Our Team
Jayson L. Mystkowski, Ph.D., ABPP
Founder & Director, CBh partners
Dr. Jayson L. Mystkowski (preferred pronouns: he/him/his) received a Ph.D. from UCLA’s Clinical Psychology program in 2003 and a B.A. Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in Psychology, with Departmental Honors, from Northwestern University in 1997. At UCLA, where he has been a Clinical Professor for over 15yrs in their Psychology Clinic, Dr. Mystkowski acquired a strong foundation in applying behavior theories to the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders while working with Dr. Michelle Craske and has published several papers on this topic. His clinical training is diverse, with time spent on anxiety treatment studies at UCLA, practicum and post-doctoral training at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital System, and an APA-accredited internship at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). After 15yrs as a licensed clinical psychologist and the Associate Clinical Director at Cognitive Behavior Associates in Beverly Hills, Dr. Mystkowski founded Cognitive Behavior Health Partners in 2019. Dr. Mystkowski is licensed in CA (#20077) and CT (#4416), has been granted the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT: E. Passport Mobility #14145) and a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).
While trained as a generalist, Dr. Mystkowski mainly practices within a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) framework, including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), specializing in the treatment of adults with anxiety (e.g., panic, worry, phobias, OCD, and PTSD) and mood disorders (e.g., episodic and chronic depression), relational problems, and phase of life transitions. In addition, he has training in the psychological treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), insomnia, and bipolar disorder, as well as an extensive background working with LGBTQ+ clients.
Dr. Mystkowski has flexible hours and telehealth options and is a Lyra Health and Advekit provider. He is Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), and is a Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (A-CBT), certified as a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist.
Click here to see Dr. Mystkowski’s CV
Click here for further details about Dr. Mystkowski’s publications
Megan L. Wagner, Ph.D., BCB
director, BIOFEEDBACK program
Dr. Megan L. Wagner (preferred pronouns: she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist (CA #27426) with nearly 20 years of post-graduate education, training, and clinical experience. She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in biological and evolutionary sciences from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University in 2005. In 2011, Dr. Wagner received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Dr. Wagner completed a one-year, APA-accredited internship at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) as part of her doctoral training. She later completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, receiving specialized training in clinical health psychology, focusing on understanding and treating problems about the reciprocal relationship between psychological and physical health. While at VA Loma Linda, Dr. Wagner received training in biofeedback and motivational interviewing (MI) and provided psychological treatment for various behavioral health-related issues, including smoking cessation, insomnia, weight management, chronic pain management, and diabetes management. Dr. Wagner has conducted research in multiple areas, including depression and coping in individuals with multiple sclerosis, OCD, and chronic pain management. She is a Clinical Instructor in the UCLA Department of Psychology's Psychology Clinic, and has been an Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California (USC). Before joining Cognitive Behavior Health Partners, Dr. Wagner served as Director of Behavioral Medicine at Cognitive Behavior Associates in Beverly Hills, California, where she worked from 2016 until 2019.
Dr. Wagner specializes in treating the following areas: chronic pain and other health-related problems, anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, OCD, panic, social phobia), depression, ADHD, and career concerns. She works with adults of all ages but has additional training with university students and veterans. She is also board certified in biofeedback (BCB) by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. Dr. Wagner utilizes therapy approaches that have been thoroughly studied through scientific research, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based methods. She also considers each client's unique needs and preferences and will collaborate with you to reach your therapy goals.
Dr. Wagner is currently taking new clients for short-term and long-term individual therapy and has various scheduling options, including daytime, evenings, and video/online sessions. She is a Lyra Health and Advekit provider.
Denica Gordon-Mandel, M.A., MSW, LCSW
director, women’s wellness Program
Denica Gordon-Mandel (preferred pronouns: she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker (CA #92886; GA #8019; & MA #24137) specializing in evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as providing CBT-Based Treatment for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs). She has undergone training in The Gottman Method and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), empirically supported treatments for partners. Acknowledging the intersectionality of individual sexuality and mental health, Ms. Gordon-Mandel also offers counseling based on the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) principles.
