Dr. Brenda Gesell is the Program Director of the Graduate Clinical Psychology program and she has been practicing psychotherapy and supervising clinicians in training for the past 24 years. She has specialized training in depth psychological modalities such as Object Relations, Jungian, and Existential therapies.

For the first 7 years her career, Dr. Gesell worked with children and adolescents placed in group homes and foster care due to severe emotional disturbances. Following her work in community health, she spent the next 17 years working in as a private practitioner where she specialized in complex trauma and owned her own group practice. Her expertise also includes working with leaders and pastors dealing with perfectionism and self-doubt.

Dr. Gesell has been a faculty member at Vanguard University for 13 years and is committed to educating graduate students in how to become skilled clinicians who understand and honor the role of faith and spiritual formation within the therapeutic process. Her teaching approach focuses on creating a safe classroom environment where students are actively engaging in intellectual dialogue, cultivating empathy, building self-awareness, and learning how to expand their tolerance of ambivalence, ambiguity, and anxiety in the clinical setting. She is passionate about helping students discover their unique talents and creating their own distinct professional identities as clinicians.

Clinical Foundations I and II, Advanced Psychopathology, Psychodynamic Theory and Treatment, Advanced Human Development, Working with Dreams, Group Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychopharmacology, and Case Conceptualization.

Michelle Hannemann, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who is passionate about helping families and individuals overcome barriers to enjoying a healthy and fulfilling life. She received her M.S. in Clinical Psychology at Vanguard University, during which time she discovered her passion of trauma-focused work with children and families, both nationally and internationally. She continued to refine her clinical skills while she earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at Azusa Pacific University. Her clinical work and research at APU focused on trauma and disorders of the central nervous system. She has received extensive training at multiple community and medical centers, including Harbor-UCLA’s Child Trauma Clinic and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Hannemann has been treating children and adults since 2007 and uses a variety of modalities including, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and families, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Humanistic, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and uses mindfulness techniques in her teaching and practice. Working with youth in a mentoring role is what drew her to psychology and she enjoys continue to mentor future therapists to grow as individuals and as clinicians.

Psychopathology, Psychological Testing, Professional Skills in Clinical Practice, and Research Methodology.

Dr. Kaytie Allah is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in individual and couples psychotherapy, community mental health, and serving as a clinical supervisor for MFT Associates working toward their licensure. Dr. Allah has taught at Vanguard University since 2010, and is passionate about courses that delve into clinical skills, psychodynamic theory and treatment, and human and child development.

Holding a PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, an MS in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University, and a BA from Vanguard University, Dr. Allah is well-equipped to integrate rigorous academic training with practical therapeutic techniques. Their clinical and research interests include eating disorders and intuitive eating, attachment in interpersonal relationships, ADHD and neurodivergence, and gentle, attachment-based parenting.

Dr. Allah’s work at Vanguard University is centered on fostering healing through the therapeutic relationship, aiming to help students and their clients transition from guilt to grace, fear to trust, and brokenness to wholeness.

Clinical Foundations, Psychodynamic Theory and Treatment, Psychosocial Stressors, Couples Psychotherapy.

Ryan Moyher is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology. He is Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Tustin, CA, where he works with individuals, couples, and families with challenges including anxiety, trauma, PTSD, relational conflict between partners and families, and issues related to faith and spirituality.

He earned a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University to support his work as a therapist. Also, Ryan completed a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from Talbot Theological Seminary, which provided training as a spiritual director and allowed him to further a passion for exploring the integration between psychology and spirituality.

Teaching in Vanguard’s Graduate Psychology program has provided him the exciting opportunity to support the education and holistic formation of students on their journey towards becoming thoughtful, self-reflective, and talented future therapists.

Couples Psychotherapy; Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality; Family Psychotherapy, Professional Skills.

Lisa Samaan is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist with 15 years of experience working with diverse populations in a number of different settings focusing on children, families and young adults. Lisa's work in residential treatment, and outpatient clinics focusing on trauma has provided Lisa with unique experiences to share in the classroom. Lisa has provided clinical supervision for the past 6 years in various settings focusing on culturally sensitive client care, and growing therapist's skills and competencies. 

Lisa Samaan is passionate about  growing and developing future therapists. Having been apart of the Vanguard community Lisa wants to continue the work of preparing current students for excellence in the field.

Ethical and Legal Issues, Cognitive-Behavioral Theory and Treatment, and Group Psychotherapy.