Ana Yesenia Lainez, LCSW, is a board-certified psychotherapist, clinical social worker, and coach based in Palmdale, California. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and specializes in supporting individuals and their families as they navigate life’s emotional, relational, and medical-based challenges with resilience and confidence.

With over nine years of clinical experience, Ana has a private practice in which she works with children, adolescents, and adults facing concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, trauma, medical complexities, and major life transitions. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and strengths-based—helping clients recognize their inner resilience while building practical tools for healing and growth.

Ana earned her Master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and integrates evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, hypnosis, mindfulness, narrative therapy, and solution-focused strategies into her work. In her coaching practice, she adapts these approaches to provide guidance, emotional support, and actionable strategies tailored to each individual and family.

As a woman with diastrophic dysplasia, Ana brings a deeply personal and informed perspective to her work. She understands firsthand the unique experiences that come with Skeletal Dysplasia and is passionate about creating a space where clients feel seen, understood, and empowered. She often uses storytelling and creative expression to foster connection, identity development, and self-advocacy.

Ana has been actively involved with Little People of America (LPA) for over 18 years, where she facilitates workshops and supports individuals and families through education, mentorship, and community engagement. She is dedicated to helping others build confidence, strengthen relationships, and thrive in all areas of life.

If you or your family are seeking emotional support, guidance, or a space to feel understood, you are warmly invited to schedule an appointment and begin your journey toward healing and empowerment.

Anthony Stevens, LLMSW, is a licensed clinical therapist with advanced training in perinatal mental health, based in Southeast Michigan. He received his Master's in social work from Eastern Michigan University and has worked as a mental health therapist for the last 4 years. Anthony has also served for 25 years in the bleeding disorder community and served as the social worker for Camp Ellellbee in 2025.

As a therapist, Anthony works with adults, teens, children, and couples, with a focus on grief, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and relationships. Anthony looks forward to working with parents and families in navigating life as average height parents raising children with skeletal dysplasia, as well as those living with skeletal dysplasia themselves. With a focus on identifying cognitive distortions and the initial thoughts that arise from them, Anthony will provide a non-judgmental space for folks to explore their thoughts and feelings.

Bri Beck, LCPC, ATR-BC is a licensed clinical professional counselor and board-certified art therapist based in Chicago, IL. In her private counseling and art therapy practice, she specializes in working with teens and adults navigating disability, chronic illness, and rare conditions, with a focus on grief, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and relationships. Bri also serves on the Board of Directors for the Little Legs Big Heart foundation and is a proud staff member of Camp Ellellbee. 

Bri is especially passionate about supporting emerging adults with disabilities as they navigate life transitions, social stressors, career development, and dating. As someone living with pseudoachondroplasia, she brings both personal and professional insight into the layered experiences of skeletal dysplasia.

Her approach is person-centered, relational, and down-to-earth, grounded in warmth and compassion when supporting clients through complex and often heavy experiences.

In addition to her clinical work, Bri is an active disability advocate in the Chicago area and beyond. She provides consultation and education to therapists and healthcare providers, offering practical tools and insight to better support the social-emotional wellbeing of individuals living with lifelong conditions. She is also an artist who uses the creative process as a form of expression and advocacy, promoting inclusion, visibility, and belonging for people with disabilities.

If you’d like to learn even more about Bri and her work, you can visit www.bribeckcounseling.com

Pamela Matzner is a counselor, higher education leader, and dedicated advocate and coach for individuals and families navigating life with skeletal dysplasias. Living with pseudoachondroplasia herself, Pam’s identity is shaped by her lived experience of navigating the world with a skeletal dysplasia—both in daily life and across educational and medical systems. As a mother raising two sons with the same condition—both now thriving in college—she also brings the perspective of a parent supporting children as they grow, develop independence, and advocate for their needs. Her family’s journey has included multiple surgeries, ongoing medical care, and extended treatment periods requiring months of travel and long-term stays away from home, as well as years of navigating accommodations from K–12 through higher education.

Through these experiences, Pam has become a trusted source of support for parents and students facing similar paths. She specializes in coaching families through high-stress moments, including medical decision-making, surgical planning, school advocacy, and transitions to college. Her approach is grounded in empathy, lived experience, and practical strategies that help families feel informed, prepared, and empowered.

Professionally, Pam has nearly 30 years of experience in counseling, advising, coaching, and student development. She serves as the Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Stony Brook University in New York, where she leads comprehensive initiatives to support student success, retention, and access for marginalized populations. Her work includes overseeing counseling, academic advising, mentoring programs, and large-scale student support services, as well as supervising a diverse team of professionals.

Pam holds a Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in College Student Development from Long Island University–CW Post. She is widely recognized for her expertise in holistic advising, counseling, and student advocacy, and has presented at regional and national conferences on topics including navigating accommodations in K–12 and college, empowering parent seminars, high school to college transitions, financial literacy, inclusive advising practices, and student success, including conferences such as Little Legs Big Heart (LLBH), Little People of America (LPA), the National Organization of Student Success (NOSS), and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).

Her unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience allows her to connect deeply with families and students, offering guidance that is both compassionate and actionable. Whether supporting parents through uncertain medical journeys or helping students successfully transition to and navigate college, Pam is committed to ensuring that no family feels alone in the process.

If you or your family are seeking compassionate guidance, emotional support, or a space where your experiences are understood and validated, you are warmly invited to schedule a session. Together, we will work toward clarity, confidence, and empowerment as you navigate your journey.