Our Founders & Directors

Danesh

Danesh Foroughi, Ph.D.

Dr. Foroughi has two doctoral degrees and is licensed both as a psychologist and marriage and family therapist. He is in private practice in Beverly Hills and Encino, CA. Dr. Foroughi is one of the pioneering Iranian psychologists with 48 years of practice in Iran and the United States. He is a co-founder and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Iranian Psychological Association of America (IPAA). He is a well-known lecturer with a long history of running radio and television shows on many psychological topics. Dr. Foroughi has written multiple research articles, some published in scientific journals, including The Journal of Psychology, the Journal of Family Issues, and the Psychological Review. Internationally, he has lectured in many states and cities in the United States and Europe. One of his past contributions to the field includes expanding psychological research in the Iranian Army.

Dr. Foroughi was the Director of Counseling and Psychological Testing for the entire Iranian Air Force. He was also responsible for standardizing the test selection for Iranian Cadets and implementing the testing research in the Iranian Army. He conducted several research projects, including the Iranian Adult Literacy and Demographic Analysis in Southern Iran, such as Khuzestan. During his years of employment in Los Angeles County, he worked extensively with low-income families and trained social workers for many years.

Dr. Foroughi is also a poet and has been the editor of many major Iranian magazines. His book, The Psychology of Poetry, was published in 2009 and was well received by critics. Many present practicing psychologists are former students of Dr. Foroughi.

Homa

Homa Mahmoudi, Ph.D.

Dr. Homa Mahmoudi is currently involved in executive coaching and private practice in Los Angeles, CA. Previously, she was Chief Psychologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Psychiatry for 14 years until May 1998. She is the Founder and Director of Transcultural Communications Center, established in 1972, and specializes in cultural diversity. Dr. Mahmoudi practices in the areas of cognitive behavioral therapy, cross-cultural management, and executive development. She has been one of the leaders in developing community programs for implementing better understanding between gang members and various racial groups in Los Angeles after the 1992 riots. She lectures internationally and has conducted research on organizational behavior and women managers in Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, China, and Indonesia.

Dr. Mahmoudi served as a speaker and delegate at women’s conferences held in Moscow in 1984, Beijing in 1990, Uruguay, Helsinki, Berlin, and the United States. She is one of the Founders and Board Members of the IPAA and a member of the American Psychological Association, World Congress of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Women for International Peace and Arbitration, and several other professional and civic organizations. Dr. Mahmoudi is the author of many academic papers related to cognitive behavioral therapy, cross-cultural psychology, communication, business and management, and women and peace studies. She was a professor at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine and several other universities in the United States and abroad. Dr. Mahmoudi was a delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women-50th Anniversary Meeting in New York City in March 1997. That same year, she was selected by the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles and was recognized as “An Incredible Woman Making History.”

Alan

(Alan) Ali A. Modarressi, Ph.D.

Dr. Ali A. Modarressi is a clinical and neuropsychologist. He is in private practice with two offices in Encino and Downey, CA. He is the Co-Founder and President of the IPAA. Furthermore, he served as the past Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the California Society of Clinical Psychopharmacologists (CSCP). Dr. Modarressi has been featured in Iranian media, presenting television programs, conducting seminars, and writing magazine articles. He is a Qualified Medical Evaluator by the State of California (QME), performing industrial evaluations. Additionally, he completed his clinical training at the Los Angeles County Medical Center and is licensed by the California Board of Psychology.

Dr. Modarressi is a Fellow Member of the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA). He holds a diplomate in pain management from the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) and a diplomate in clinical psychopharmacology from the International College of Prescribing Psychologists. Furthermore, he is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), California Psychological Association (CPA), National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers (NAPPP), and Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB). Dr. Modarressi holds two doctoral degrees and a post-doctoral master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology. He is certified as a clinical psychologist by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. He is also certified by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), meeting the national criteria for Professional Qualification in Psychology for licensure and intrastate professional mobility. Dr. Modarressi regularly writes in the English section of the Javanan International Weekly Magazine and has presented many workshops and seminars on issues related to psychology.

Sean

(Sean) Hooshang Pakdaman, Ph.D.

Sean Pakdaman, Ph.D., is a psychologist and has private practices in Encino and Los Angeles, CA. He has provided individual, family, couple, and group psychotherapy and conducted workshops and seminars for over 18 years. Additionally, he is trained in EEG biofeedback diagnosis and the treatment of ADHD in children and adults. Dr. Pakdaman specializes in treating anxiety, depression, migraine, and pain management. He also provides a variety of psychological evaluations and tests.

Dr. Pakdaman has extensive experience dealing with court referrals and has provided several expert witness services. He is also experienced in worker’s compensation and personal injury evaluations. Furthermore, he is designated by the State of California Department of Industrial Relations as a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME). He is an active member of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association and served on the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists’ Board of Directors. The California Department of Consumer Affairs and Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) designated him as an oral examiner and subject matter expert to examine candidates for the state licensing examiner.