| 2.
"Anger Management With Mental Illness In the Family." |
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Anger can be hurtful and destructive to a healthy family environment,
particularly when combined with the difficulties of coping with mental
illness. We can learn to manage our anger and stop back-and-forth
hostility, before we hurt the very people that we love the most. Dr.
Michael Levittan is a nationally-renowned expert in teaching anger
management skills. In this seminar, you will learn the meanings of
anger; understand how anger functions in the family; explore the triggers
of anger; learn how to apply anger management tools in the "heat-of-the-moment,"
and learn Conflict Resolution Skills that you can start using immediately
to improve relationships, eliminate resentments, and experience peace
of mind.
Instructor's
Bio:
Dr. Levittan has been a psychotherapist in private practice for 18
years and is the director of T.E.A.M., a state-certified Anger Management
and Domestic Violence program. He teaches at UCLA Extension, L.A.
Superior Court, Women's Shelters, California Association of Marriage
and Family Therapists, Loyola Marymount, U.S. Marines, Jewish Family
Services and Hillside Services for Children,. "Dr. Michael"
has consulted for numerous publications and appeared on Tyra Banks
Show, Montel Williams, various TV and radio programs including
WCCO located in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Currently, he is "in
development" for his own Anger Management show.
Website: www.michaellevittan.com |
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| 3."When
Parents are Depressed: How to Help Children Survive & Thrive with Depression
in the Family" |
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Learn
how parental depression can spread to children. Gain tools to promote
resilience in children and help families heal.
Instructor's
Bio:
Caron Post Ph.D received her doctorate in clinical psychology from
New York University. She is a clinical psychologist who specializes
in maternal mental health, perinatal mood disorders and parent -child
relationships. She is the former Director of the Clinical Training
Program at the Early Childhood Center-Cedars Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles, Program Coordinator of Adult Outpatient Services at
Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Centers and is currently the Director
of The Los Angeles County Perinatal Mental Health Task Force. She
maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, California |
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| 4.
"Recent Advances for Social Cognition in Schizophrenia." |
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Problems
in social cognition contribute to problems in daily functioning for
people with schizophrenia. Social cognition refers to how we perceive
emotion in faces and how we make guesses at what other people are
thinking. Individuals with schizophrenia generally have difficulty
with these types of processes, and that is true across all phases
of the illness. The audience will learn about new training interventions
designed to improve social cognition in people who have psychotic
disorders.
Instructor's Bio:
Michael Foster Green, Ph.D. is a Professor-in-Residence in the Department
of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and the Semel Institute for
Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the Geffen School of Medicine at
UCLA. He is Director of the Treatment Unit of the VA Desert Pacific
Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC).
Dr. Green obtained his B.A. in psychobiology at Oberlin College, his
doctorate in neuropsychology at Cornell University, and his postdoctoral
training in neuropsychology at UCLA. He is on the editorial boards
of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Schizophrenia Bulletin, and Schizophrenia
Research, and has authored over 200 journal articles. He has received
numerous grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the
VA, and private foundations. His laboratory (greenlab.npih.ucla.edu)
has explored the relationship between cognitive impairments in schizophrenia
and activities of daily living, as well as the neural mechanisms of
cognitive and social cognitive dysfunction. Ongoing studies are evaluating
social cognitive retraining and novel pharmacological interventions
to improve cognitive impairment. He has written two books: Schizophrenia
from a Neurocognitive Perspective: Probing the Impenetrable Darkness
(1998), and Schizophrenia Revealed: From Neurons to Social Interactions
(2001). Dr. Green was the Co-PI of the NIMH MATRICS Initiative, PI
of the MATRICS-Psychometric and Standardization Study, and PI of the
MATRICS-CT Validation of Intermediate Measures Study. He is a Fellow
in the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and past-president
of the Society for Research in Psychopathology. |
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| 5.
"A Better Way to Understand Self-Injury" |
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Those
who hurt themselves in order to feel better live in a secret world
of shame and rage. Historically, our reactions and approaches to their
behavior has often served to reinforce their solitude, especially
when we focus on the behavior itself rather than the underlying reasons
for it. Join self-injury specialist Angela Kahn to learn the complex
narratives and dynamics that lead to this kind of coping, and find
a better, more compassionate way to understand what it's really all
about.
Instructor's Bio:
Angela Kahn MFT graduated from Pepperdine University with a Masters
degree in Clinical Psychology, where she first began her research
in understanding and treating self-injury. Her internships at the
Southern California Counseling Center and the Los Angeles Free Clinic
(now the Saban Free Clinic) kindled her passion for working with this
population, and her expertise soon won her the position of Lead Clinician
at the Children and Family Health Center. Upon licensure, she opened
her private practice in West Hollywood where she honed her specialization.
