Meet our team

Dr. Warter received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, completed his Predoctoral Internship at USC’s Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and was a Postdoctoral Researcher at USC’s Institute for Integrative Health and Wellness. He has received extensive training at UCSF School of Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, and in community clinics serving rural and underserved communities in Argentina and Paraguay. Dr. Warter has published and presented on topics related to Third Culture Kids and the impacts of social media on personality and self-esteem. Dr. Warter serves exclusively in an executive and operational leadership role at Protected Roots Integrative Treatment Center. He does not provide clinical psychological services, therapy, assessment, or supervision through this practice. Clinical services at Protected Roots are provided by appropriately licensed and credentialed clinicians.

Adrianna Budyach brings over a decade of accounting and bookkeeping experience supporting small businesses across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, construction, real estate, legal, and professional services. With a strong foundation in public accounting and corporate finance, Adrianna provides thoughtful, detail-oriented bookkeeping support tailored to each client’s operational needs.
After earning her degree in accounting and completing her Master’s in Accounting in 2013, Adrianna began her career in public accounting, where she worked with multiple CPA firms in Honolulu, Hawaii. During this time, she developed expertise in full-cycle bookkeeping, financial reporting, reconciliations, and compliance across diverse industries. She later expanded her experience as an in-house accountant for a mid-sized construction company, gaining hands-on insight into operational accounting, job costing, and internal financial management.
Adrianna is known for her strong work ethic, accuracy, and commitment to providing reliable financial support. She takes a proactive, organized approach to bookkeeping and works closely with clients to ensure their records are accurate, compliant, and well-maintained. Her ability to simplify complex financial processes allows business owners to focus on growth with confidence, knowing their books are in capable hands.

Dr. Troy Kurz, MD, MS, is a board-certified child & adolescent psychiatrist specializing in psychopharmacology, integrative psychiatry, and psychotherapy. He sees patients of all ages but is keenly interested in children and adolescents. He cares for patients with a wide range of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD, and personality disorders. Pertaining to pediatrics and adolescents—he concentrates on autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, LGBTQIA+ health, trauma, and mood disorders. Dr. Kurz received his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine. He completed his general psychiatry training and child and adolescent psychiatry specialty training at the University of California Riverside. He is certified in the Standards of Care 8 with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.

Lauren Kurz PMHNP, MSN, RN graduated from San Diego State University with her BSN and then from Azusa Pacific University with her MSN as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). She cares for a wide range of patients with mental disorders, including psychotic disorders, mood disorders, PTSD and personality disorders. As a psychiatric nurse she worked inpatient and outpatient settings at Sharp Hospital, Kaiser, mental health urgent cares, and the VA Healthcare System. Lauren brings a holistic approach to the diagnosing and treatment of patients, and applies up-to-date, evidence-based treatments, which focus on each patient’s unique life experiences.

Nathan Lindborg is PRI’s Assistant Clinical Director. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute at Campbellsville University in Los Angeles, California where he conducted literature reviews on the effects of sexual trauma on heterosexual males. Nathan’s clinical experience includes working in outpatient community clinics family therapy, individual, court-ordered group therapy, and adolescent in-patient settings focused on rapid stabilization, trauma, suicidality, dual diagnoses, and substance use. Prior to joining PRI, he held the role of Program Director at an adolescent residential treatment center where he was responsible for the leading of the facility’s day-to-day clinical program and operations. He has experience working from multiple theoretical orientations including CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused, Narrative, Humanistic-Existential, and Attachment-Based Family Therapy

Shayna Kaler received her bachelor’s degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego, where she worked in the Cognitive Development Lab and served as an Instructional Assistant for Foundations of Neuroscience. She has a background working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum teaching emotional regulation, communication, and cognitive development skills, as well as a background working in operations for UCSD’s transit system. Shayna is passionate about program development, and works closely with clinical staff to engage clients in artistic and recreational activities that foster a sense of community, creativity, and self-discovery in concert with PRI’s therapeutic programs. From admissions to graduation, Shayna’s favorite thing is seeing PRI’s clients grow into the most confident versions of themselves!

Dr. Amir Ahmed is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist practicing in both California and Colorado. Before his career in mental health, he completed his graduate education in Biomedical Sciences with a focus on Neurobiology. Dr. Ahmed has worked in non-profit and hospital settings and currently operates a private practice and group practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has received extensive training and developed an expertise in evidence-based therapies, child trauma, and currently specializes in South Asian mental health. In his free time, he plays bass, enjoys the outdoors with his cats, and bakes for friends.

