Find the therapist who best suits your needs.
Our Team
Amanda Lepore, ET/P
Executive Director & Senior Educational Therapist: Educational Therapy, Assessments, Parent Coaching
Amanda, the founder and Executive Director of Evergreen, is an educational therapist with 14 years of higher education, training, and clinical experience. She completed her BA in History at Arizona State University. She then completed teaching credentials in Literacy and Social Science, followed by her educational therapy training at UC Riverside.
Amanda specializes in addressing school refusal, avoidance behaviors, and ADHD/executive functioning challenges. She is particularly skilled at facilitating the transition of clients from mental health treatment programs—such as substance abuse centers and residential treatment facilities—back into the classroom. Additionally, she supports students struggling with reading and writing and has pioneered impactful school-wide literacy initiatives. She works passionately as an advocate to help families navigate the 504 and IEP process, and provides no-cost workshops and training to allied professionals, parents, and teachers. She serves as a scorer for the College Board (AP US History) and is an active member of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET). In her free time, Amanda loves cheering for the Dodgers alongside her daughter, Eleanor.
Brian Griffeath-Loeb, ET/P, PhD
Senior Educational Therapist: Educational Therapy, Assessments
As an educational therapist, Brian specializes in supporting clients who are ready to be helped, but struggle with ADHD, executive functioning, academic wounding, and moderate to severe anxiety and depression. His work blends traditional educational therapy and mindfulness practice to create a unique form of educational care.
Brian is a math expert who enjoys making the K-12 curriculum (through calculus) accessible to all learners. He has developed innovative strategies to help clients manage and move beyond math anxiety. In addition, Brian works with clients on advanced writing skills, standardized test prep (SSAT, SAT, ACT, & GRE), and the college application process. He has taught both seminars and lecture courses at the university level, and completed his training in educational therapy at CSU Northridge under faculty advisor Marcy Dann. He is a current member of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET), a presenter at the 2024 National Conference, and serves as a Senior Educational Therapist at Evergreen.
Prior to becoming an educational therapist, Brian received degrees in music composition from UC San Diego (PhD), the Royal College of Music (post-graduate diploma), and Dartmouth College (BA). He has given guest lectures in music at Harvard University, Stanford University, and UC Berkeley among other institutions. His music has been performed in countries throughout the world including Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Iceland, Japan, and the United States.
Sohail Bhatri
Educational Therapist
Sohail Bhatri is an educational therapist who specializes in supporting students with ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and academic avoidance. His approach combines structured, research-based intervention with a deep commitment to compassionate care, offering students a path out of overwhelm and into confident, empowered learning. Drawing on behavioral science and neuroscience, Sohail blends traditional educational therapy with practical tools to help students rebuild trust in themselves and their academic abilities.
Sohail has a strong background in STEM and is passionate about making complex math and science content accessible to learners of all levels. He works with students across the K–12 curriculum in both math and science, including Algebra, Geometry, Biology, and Chemistry. Prior to becoming an educational therapist, Sohail was a beloved middle school teacher known for his ability to connect with students and foster a love of learning. He holds a California teaching credential and brings this classroom experience into his individualized work with clients. His targeted, student-centered approach helps learners overcome subject-specific anxiety and reconnect with learning in a meaningful way. In addition to content support, Sohail focuses on executive functioning, helping students develop skills in time management, organization, task initiation, and emotional regulation.
Sohail earned his degree in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from the University of California, Davis. His academic training informs his understanding of how students learn and where they get stuck, particularly when challenges are compounded by anxiety, perfectionism, or past academic trauma. He is currently completing his training in educational therapy and is an active member of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET).
Rachel Goldman
Educational Therapist
Rachel is an educational therapist with over 25 years of experience in education, including more than a decade working in special education classrooms. She has worked extensively with students on the autism spectrum, including nonverbal learners, as well as those with cognitive delays, intellectual disabilities, speech and language deficits, and those displaying significant avoidant or resistive behaviors. Her decision to pursue educational therapy was driven by a deep commitment to providing individualized, strengths-based support that meets each learner’s unique profile.
Rachel holds a California teaching credential and a Master of Science in Special Education from California Lutheran University. She is licensed to teach students with Autism and English Language Learners, and brings a collaborative spirit to all of her work. Rachel partners closely with families, educators, and allied professionals to build integrated support systems that promote academic growth, emotional resilience, and a sense of belonging. Her practice is rooted in the belief that students thrive in environments that are safe, sensory-aware, and affirming of who they are.
Rachel draws inspiration from the words of Fred Rogers: “Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.”
Deborah Smith
Educational Therapist
Reading, writing, and executive functioning skill development have been at the heart of Deborah’s work with clients for more than twenty years. As an educational therapist, she supports clients who face challenges with ADHD, executive functioning, reading, the writing process, and foundational math skills. Integrating compassionate curiosity with instructional expertise, she tends the growth and wellbeing of her clients, and seeks to help them understand who they are as learners.
Deborah supports readers at every level from phonics/decoding to fluency, comprehension, and analysis, and she guides students through the writing process - developing skills necessary for structure and clarity of thought. She goes where students’ needs take her, creating 3D projects and kinesthetic processes for deepening reading comprehension, engaging reluctant writers, and developing foundational math skills. Deborah teaches executive functioning through school tasks, other activities, and by making explicit the ways in which she structures sessions to collaborate and use these crucial skills. By utilizing a student strengths, modeling, and practicing strategies, students gain skills that support their growth.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and English and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, Deborah has taught in public and private contexts; She is trained in literacy (via district and Lindamood Bell) and has worked one-on-one with students for over twenty years. She is currently completing educational therapy coursework through University of California, Riverside and is a member of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET).
Beyond the office, Deborah is an artist and spiritual director who values the rhythms and beauty of a handmade life. She has helped establish three community gardens, believing that learning—like growth—thrives in well-tended spaces. Her practice is rooted in curiosity, creativity, and compassion, and she strives to help each student develop not only skills, but also a sense of confidence and calm that extends beyond the classroom and into their lives.