Angela now splits her time between her private practice, speaking
engagements around Southern California, and teaching graduate students
at Antioch University. She serves on the board of the Los Angeles
Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
as Vice-President and Advocacy Chair |
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6. "Mentalization Based Therapy: Keeping
the Mind in Mind" |
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A
talk aiming to address the following
1) What is mentalization? 2) What is Mentalization Based Therapy?
3) How does MBT attempt to bring about change in BPD and other personality
disorders. And finally 4) How does MBT differ from Dialectical Behavior
Therapy?
Instuctors Bio:
Robin Kissell M.D is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and is Training and Supervising
Psychoanalyst at the New Center for Psychoanalysis. She is in private
practice in Beverly Hills and is Director of the Borderline Personality
Disorder Initiative at the UCLA Semel Institute. |
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| 7."BiPolar
Disorder: What's New and Promising in Treatment Research and Development.
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In
this talk. Dr. Brooks will discuss some recent findings that will
range from an overview of the neurological basis of bipolar disorder
to treatment. Some of the work at UCLA has provided clues as to how
the brain changes with mood episodes in bipolar disorder, which could
provide targets for future interventions. Dr. Brooks will also discuss
recent advances in pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder.
Instuctors Bio:
Dr. Brooks has a PhD in cognitive psychology from Rice University
and an MD from Stanford University. He has worked at several county
mental health care facilities as well as the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs
Medical Center. Dr. Brooks was a faculty member at Stanford University
for 8 years before joining the UCLA faculty in 2008, where he is now
the Director of Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry at the Ronald Reagan
Medical Center at UCLA. Dr. Brooks has spent the past 20 years investigating
cognitive and neurological aspects of mental disorders. His current
work focuses on neuroimaging and treatment of bipolar disorders as
well as outpatient practice.
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| 8.
"My Long Journey: Panic; OCD; Dysfunction; My Recovery Using Medications,
Therapy, Nutrition and Fitness." |
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Mia
St. John is the WBC Welterweight Champion of the World and one of
the most famous and popular competitors in women's boxing today.
Mia will talk about her own battle with mental illness and addictions
and how through the help of family, medications, therapy, nutrition
and fitness has been able to stay in recovery. Mia is also the mother
of an adult child with Schizophrenia, and will discuss those challenges
and staying in her own recovery. Mia’s book THE KNOCKOUT
WORKOUT includes complete meal plans, step-by-step exercise
instructions, champion mental strategies, and clear, detailed photographs
Instructor:
Mia St. John (Los Angeles, CA) is the WBC Welterweight Champion
of the World and one of the most famous and popular competitors
in women's boxing today. She has appeared on The Tonight Show,
Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, and other
programs and has been featured in publications including SELF
and Shape. Mia is the author of "The Knockout Workout"
and stars in a successful bilingual fitness DVD."
In her new book
she teaches you how to not only be physically fit, but mentally
fit as well. Throughout the book, St. John offers insights about
her own hardscrabble journey to the top. In chronicling her own
battles with mental illness and addictions and overcoming it all,
to become a three time international boxing champion.
Mia shares the skills and mindset that helped her climb to the pinnacle
of her chosen profession.
THE
KNOCKOUT WORKOUT also includes complete meal plans, step-by-step
exercise instructions, champion mental strategies, and clear, detailed
photographs.
In 2008, Mia
founded the El Saber Es Poder/Knowledge Is Power Foundation to empower
youth by providing programs to better educate and inform underprivileged
children and their families.
St.John says
"I was put in this position of fame to enable me to help further
the position of my people and to be an inspiration and a role model
to Latinos everywhere. I want them to know that with education,
unity, and believing in ourselves we can overcome any obstacle placed
in front of us."
In November
of 2008, El Saber Es Poder and Micron donated 30 computers, electricity
and internet to Barrio de La Cantera in Zacatecas, Mexico. Mia was
also presented with an award from Governor Amalia Garcia, for her
role in sports and humanatarianism. The World Boxing Council also
presented her with the 2008 "WBC Goodwill Ambassador"
Award.
In March of
2010, El Saber Es Poder along with Lou Pizzaro of the hit TV show
"Operation Repo" and producer Randy Martinez,
produced a PSA in Spanish to raise awareness of mental illness in
our inner city youth. It is our hope that by increasing awareness
we can decrease the numbers in our correctional system.
In November
of 2010, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano joined Mia and LA Laker Ron Artest
for an official mental health and suicide prevention training at
Napolitano’s district office in Santa Fe Springs. Artest and
St. John have joined Napolitano to promote the Mental Health in
Schools Act, legislation she authored which would increase federal
funding for mental health therapists in schools.
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WORKSHOPS
SESSION TWO
12:20 PM – 1:30 PM |
| 9.
