Biography
Sophia Makal
Sophia provides individuals and couples therapy with children, adolescents, and adults, utilizing specialized training in perinatal mental health. Sophia’s education and training have led her to develop a unique perspective on how physical health, mental health, and environmental/social factors can impact individuals and their families throughout all stages of development. Sophia utilizes an integrative treatment style that draws upon psychodynamic, mindfulness-based, and solution-focused practices and focuses heavily on a safe, trusting, and collaborative therapeutic relationship. Common themes that Sophia works with include grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, identity-related issues, relational issues, self-compassion issues, and issues around coping with uncertainty. Sophia is particularly passionate about working with people with traditionally marginalized identities, and she is antiracist, LGBTQ+ affirmative, and CNM and Poly aware.
Sophia has earned two Master’s degrees in Psychology, one from Pepperdine and another from The New School. She completed her graduate training and continues to do post-graduate training at Cancer Support Community Los Angeles (CSCLA), and she is concurrently pursuing post-graduate training as a Post-Graduate Fellow at the Wright Institute Los Angeles. Sophia is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (AMFT135485 and APCC12559) currently being supervised by Dr. Lisa Osborn.
C.V.
EDUCATION
- Carnegie Mellon University – 05/2017 • B.S., Psychology, Clinical Psychology Concentration
- The New School for Social Research at The New School – 05/2019 • M.A., Psychology, Research and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling Concentrations
- Pepperdine University – 07/2022 • M.A., Clinical Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling Concentrations
RELEVANT TRAINING
- Perinatal Mental Health 101 & 201 Trainings – UCLA, Maternal Mental Health Now, LA Department of Mental Health, 2024
- Suicide Prevention and Assessment Training – Didi Hirsch, 2023
- Psychosocial Oncology 1-Year Training Program – Cancer Support Community Los Angeles, 2022
- LGBTQIA+ SafeZone Project Training – The New School, 2019
- Naloxone Administration Training – The New School, 2018
SUPERVISED CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
- 05/2024 – Present
Dr. Lisa Osborn
Brentwood, CA
Supervisor: Lisa Osborn, Psy.D. - 10/2022 – Present
Wright Institute Los Angeles
West Los Angeles, CA
Supervisors: Margaret Sheehan, Ph.D.; Jody Churko, MA, LMFT; Michele Gomes, Psy.D. ; Julie Tepper, Psy.D., LMFT
Post-graduate Fellow
Provide low-cost individual and couples therapy to adults in the Los Angeles area via telehealth and in-person.
Conduct intake assessments.
Provide crisis intervention counseling.
Attend weekly training seminars. - 08/2022 – Present
Cancer Support Community Los Angeles
West Los Angeles, CA
Supervisors: Sigall Cahn, MSW, LCSW; Shannon LaCava, Psy.D.
Clinical Associate
Facilitate weekly support groups and provide brief individual and child/adolescent therapy to people impacted by cancer, all at no cost, via telehealth and in-person.
Develop and implement free family programming for families with children under 18 impacted by cancer, via telehealth and in-person.
Participate in outreach and fundraising initiatives to support the community.
Attend weekly training seminars.
Facilitate LGBTQIA+ SafeZone Trainings for fellow trainees and other clinical staff. - 09/2021 – 07/2022
Cancer Support Community Los Angeles - 03/2021 – 09/2022
Wright Institute Los Angeles
West Los Angeles, CA
Supervisors: Michele Gomes, Psy.D.; Claudia Feldman, Ph.D.
Intake Coordinator
Managed clinic phone line and email, including providing information on clinic services and processes, answering clinic-related questions, managing crisis calls, and providing patient referrals as appropriate. Coordinated the intake process for prospective patients, including developing an online process for intake paperwork and scheduling. Completed administrative tasks for clinic directors, staff, therapists, and patients. - 09/2015 – 12/2016
UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Pittsburgh PA
Supervisor: Melissa Nossal, Psy.D.
Undergraduate Intern
Supported on-milieu staff in working with adolescents in in-patient treatment.
Created and implemented a therapeutic group activity.
Developed skills in working in a multidisciplinary team and hospital setting.
West Los Angeles, CA
Supervisors: Sigall Cahn, MSW, LCSW; Shannon LaCava, Psy.D.
Practicum Trainee
Co-facilitated weekly support groups and provided brief individual and child/adolescent therapy to people impacted by cancer, all at no cost, via telehealth and in-person.
Implemented free family programming for families with children under 18 impacted by cancer, via telehealth and in-person.
Participated in outreach and fundraising initiatives to support the community.
Attend weekly training seminars.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
- 09/2018 – 05/2019
• M.A. Thesis: “Does Increasing Perceived Variability Decrease Occupational Discrimination Against Trans Individuals?”
• The New School for Social Research at The New School, New York, NY Faculty Advisor: Lisa Rubin, Ph.D., Gender and Health Lab - 05/2016 – 05/2017
• Senior Honors Thesis: “Increasing Emotional Support in Males”
• Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Dietrich College Honors Fellowship, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Brooke Feeney, Ph.D., Relationships Lab
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
- 02/2023 – 10/2023
• The Holding Space Center
Pasadena, CA
Supervisors: Lauren Burt, MA, LMFT; Miranda Kent, MA, LMFT
• Social Media and Marketing Liaison
Created social media posts and website content to market the practice’s services and specialties.
Wrote blog posts to promote understanding of therapeutic concepts.
- 10/2022 – Present
• Wright Institute
Los Angeles West Los Angeles, CA
Supervisor: Aimee Martinez, Psy.D.
• Social Media and Marketing Intern
Create social media posts to market WILA’s services and initiatives.
Provide training and guidance for fellow WILA trainees to create social media posts and fundraising content.
Liaise with WILA Directors and Alumni Association to facilitate and promote CE and fundraising events.
Update official marketing and social media training materials.
- 09/2017 – 07/2019
• Hand Therapy
NYC New York, NY
Supervisor: Aimee Martinez, Psy.D.
• Patient Intake Coordinator
Organized, managed, and ensured HIPAA compliance for patient records, clinical documentation, and transactions.
Managed appointments, meetings, emails, and phone calls for patients and office staff.
Coordinated with health insurance companies to ensure that patients were eligible, authorized, and had benefits for Occupational Therapy services.
Trained new employees and volunteers, including creating a training manual.
Assisted in managing social media accounts.
HONORS & AWARDS
- 2017 – 2019
• Maximum Tuition Scholarship for Academic Achievement, The New School - 2016 – 2017
• Mortar Board, Carnegie Mellon University
• Phi Kappa Phi, Carnegie Mellon University
• Dietrich College Honors Fellowship and Senior Thesis, Carnegie Mellon University
• Dietrich College Dean’s List with Honors, Carnegie Mellon University - 2013 – 2015
• Dietrich College Dean’s List with High Honors, Carnegie Mellon University
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
- California Association of Licensed Processional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC)
- Psi Chi, National Honor Society in Psychology
- Nu Rho Psi, National Honor Society in Neuroscience