Ms. Gordon-Mandel earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Master’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University. After 8yrs as a psychotherapist, Director of Women’s Wellness, and the Associate Director of the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Institute at Cognitive Behavior Associates in Beverly Hills, Ms. Gordon-Mandel joined Cognitive Behavior Health Partners in 2020. Ms. Gordon-Mandel has experience providing therapy to adults and adolescents, treating anxiety disorders, mood disorders, relationship concerns, and female maturational transitions such as pregnancy, infertility, menopause, navigating work/life, dating and partnership issues (i.e., “Women’s Wellness”).
With over 15 years of work experience in organization positioning for major publicly listed companies and addressing management issues, Ms. Gordon-Mandel combines her corporate background with her psychological expertise to help executives better understand their professional identity and value proposition and acquire self-efficacy skills. Utilizing the Leadership Circle Profile, the most validated instrument available, Ms. Gordon-Mandel collaborates with clients to develop 360-degree awareness of potential areas of growth and strength that work to cultivate authentic leadership within an organization’s corporate culture.
Ms. Gordon-Mandel is also a Co-Founder of “Raising Compassionate Leaders (RCL).”
Summer Scheidegger, Ph.D. (on Leave)
Director, Psychological ASSESSMENTS
Dr. Summer Scheidegger (preferred pronouns: she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist (CA #33302) and university professor. Dr. Scheidegger is trained as a generalist and has worked with patients across the lifespan, from young children to older adults, and has a particular interest in emerging and young adults and women’s wellness. Dr. Scheidegger received her Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2020, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from UCSB in 2009, and a B.A. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University in 2004. Dr. Scheidegger completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU) Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) and previously completed a doctoral psychology internship at the APA-accredited Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Internship Program in the outpatient Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Scheidegger works with individuals, couples, families, and groups and conducts psychodiagnostic assessments. Her previous experiences working in an outpatient hospital setting, a university counseling center, community counseling agencies, and a child abuse center have given her a breadth of experience across different settings. She has worked with patients presenting with a wide variety of concerns, including adjustment disorders, anxiety and mood disorders, grief and loss, family system disruptions, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, history of trauma, eating disorders, relationship concerns, developmental and learning disorders, and school/work/family stress. She uses a combination of treatment approaches and methods of case conceptualization to tailor treatment to those she works with, including, but not limited to, psychodynamic therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Family Systems techniques. Dr. Scheidegger is also an Advekit provider.
Dr. Scheidegger has flexible hours and provides both in-person and telehealth options.
Click here to see Dr. Scheidegger’s CV
Click here for further details about Dr. Scheidegger’s (née Tawalbeh) publications
Ben Schwartzman, LCSW, A-CBT
Ben Schwartzman (preferred pronouns: he/him/his) is a licensed clinical social worker (CA #81434 & RI #ISW03943) who has nearly 10 years of experience providing evidence-based treatment to a diverse client population. He has extensive experience and training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and exposure therapy. Mr. Schwartzman is certified in CBT as a Diplomate with the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies and a certified IPT therapist with the Interpersonal Psychotherapy Institute. Mr. Schwartzman has worked and trained in diverse settings including community mental health, group practices, Intensive Outpatient Programs, and a hospital psychiatry department.
Mr. Schwartzman specializes in treating adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, OCD, borderline personality disorder, impulsivity, self-harm behaviors, and life transitional struggles. He led a comprehensive DBT skills group for people struggling with emotion regulation. He was also the initial therapist in an integrated behavioral healthcare program with a large medical group providing short-term, evidence-based therapy. Mr. Schwartzman is passionate about bringing his experience and collaborative skills into treatment while providing a custom-tailored approach. He enjoys working through a strength-based and solution-focused approach to assist people with recognizing challenges, identifying treatment goals, and developing skills to assist with improving their quality of life. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Mr. Schwartzman worked in the corporate world which gave him an understanding of how work-related challenges and stress impact people's mental health condition. This experience has led him to recognize the importance of a holistic approach to assist people with developing more meaning, pleasure, and success in their life. Lastly, Mr. Schwartzman is also a Lyra Health provider.