Our Professionals
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Licensed Psychologist
Michael is a board-certified clinical psychologist in California and Nevada and an Adjunct Professor of Management & Organization at the USC Marshall School of Business. He specializes in Depth Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Leadership, and Compassion-Based Organizational Practices. He consults for industry leaders and collaborates with the Kinsey Institute’s Traumatic Stress Research Consortium to develop neuroception assessment tools. His research focuses on relational trauma in early development and its influence on the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system.
Licensed Psychologist
Making a difficult Decision is often stressful and can produce strong emotional reactions. You may rationally know the right answer but cannot follow through in actions. You may even act in a manner that is contradictive to “the right answer” or inconsistent with whom you are. Simple awareness of this does not equal change.
Licensed Psychologist
Director of Psychological Testing
Dr. Jones is a licensed psychologist with the California Board of Psychology and also holds licenses in Michigan and Alaska. He is a Peace Officer and Standards Training (POST) certified psychologist. He provides psychological testing and has a background as a generalist psychologist, teacher, school psychologist, public school administrator, and forensic psychologist. A proud U.S. Marine veteran, he specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, rational emotive therapy, transactional analysis, psychoeducational, client-centered, grief, gestalt, and existential psychotherapy.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | RYT-200 [Registered Yoga teacher]
Lisa Warren, LMFT, is a highly experienced therapist with 17 years of helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges. With a warm and client-centered approach, Lisa provides support for anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and personal growth using evidence-based techniques tailored to each client’s unique needs.
Director of Coaching Services
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Karli Johonnot was appointed the Director of Emotive Knowledge Psychology’s Coaching Services in September 2020. Karli simply brings a most rare combination of compassion and competitive drive to the coaching director's position. Since graduating from high school as class valedictorian, Karli has compiled an extensive academic record within the areas of clinical psychology and social science, having been on the NCAA All-Honors Academic Team in 2012, 2014, and 2016, in addition to being on the ACC All-Honors Academic Team from 2012 – 2016..
Ph.D.
Are you troubled by self-loathing and depression, battling alcohol or drugs, struggling with intolerable personal or work relationships, oppressed by your children's behaviors, terrorized by inexplicable voices, traumatized by past or current life circumstances, tormented with unwanted thoughts and anxieties with amazing regularity? The odds for change when you combine a resourceful client and caring therapist are worth betting on, are cause for hope, and are the reason for my unswerving faith in psychotherapy as a healing endeavor. Specialities: Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Conflict...
Psy.D.
Ozzy is dedicated to helping others heal and grow through compassion, empathy, and genuine connection. He believes that while life can present significant challenges, it also offers countless opportunities for resilience, meaning, and transformation. His approach to therapy centers on creating a safe, supportive environment where clients can experience peace, hope, and empowerment.
Psy.D, LMFT
Carmen was born in Chile. She has more than 20 years experience as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, and as a researcher in Brain Imaging. She earned her Psy.D in Clinical Psychology from Southern California University.
Carmen has been working with Victims of Crime, as well as children and families with depression, trauma, ADD, mood disorders and anxiety for several years. Carmen is also certified as Hypnotherapist, and Neuro Linguistic Practitioner...
LMFT
Barbara is a Veteran and was honorably discharged from the United States Army after serving for eight years; she continues to enjoy working with the military community. She is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and has seven years of counseling experience across a variety of treatment settings that include, private practice and community-based services.
MA, Psychological Associate
Kathlyn’s areas of interests and expertise include ambiguous grief and loss, family estrangement, trauma, anxiety, depression, complex-PTSD, geropsychology, indigenous culture psychology, adverse childhood experiences, parenting, and wellness.
AMFT
Cassidi Palma is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) dedicated to providing compassionate and effective therapeutic services under the guidance of Dr. Michael Summerlin. Currently pursuing a Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy Degree, Cassidi brings a blend of academic knowledge and practical experience to her practice.
LMFT
Sophia understands Trauma from a unique and spiritual perspective. She has developed a therapeutic process that unwinds her clients from the Trauma matrix that previously and unconsciously defined and limited identity. As part of her therapeutic modality, Sophia provides ongoing psychoeducation to each client as she works with them to identify the wounds of early childhood and guide them into understanding how these wounds or early Traumas continue, often unconsciously, to iterate through and define adult experience. Life then, becomes Trauma driven....
Coaching Specialist
Ferzin Irani is an advanced doctoral trainee studying clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Ferzin received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from San Jose State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Transpersonal Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Ferzin worked in a variety of settings as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (North Carolina) and most recently provided psychotherapy to adults with a history of anxiety disorders and complex trauma.
Our Leadership
Co-Founder, Licensed Psychologist
Michael is a board-certified clinical psychologist in California and Nevada and an Adjunct Professor of Management & Organization at the USC Marshall School of Business. He specializes in Depth Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Leadership, and Compassion-Based Organizational Practices.
He consults for industry leaders and collaborates with the Kinsey Institute’s Traumatic Stress Research Consortium to develop neuroception assessment tools. His research focuses on relational trauma in early development and its influence on the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system.
Co-Founder
Chief Operating Officer
Evelyn Tang-Summerlin is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at EKP, where her mindful leadership has been pivotal in driving the organization's growth and success. Since the inception of EKP, Evelyn has been at the forefront of various initiatives, including publishing research, automating organizational processes, and creating virtual online spaces. Her keen strategic insights and hands-on approach have been instrumental in shaping EKP's trajectory and ensuring operational efficiency.
Department Directors
Director of Coaching Services
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Karli Johonnot was appointed the Director of Emotive Knowledge Psychology’s Coaching Services in September 2020. Karli simply brings a most rare combination of compassion and competitive drive to the coaching director's position. Since graduating from high school as class valedictorian, Karli has compiled an extensive academic record within the areas of clinical psychology and social science, having been on the NCAA All-Honors Academic Team in 2012, 2014, and 2016, in addition to being on the ACC All-Honors Academic Team from 2012 – 2016..
Director of Psychological Testing
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Jones is a licensed psychologist with the California Board of Psychology and also holds licenses in Michigan and Alaska. He is a Peace Officer and Standards Training (POST) certified psychologist. He provides psychological testing and has a background as a generalist psychologist, teacher, school psychologist, public school administrator, and forensic psychologist. A proud U.S. Marine veteran, he specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, rational emotive therapy, transactional analysis, psychoeducational, client-centered, grief, gestalt, and existential psychotherapy.
Administrative Team
Office Assistant
Outreach Associate
Will Taylor serves as the Outreach Associate at Emotive Knowledge Psychology, where he is dedicated to fostering strong connections between the organization and the broader community. With a natural talent for communication and relationship-building, Will leads outreach initiatives that help expand awareness of services, support referral partnerships, and increase client engagement.