"Yoga: Bringing Balance and Harmony to the Body, Mind and Soul." |
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Stressed,
anxious, exhausted… let simple yoga techniques bring balance
and harmony into your life. Learn how to take simple yoga moves
and the basic philosophy of yoga, and extend it beyond the classroom
and into your everyday life. Did you know that GABA levels (a neurotransmitter)
is lower in people who are depressed and that yoga has been shown
to increase GABA levels by 13 percent?
Exercises can be done sitting/or standing by your chair. No need
for special workout clothes or yoga mat for this breakout.
Instructor's
Bio:
Dr.
Anderson holds a Ph. D in Natural Health and a Doctorate of Naturopathy
with an emphasis in Aromatherapy. She is the developer and owner
of Kosmos Education, an education company providing continuing education
credits to health and fitness professionals. Dr. Anderson was the
corporate educator for Aroma Vera, an international aromatherapy
company. She has written numerous courses in the area of mind-body-spirit
integration, natural health and its application to traditional health
and fitness practices. She has lectured extensively at major metropolitan
areas across the US and internationally, and developed her own weekly
radio talk shows about anti-aging and alternative medicine. She
is also a published author of a nutritional book for an international
nutrition company, with headquarters in Beverly Hills, California,
several books on yoga and diet, and a contributing writer to the
Journal of Longevity, as well as, an advisory board member. She
has been a speaker at the Chopra (Deepak Chopra) Center of Well
Being. Dr. Anderson is a faculty member to the American Council
on Exercise and has presented at various conventions, including
the Motion Picture Wellness Center, East Coast Alliance, the Tiffany
Kim Institute and Fitness Resources. She is presently promoting
her new books and exercise programs. Dr. Anderson is an internationally
Yoga Alliance registered teacher. She teaches yoga therapy, cycle,
and her anti-aging /fusion fitness classes. Originally from Maine,
the mother of two children and Grandmother of two boys, she now
resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband Dan. |
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| 10.
"Holistic Methods for Coping with Stress, Anxiety and Depression." |
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We
all face multiple challenges in our daily life which can be challenging
and at times overbearing. Dr. Zarrabian will discuss how Spirituality,
Mindfulness Meditation, Shamanic Healing Practices and Therapeutic
Touch can be complimentary and holistic methods for coping with stress,
anxiety and depression
Instructor's
Bio:
Dr. Ellie Zarrabian has her doctorate degree in Psychology with a
focus in Spirituality. She has been teaching Psychology at Santa Monica
College since 2002. In 2008, she founded the Centerpeace Foundation:
A holistic center for psychotherapy and spirituality (www.centeronpeace.com).
She gives lectures in the community on parenting, stress management,
spirituality and love. In her private practice, Dr. Zarrabian coaches
individuals to communicate better at home, work and school. She is
a member of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles County
Psychological Association, Los Angeles Society for Clinical Psychologists,
Society for Shamanic Practitioners and is on the board of the Iranian
American Psychological Association. |
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| 11.
"My Relative Has Been Arrested in Los Angeles County: How Do I Access
the DMH Court Linkage Program?." |
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The
presentation will give an overview of the Los Angeles County Department
of Mental Health Court Linkage Program. The Court Linkage Program
is a problem-solving collaboration between the Los Angeles County
Department of Mental Health and the Los Angeles County Superior
Court. It is staffed by a team of 15 mental health clinicians who
are co-located at 24 courts countywide. This recovery based program
serves adults with a mental illness or co-occurring disorder who
are involved with the criminal justice system.
Instructor's Bios:
Alisa
Dunn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Alisa is the Mental Health
Clinical Program Head of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental
Health Court Linkage Program. She has been the director of the Program
since it was established in 1987. She has worked in the field of
forensic mental health for over 30 years. Alisa is the Past President
of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California and is the
first recipient of the NAMI California Outstanding Criminal Justice
Professional Award in 2009.
Jaime
Nahman, Ph.D. received his doctorate from UCLA and has worked in
the psychological field since 1978. Dr. Nahman joined the Los Angeles
County Department of Mental Health Health in 1991. Since joining
DMH, Dr. Nahman has worked in the jail, was Associate Program Researcher
on a collaborative research project Community Reintegration of Mentally
Ill Offenders (CROMIO) with California State Board of Corrections,
the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, L.A. County Probation and DMH.
He has managed oversight for L.A. County’s Intensive Services
Programs (AB 2034, ACT and FSP) prior to joining the Mental Health
Court Linkage Program. Currently he works with the Mental Health
Court Liaison Program where he provides administrative oversight
and supervision of Court Liaison Staff throughout LA County. Dr.
Nahman also collects and analyses outcome data from the various
Mental Health Court Linkage programs.
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| 12.