Luiza is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from the state of California. She received her master’s degree in clinical counseling from The Wright Institute and has been working with patients for more than ten years both in Brazil and the United States. Luiza has worked in a variety of settings such as in elementary school, primary care setting and residential treatment centers and currently works in private practice. She has experience in treating anxiety, depression, stress, and addiction disorders and likes to integrate different approaches into her practice, such as CBT, DBT, attachment theory, and mindfulness practices.

Dr. Simkin has 50 published articles and is an Associate Professor, University of Buenos Aires. Visiting Scholar, Tel Aviv & Haifa University. Additiobnally, Dr. Simkin has twelve years of experience with ex-pats as a clinical psychologist and professor in Israel, Argentina, and Germany. Dr. Simkin is a leading expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Jose Barcelona is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) at PRI. He earned his master’s degree in School-Based Family Counseling from Cal State LA, completing a triple-track program in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) with a Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) specialization. Jose brings an extensive background in secondary education, including classroom instruction and counseling, as well as experience working in a community college setting providing therapy to diverse student populations. He works with adolescents, transitional-aged youth, adults, and families, including first- and second-generation immigrant families, focusing on developmental and attachment-focused therapy, family systems approaches, and incorporating elements of CBT, ACT, and IFS. Jose is passionate about helping clients navigate life transitions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships, and he integrates his experience in education with his clinical practice to support growth across multiple contexts.

Taylor Leapaldt is an associate therapist at PRI. She has a master’s degree in clinical counseling through Bastyr University, whose program emphasizes whole-person healing and holistic practices. Taylor is passionate about bringing this perspective to help meet the needs and address mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and trauma. She also completed her graduate school practicum rotation at PRI and enjoyed working with young adults and adolescents, along with their families, to understand their experiences and communicate in an effective and fulfilling way. Taylor’s therapeutic passions include helping those understand their experiences of difficult life events, such as loss, grief, and life transitions, as well as explore and improve communication, relationships, and self-concept. In her work, she enjoys pulling from DBT, CBT, ACT, and interpersonal therapy. When Taylor is not connecting with clients, you can find her on endless beach walks with her dogs, learning how to surf, and hitting the slopes to ski in the winter!

Ellie Kohn is Protected Roots Community Outreach Representative. Ellie recently worked at Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (CAPS) Unit as the Child and Family Specialist where she had the unique opportunity to provide case management to children and families in an acute crisis hospital setting. Ellie worked closely with parents to provide well-informed treatment recommendations within 3-5 days for follow-up care and placed referrals to treatment centers throughout San Diego and the surrounding cities. She has extensive experience working within a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals and is highly dedicated to advocacy in the mental health world. Ellie also received her bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara where she interned at the Koegel Autism Center conducting Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and coded the behavioral outcomes in pediatric participants. During her time at UCSB, she also worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) working individually with toddlers and young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Allie Bartholomew is the Office Coordinator and a Behavioral Technician at PRI. She is currently in her senior year at the University of California, San Diego, pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Global Health. Allie will graduate in June and aspires to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) and career in case management. This past summer, Allie served as a Behavioral Technician Intern at PRI, and she is excited to return to the team in an expanded role. She is passionate about integrating evidence-based practices with holistic approaches to support individuals’ mental and emotional well-being.

Maia Purdy is a dedicated mental health worker with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, and a concentration in Psychology, from Colorado State University (CSU). She is deeply passionate about trauma-informed care and the treatment of complex trauma, with a strong commitment to supporting individuals and families through compassionate, evidence-based practices. Her experience includes working at a trauma assessment center, where she collaborated closely with trauma-focused clinicians to provide resilience-based assessments. Maia has served as a Behavioral Health Technician in a variety of treatment settings, including both inpatient and outpatient environments. Her hands-on experience in diverse clinical contexts has equipped her with a broad skill set and a deep understanding of the challenges individuals face across the continuum of care.

Bella Walko is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) at PRI. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Lafayette College and her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. Bella brings a strong background working with adolescents and teens, including extensive mentorship experience with younger populations, and works clinically with adolescents, teens, young adults, couples, and families. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and strengths-based, drawing from Motivational Interviewing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Bella is particularly passionate about the heart–mind connection and incorporates grounding and regulation techniques to support emotional awareness, resilience, and nervous system balance. She also brings experience working with athletes and high-performing individuals, informed by her background as a former Division I athlete and her professional experience in corporate environments. Bella is committed to helping clients build resilience, strengthen relationships, and foster meaningful, lasting change.