, and guide those who are in the process of making healthy and positive lifestyle changes.
Core Competencies
Certified Case Manager Interventionist - Master's Level
Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor
Treatment Group Facilitator (Relapse Prevention)
Certified Health and Wellness Coach
California Community College Teaching Credential (Physical Education )
CHRISTINE WENDT
With 23 years of service in the field of special education, Christine Wendt is a dedicated educator and specialist in IEP and neurodivergent support. Christine's background allows for clinical and family collaboration to ensure the treatment team planning incorporates the consideration required for the treatment plan to succeed. She holds a Bachelor of Clinical Psychology from Saint Xavier University, a Bachelor of Education from Trinity Christian College, and a Masters in Administration from the American College of Education. Throughout her career, Christine has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting diverse learners, designing targeted interventions, and fostering inclusive learning environments. She brings extensive expertise in individualized instruction, IEP development, and collaborative problem-solving with students, families, and multidisciplinary teams. Christine is known for her professionalism, compassion, and ongoing commitment to ensuring that everyone receives the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.
Christine is available to clients contracting with MC as an added resource to ensure that there is an integration of neurodivergent or IEP needs into the clinical care, treatment planning process. As a valued and well respected team player, Christine can easily bridge the gap in translating needs across patient, loved ones and the treating professionals communications.
ANAHITA KIA, JD, LMFT
Anahita is a private practice therapist specializing in adults, couples, and families experiencing emotional and relational issues, including life transitions, separation and divorce, codependency, issues related to substance use and addictive behaviors, women's health issues, chronic pain in men, and mental health issues including depression, anxiety, panic, trauma, and grief & loss.
Given her background as an attorney, she works closely with legal, medical, and business professionals experiencing issues with anger, addiction, depression, anxiety, work burnout, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, career transition, and retirement. And given her personal connection to creative expression, she works with artists, musicians, and innovators who may be experiencing challenges with imagination and inspiration, lack of motivation, "writer's block," and performance anxiety.
Anahita has worked in diverse treatment settings, from residential to outpatient levels of care, both as a therapist and a Clinical Director. She has worked as an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Clinical Supervisor to student therapists at Pepperdine Community Counseling Center, and Certified Mediator for the Superior Court of Ventura County.
Because of her interest in working with trauma survivors, she became a certified counselor for survivors of domestic violence, as well as a certified counselor for survivors of sexual assault. As a result of her participation in Jon Kabat-Zinn’s eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program, she utilizes mindfulness-based interventions combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients understand and manage their physical and emotional distress. Her treatment style is relational and solution-focused, and she works in collaboration with her clients to help them achieve their desired goals.
Anahita brings a unique skillset and much needed advocacy for those that wish to contract with her while working with MC.
Bruce Lee Whitney, Ph.D., DABPS, DAPA, FFACAPP
Dr. Whitney became a Clinical Psychologist in order to fulfill his deep desire to help individuals with a wide variety of mental and behavioral health issues. He has been providing psychological services to the Westlake Village community for more than 22 years at the same practice site on Townsgate Road. Through his extensive experience and understanding of human nature, he enjoys an extraordinary and uncanny ability to create a trusting bond and deep connection with his patients, as well as having gained the respect and recognition for his talents by other professionals in his chosen field of mental health.
On a day-to-day basis, Dr. Whitney offers psycho therapeutic treatment which includes individual, marital, and group psychotherapy, and divorce mediation. He is advanced at working with complex cases of depression and anxiety, as well as dissociative disorders. Dr. Whitney also enjoys teaching biofeedback and relaxation methodologies and techniques, for coping with stress, and pain management.
Dr. Whitney is a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) for the State of California, Division of Worker’s Compensation. Dr. Whitney has concurrently maintained status as an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) for the State of California Employment Development Department, serving in the capacity of an evaluator for purposes of determining eligibility for mental health benefits.
In addition to his wide-ranging background and experience, Dr. Whitney retains membership in many organizations to facilitate the continuance of his knowledge base and education. He is a Board Certified Professional Counselor, a Fellow of the American Association of Integrative Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners , a Diploma of the American Board of Psychological Specialties, a Founding Fellow of the American College of Advanced Practice Psychologists, and he is also a retired Deputy Sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
It is Dr. Whitney’s extensive experience and unusual background that enables him to facilitate patient care with sensitivity and skilled guidance. Over the years, clients have repeatedly expressed their deep satisfaction with Dr. Whitney’s treatment, in the most time honored way possible, through recommended treatment referrals for family and friends.