Dr. William M. Gillespie graduated from the UCLA School of Medicine as a medical doctor and earned a Ph.D in Molecular Biology from UCLA. He performed both his Internal Medicine Internship and Psychiatry Residency at UCLA as well, serving as the Chief Resident of Outpatient Psychiatry. Dr. Gillespie has been employed as an Inpatient Psychiatrist Medical Doctor by the Silverlake Medical Center Los Angeles since 2001, and has maintained a private practice since 1996. He has also worked in a variety of settings since his licensure. His training specializes in Mood Disorders, Bipolar and Unipolar Depression, Eating Disorders, Group and Individual Treatment, Psychodynamic Therapies, Outpatient and Inpatient Psychopharmacology, and Adult and Child Attention Deficit Disorders.

In addition to his extensive experiences within the field of psychology, Dr. Gillespie has published several articles. He is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners, Part I,II, and III, and is a licensed physician and surgeon. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Sanjay Sahgal is a highly qualified and experienced psychiatrist with a diverse educational background and extensive work experience. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy from the University of Chicago before pursuing his medical degree at UCLA, where he was recognized as a Dean's Scholar during his research year. Dr. Sahgal completed his internship in Internal Medicine at UCLA Medical Center, followed by a Psychiatry Residency at UCLA, where he served as Chief Resident and received the Outstanding Resident Teacher Award in 1997. He went on to complete a Fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at USC Institute of Psychiatry and Law and is board certified in both General Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. With a passion for teaching and mentoring, Dr. Sahgal has served as a Supervisor of Fellows in Los Angeles County, educating fellows on mental competency assessment and risk assessment. He also works as a Consultant to the Mental Health Court in Los Angeles County and is a member of the Superior Court Panel of Psychiatric Expert Witnesses, providing assessments on mental competency and insanity.

In addition to his work in the legal system, Dr. Sahgal maintains a private clinical psychiatry practice in Los Angeles and provides telemedicine psychiatric services in Calaveras and Fresno County outpatient clinics. Outside of his professional life, Dr. Sahgal enjoys playing chess, reading, and spending time with his son.

Dr. Jessica Cendejas earned a Psy.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of La Verne. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Cendejas earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout her doctoral studies, Dr. Cendejas trained and worked in various clinical settings including the University of La Verne’s Counseling Center, Santa Anita Family Services, and Bienvenidos Children’s Center. Dr. Cendejas completed an APA pre-doctoral internship at Children’s Institute, Inc. Her post-doctoral experience includes working with individuals and families in outpatient community mental health as well as an inpatient psychiatric facility. Her experience and interests include working with adults, couples and families on issues related to anxiety, depression, stress management, psychotic and substance-related disorders, crisis intervention, diversity issues as well as working with those with a history of trauma and domestic violence.

Dr. Cendejas is licensed with the California Board of Psychology. She is affiliated with the American Psychological Association. She is also fluent in Spanish and has conducted psychotherapy in both languages (English and Spanish).

Jade is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in Psychiatric-Mental Health (Across the Lifespan). She had over 8 years experience as an RN in areas such as Trauma, Medical/Surgical and Psychiatric nursing prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner. She also has her MSN/ED degree, specializing in Nursing Education, where she was a clinical instructor at Fresno State University's School of Nursing. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley in Legal Studies, a B.S.N. from the University of Rochester in New York, and completed her PMHNP education at Azusa Pacific University. She is also a part of the international honors society of nursing, Sigma Theta Tau. She has experience as a psychiatric provider in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with ages and conditions across the lifespan.

Terra Hart is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She specializes in the diagnosis and medication management of psychiatric illnesses. Terra has been providing patient care for over a decade and has knowledge and experience in psychiatry across the lifespan. She received her Master’s in Nursing from the University of Virginia, where she graduated with honors.

Prior to joining the team at Gillespie and Associates, Terra worked at UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital where she partnered alongside individuals who required inpatient hospitalization for the acute stages of mental illness. Terra approaches treatment as a collaborative effort with patients, taking the time to learn about her patients’ goals to create holistically-minded treatment plans. The belief that research-based care should be the foundation of her practice has guided Terra to stay an active member in organizations such as the Neuroscience Education Center and The American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Nida Kichkla is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner based in Los Angeles. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from West Coast University, and her Masters of Science in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University. Since then, she has completed her clinical residencies in inpatient and outpatient settings alongside Dr. Gillespie. In addition to her advanced practice training, she has always been interested in mental health and has worked in psychiatric emergency services at LAC + USC Medical Center since 2014. Nida’s training specializes in psychotic and mood disorders, major depression and anxiety, ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and impulse control disorders. Her experience in a wide variety of settings amongst pediatric, adults and geriatric populations, and pharmacologic vs. non-pharmacologic complementary treatment approaches, make her a unique psychiatric provider. She advocates for her clients’ best interests, and believes in a therapeutic collaborative relationship in order to reach treatment goals.

