Meet Our Team

Our team of dedicated and enthusiastic coaches are a core component of Advance LA’s success. Advance LA coaches receive ongoing training and continuous professional development. They are individually supervised by a licensed psychologist on a weekly basis; they participate in group supervision led by a licensed psychologist; and they regularly take part in trainings on special topics. Our program of rigorous training, observation, and management ensures that our life skills coaches provide high quality, clinically-sensitive, and individualized support to each client.

Administration & Staff

Laurie Stephens, Ph.D. PSY1852
Senior Director of Autism and LGBTQ+ Programs

Dr. Laurie Stephens is a developmental psychologist who has been working with children, teens, and young adults on the autism spectrum for nearly 30 years. She currently serves as The Help Group’s Senior Director of Autism and LGBTQ+ Programs. Dr. Stephens previously served as the Director of Autism Spectrum Disorder Programs with The Help Group for 12 years.

Her primary area of focus has been in designing and implementing social skill curriculum from the preschool level through young adulthood. She also provides individual therapy to young adults on the spectrum who have “failed to launch” or present with high levels of anxiety. Dr. Stephens has a specialty in helping clients develop and improve their theory of mind (“social thinking”).

Bonnie Auerbach, PhD, Clinical Director

Dr. Auerbach has spent over twenty years at The Help Group working with children, teens, and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Long Island University in New York and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology.

Dr. Auerbach’s professional background includes overseeing The Help Group’s Project Six Residential Program, where she helped adults with developmental disabilities build the skills needed to live more independently; supervising therapists in The Help Group’s school programs on the Sherman Oaks campus; and participating in the doctoral intern Training Committee.

During her time at Advance LA, Dr. Auerbach has enjoyed developing relationships with Live. Advance. LA. residents and their families. She believes that Advance LA truly helps young adults achieve goals they have difficulty accomplishing on their own, and allows them to turn their dreams into reality. In her free time, you can find Dr. Auerbach reading, knitting, and cooking.

Jeri began her career as an attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office and became involved in the field of education when her children started school. She earned a Masters Degree in School Counseling and joined Westmark School as the School Counselor. In this role, Jeri assisted students and their families to manage challenging academic, social, and emotional issues. She is a National Board Certified Counselor and a Certified Parent Educator.

Jeri is the Parent Support Group Facilitator for the International Dyslexia Association of Los Angeles as well as a Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line. She is excited to share her professional skills, as well as her personal experience as a parent of three young adults, with Advance LA. Her goal is for Advance LA clients to find happiness and success in their academics, their employment, and in their relationships with family and friends.

Coaches

Jay Baldwin (they/them) is currently serving as a coach at Advance LA and as Kaleidescope’s Program Navigator for DCFS Involved Youth and their families. Jay has been working with teens and young adults in the fields of education and social services for the past 7 years, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ youth. Jay earned their Bachelor’s in English Literature and Creative Writing from Cal State Long Beach. They previously served as the co-director of a summer camp for LGBTQ+ teens, an experience which inspired them to further their education in youth development through a one year program at Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, an organization that trains professionals to bring in depth mindfulness based, trauma informed curriculum to youth. As a coach, Jay uses curiosity, compassion and a sense of humor to connect with clients and help them develop and utilize their strengths and passions.