Brooke Ferragamo, PhD

Clinical Psychologist, PSY34065

Dr. Brooke Ferragamo clinical psychologist in San Francisco

About Dr. Ferragamo

I am a licensed clinical psychologist located in San Francisco, California. I grew up in Davis, California and attended UC Davis for my B.S. before moving to San Francisco to pursue my PhD in clinical psychology. I've worked and received training in a variety of mental health settings, including Worker's Compensation, school-based therapy, and community mental health. Each of these experiences has provided a unique opportunity to gain a different perspective on human suffering and resilience. In particular, I was fortunate to spend two consecutive years with the UCSF Alliance Health project, which primarily serves the LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected community in San Francisco; this was my first exposure to serving folks who were affected not only by chronic physical health problems such as HIV, but who had also experienced significant traumas throughout the course of their life. Little did I know that working with this community would prepare me for a career in the Worker's Compensation field.

I did not originally intend to pursue a career as a Worker’s Compensation provider, but early in my career I took a job as a contractor for another Worker's Compensation agency. I had planned to spend some time in the field just to make enough money to pursue private practice, but along the way I found myself feeling personally moved by conversations with my patients. I realized what an honor it is to serve the folks who truly keep society from falling apart - first responders, nursing assistants, school secretaries, sanitation workers, public transit employees (yes, even the person who keeps giving me parking tickets), private security guards, clerical workers, et cetera, et cetera. After much consideration, I decided to go full steam ahead in the Worker's Compensation field by making this work the focal point of my practice.

Arielle Payes, PsyD

Clinical Psychologist, PSY33871

Dr. Arielle Payes clinical psychologist in San Francisco

About Dr. Payes

I began my mental health career over 2 decades ago in Boston, MA, within the Department of Youth Services for hardware secure treatment and detention facilities, as well as transitional homes. Upon moving to Los Angeles, CA, where I completed my doctoral studies at Pepperdine University, I worked on Skid Row for several years. This population opened my eyes to marginalized populations most in need and served as the basis for my dissertation. I also returned to corrections and worked in a Youth Authority facility here in California, as well as the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) where I completed forensic evaluations (CST, restoration services, etc.). In the following years, I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, at a medium-level security prison in Mendota, CA, as well as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility here in San Diego, CA. I then transitioned into management roles for the behavioral health services being provided in the San Diego County Jails by Naphcare, Inc. and San Diego County Juvenile Detention Facilities by Correctional Healthcare Partners, Inc. Since that time, I have made the transition back to direct patient care. Psychological assessments and psychotherapy are where my passion lie. Determining where a patient is at, what they need to get better, and being able to provide those resources are vital components to mental health treatment. My therapeutic approach is strength-based, as validating others, regardless of their circumstances, helping them try to move through this difficult life, eliciting greater self-confidence, self-worth, and trust in themselves, and making the days just a little easier to get through are essential to progress.

I am an authentic, compassionate, energetic, and empathic human being, with the primary goal to help other individuals become their most authentic selves through building skills and navigating challenges collaboratively, to reach desired results and build a meaningful and happy life.

Ultimately, I think being in the room with another individual, just treating them as a human being and joining them where they are is so powerful. Then, together, we can figure out what are the primary goals to work on, and how we are going to get there. My primary theoretical orientations are Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), where skill building is key, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) where thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are explored, and motivational interviewing to roll with resistance or move people through the stages of change (Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance) as needed.

What does all this mean? It means I have an integrative approach to treatment, where I utilize different frameworks and tailor interventions to the unique treatment needs of the individual in the room. The same method does not work for everyone - every person is different, so every person receives individualized treatment!