Rebecca Chae MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC

Rebecca Chae is a committed and professional Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive expertise in the field. She holds licensure and certification from the California Board of Registered Nursing and is a certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Rebecca completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at California State University, San Marcos, and earned her degree as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from West Coast University. Moreover, due to her early initiation of her college education, she holds an additional degree in Philosophy. Her educational background has shaped her approach to patient care, which emphasizes a comprehensive, holistic approach that combines supportive therapy with appropriate medication management.

In her nursing career, Rebecca has gained valuable leadership and educational experience which has shaped her unique perspective on mental health care and has had a significant impact on her approach to patient care. Presently, at Las Encinas Mental Health Hospital she serves as a House Supervisor in Acute Psychiatric Care, where she oversees multiple hospital departments and implements quality improvement initiatives. Rebecca has also contributed to the field of nursing through her role as a Clinical Instructor in Mental Health at Mount Saint Mary's University, demonstrating her commitment to educating and preparing future nurses to provide excellent patient care.

With a strong educational background and dedication to ongoing professional development, she is equipped to provide the highest level of care to her patients. Rebecca is an excellent addition to our psychiatric firm, bringing with her a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a commitment to exceptional patient care. We are pleased to have her on our team and look forward to the impact she will make in the lives of those we serve.

Clarito Villanueva Jr. is a highly dedicated and efficient Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a wealth of experience in outpatient and inpatient psychiatric care. With over two years of experience in outpatient care and ten years as a Registered Nurse II in emergency and inpatient psychiatric settings, Clarito has honed his skills in psychiatric and physical assessment, medication management, care planning, and electronic documentation. Clarito holds a Masters in Nursing with a focus on Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner from Walden University, a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Los Angeles Trade-Tech College. His educational background, paired with his hands-on experience, make him a valuable asset to any psychiatric team.

In his current role at William Gillespie and Associates, Inc., Clarito provides quality mental health and psychiatric services to clients with a range of disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and sleeping disorders. He conducts thorough assessments, formulates diagnoses based on DSM-V criteria, monitors medication therapy, and collaborates with supervising psychiatrists to ensure the best possible care for his clients.

Outside of his work at William Gillespie and Associates, Clarito also works at New U Therapy Center & Family Services, where he specializes in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and formulates evidence-based treatment plans for clients requiring a combination of psychotropic medication therapy, psychotherapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Ketamine treatment.

Prior to his current roles, Clarito gained valuable experience at LAC-USC Medical Center, where he served as a Registered Nurse II and Charge Nurse in the Emergency Department-Psychiatry. In this role, he provided care to patients with psychiatric, medical, and substance abuse disorders, mentored nursing staff, and implemented protocols and practices grounded in evidence-based research.

Clarito's dedication to providing high-quality care, his exceptional leadership skills, and his commitment to ongoing education and improvement make him a valuable addition to any psychiatric team. His impressive list of certifications, licenses, honors, and awards speak to his expertise and dedication to the field of psychiatric nursing.

Kate M. Bryan is a dedicated and experienced psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a diverse background in healthcare. Kate completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Charles R. Drew University in May 2022. She also holds a Master of Public Health in Global Health Leadership from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wagner College. With a passion for global health and leadership, Kate has taken on various roles throughout her career that have allowed her to make a positive impact on the lives of others. She has served as a forensic nurse examiner for the Los Angeles County Forensic Nurse Response Team, responding to cases of sexual assault, domestic assault, and child sexual abuse. She has also worked as a clinical nurse program coordinator at the University of California Irvine, managing day-to-day operations and updating grant-related reporting mechanisms for the HRSA project award.

Kate's clinical rotations during her education included experience in inpatient geriatric psychiatry, outpatient telepsychiatry, dual diagnosis substance abuse programs, long-term care facilities, and adolescent residential treatment centers. She also has extensive experience in pediatric critical care nursing, having worked in various hospitals across the country.

In addition to her clinical experience, Kate is committed to ongoing education and has completed various continuing education programs, including a Global Health Leadership Internship at Charles Drew University and a Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Fellowship at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. She is also actively involved in volunteer work, serving as the United Nations Representative for Pathways to Peace and as a guest lecturer in pediatric global health at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.

With a strong background in psychiatric nursing and a passion for providing high-quality care to patients, Kate M. Bryan is a valuable addition to the William Gillespie and Associates team. Her dedication to patient care, leadership, and global health initiatives make her a well-rounded and compassionate healthcare provider.

Emiliano Baquir Jr is a highly skilled psychiatric nurse practitioner with extensive experience in various medical fields. He holds a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. With over 15 years in healthcare, including 10 years as a psychiatric RN, he is double board certified and skilled in comprehensive assessments, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and collaborative care. Specializing in mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, Emiliano also provides innovative treatments at New U Therapy Center & Family Services. His dedication to high-quality care and ongoing professional development makes him a valuable asset to our team.