About Me & How I can Help

About Me:

Hello. I am Amir Ramezani, welcome to my site!

I am a psychologist who helps clients, attorneys, and healthcare professionals to better understand the mind and brain. I also enjoy integrating the science of psychology and art. I simply love bringing together all my passions to my work. This helps me to think creatively and objectively to see the unseen with you.

Since childhood, I have been curious about “why we do what we do” and “how can I help people and communities.” Through my own struggles, self-development, and guidance from good mentors, I began practicing meditation and teaching it to my clients. This helped me gain insight and clarity, and, best of all, it made my job easier, and my clients, who had chronic conditions, got better! My personal and clinical practice has taught me that mindfulness, self-compassion, and trauma therapy practices make powerful changes in you and your family’s life. I am happy to offer these wellness services to you. 

As my clinical, academic, and research career grew, I was asked by an attorney to conduct an expert witness, neuropsychological evaluation. I soon realized that my evaluation could change the course of a person’s life and impact social justice and equality. The topic of law, psychology, and brain function soon became a passion. When we understand the mind and brain, we have greater compassion in difficult situations. The bridging of brain, mind, and forensics has fulfilled my childhood dream, to now help clients and attorneys to understand behaviors. 

What Can I Do for You? 

Questions I can Help You Answer:

Many of my clients who seek my help –-whether a patient, an attorney, a medical professional, or an organization– seek assistance to uncover answers to questions concerning the mind, brain, and behavior: 

Individual clients or patients may ask: How do I reduce suffering in my life or my families life? How do I cope with a particular situation?Do I have a memory or attention disorder? Do I have ADHD, learning disability, bipolar, or PTSD? Can you help me clarify my diagnoses? I have chronic pain, depression, or  PTSD, how can I manage it or cope? How can I compensate or use rehabilitation for a head concussion or brain injury? Will a surgery actually help me with my pain or weight loss? Are there factors associated with a good versus poor outcome with elective surgery (e.g., Spinal Cord Stimulation Implantation, Bariatric Surgery, Deep Brain Stimulator)?

Healthcare professionals may ask: How can I optimize behavioral or neurological treatments or rehabilitation? How can my patient learn pain copings skills? Does my patient have a somatic symptom disorder (e.g., somatization, conversion, illness anxiety)? Does my patient have dementia, or a neurocognitive disorder (e.g., Alzhiemer’s, frontotemporal, lewy-body, primary progressive aphasia, parkinson’s dementia)? Is my patient competent to make a decision concerning treatment or to live independently? Can my patient drive independently? Should I consider stimulant,  memory, psychotropic medications, or will this make things worse? Can my patient return to work safely after an injury? Is my patient a good surgical candidate? 

Attorneys and courts may ask: Did the injury or a medical condition result in brain, memory, PTSD, or judgment problems? How did brain functions or behaviors impact the crime? Is this healthcare profession or physician ready to return to duty, or are they fit for duty in a healthcare practice? Does this person have the mental capacity? Are there mitigating factors that need to be considered? Is a person’s symptoms exaggerated or minimized? Are there factors that impact credibility? 

Organizations may ask: How do I help my team be less stressed? How can I help build resilience in the workplace? What is the best way to manage conflict, and enhance communication and connection? How can we help leadership manage stress and maintain functioning? How can we learn and train on a specialty clinical skill (e.g., Mindfulness, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, neuropsychological assessments etc.)?

I am here to assist you with the questions you have. And through my years of clinical, forensic, and academic experience, together we will arrive at an answer.

My Background

Education and Training

    • Licensed Psychologist in California
    • 15+ years of Clinical Experience 
    • 10+ years of Meditation Teaching Experience
    • 8+ years of Forensic Experience
    • Neuropsychology, Integrative Health, Trauma Training
    • Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher, UCSD
    • Teacher Training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, UCSD
    • Teacher Training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, UCSD
    • Held Certifications in EMDR & Biofeedback (past Neurofeedback)
    • Fellowship in Neuropsychology, UCLA
    • Fellowship and Internship, Pain Psychology Training, UCSF
    • PhD Degree in Clinical Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine, UNT

Meditation Experience: 

I received training in Mindfulness Self-Compassion (MSC) by Dr. Christopher Germer (the founder of MSC), in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) by Dr. Zindel Segal (the founders of MBCT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). I have conducted meditation training for multiple organizations. I also had the fortune of training in Internal Family System (IFS) by Richard Schwartz (the founder of IFS).

 

Clinical Science Experience: 

I enjoy translating scientific discovery to helpful, accessible, and practical skills. I also engage in clinical research in order to contribute to the scientific literature. I have over 80+ scientific publications and wellness, clinical, forensic, and/or scientific workshops/presentations. During my UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience training, I learned the importance of using evidence-based assessments and treatments, which I continue to incorporate in my clinical and research practice. Please see the wellness tab for a list of evidence-based assessments and treatments. 

Forensic & Correction Experience:

While finishing my training at UCSF, I conducted evaluations and treatments at San Quentin and Folsom Prison. As my career grew, I sought out professional trainings through multiple forensic organizations and mentors to integrate forensic and expert witness evaluations in my current practice. Please see the forensics tab for a list of civil and criminal work as well as court appointed engagements. 

Need Help?

For workshops, speaking engagement, or retreats, please contact Dr. Ramezani.

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