"Making the Health Care Reform and Federal Parity Laws Work for Consumers
and Families in California." |
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Despite
sharp political differences in Congress and the nation over the new
health care reform law, implementation is moving forward on key provisions
impacting coverage and treatment for people living with serious mental
illness. This includes Medi-Cal eligibility expansion scheduled to
start in 2014, private coverage expansion, insurance market reforms,
delivery system reform and changes to Medicare Part D. At the same
time, health plans are moving to comply with the 2008 federal mental
health and substance abuse parity law. This workshop will focus on
how the health care reform and parity laws are changing coverage of
mental illness treatment for consumers and families in California,
including efforts to more effectively integrate mental health and
physical health and ensure that expanded coverage options meet the
needs of people living with mental illness.
Instructor's Bio:
Andrew Sperling is the Director of Federal Legislative Advocacy for
NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness. In this position, he leads
NAMI’s legislative advocacy initiatives in Congress and before
federal agencies. Mr. Sperling works on issues affecting the mental
health community with a focus on improving the lives of people with
severe mental illnesses. Since 1994, Mr. Sperling has also served
as Co-Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
Housing Task Force.
Prior to joining NAMI, Mr. Sperling held the position of deputy director
of government relations for the National Community Mental Healthcare
Council and was a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Dick
Swett (D-NH).
Mr. Sperling earned his bachelor’s of arts degree from Tulane
University. After graduating from Tulane, Sperling attended George
Washington University where he received a masters of arts, and in
1992, he earned a law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center.
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| 13
. "Does My Relative Have Borderline Personality Disorder?" |
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People
with Borderline Personality Disorder are often misdiagnosed, often
for years, with a number of disorders. This may cause delays in receiving
appropriate treatment. The picture is confused even further because
BPD often co-occurs with a variety of mood and substance abuse disorders.
To make matters worse, mental health providers are often reluctant
to diagnose patients with BPD.
This workshop will help you:
1. Be able to identify the criterion symptoms of Borderline Personality
Disorder.
2. Be able to describe the Bio Social Model of Borderline Personality
Disorder
3. Be able to describe three assumptions about BPD.'
Instructor's
Bio:
Dr. Lynn McFarr is the Director of CBT California (CBTC) as well as
the Director of the Cognitive Behavioral/Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Clinic at Harbor UCLA Medical Center and an Associate Professor in
the Department of Psychiatry for the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Dr. McFarr received her Ph.D. from NYU in clinical psychology and
trained as a cognitive behavioral therapist under Dr. Robert Leahy
at the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York City.
She completed her internship at the Sepulveda VA and her postdoctoral
fellowship at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. Dr. McFarr trains psychologists,
psychiatrists, social workers and psychiatric nurses in Cognitive
Behavioral Therapies including DBT, CBASP, and ACT . She lectures
for major universities and regularly presents at national and international
conferences. Dr. McFarr is a Beck Scholar, a Founding Fellow and Secretary
for the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, is on the executive board of
The International Association for Cognitive Therapy (IACP), and an
Ambassador for The Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
(ABCT). She founded the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Society of Southern
California as well as the listserves for the (ABCT) and CBASP. Dr.
McFarr has been selected as Psychologist of the Year, by the LA County
Department of Mental Health and Teacher of the year twice by the Department
of Psychiatry at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She is published in the
areas of CBT for schizophrenia, medication compliance and Adult friendships
and CBT. Dr. McFarr was intensively trained in DBT in 2000 and CBASP
in 2007. |
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| 14.
"How do I Obtain a LPS Conservatorship for my Relative?: How a LPS
Conversatorship Can Help Your Relative in their Recovery." |
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This session will walk you through the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act,
AKA LPS Conservatorship. It will explain exactly what the act is;
how an LPS Conservatorship helps with recovery; how to acquire an
LPS Conservatorship; what are your rights as a Conservator and what
your relatives rights are as the Conservatee. You will be able to
determine if this is the right direction you should take to help your
loved one. You will learn how to facilitate the system to make it
work for your loved one. This is a great legal tool for successful
recovery.
Instructor Bio:
Gail Evanguelidi helps people successfully navigate the mental health
system so their loved ones can regain their life and be in full recovery
through the LPS Conservatorship. She has written an LPS Conservatorship
Pamphlet which is a guide for families through the LPS legal process.
She originated and formed the Los Angeles NAMI and DMH LPS Conservatorship
Mentoring Team. This team of knowledgeable people helps families in
navigating the 5150 through recovery. Gail serves on the NAMI California
Board of Directors and the NAMI Westside Los Angeles Board of Directors
and is a certified Family to Family Teacher. |
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| 15.
"Research, Prescribing, and the Real World: Who's Duping Whom?" |
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How
Mental Health Drug Research Controversies Affect the Availability
of Medications for You and Your Family Member. This
presentation focuses on way that mental health drug management decisions
are made in healthcare systems. System leaders must weigh perceived
therapeutic value against costs. This balance is affected by public
accusations by Senator Grassley, Robert Whitaker (Anatomy of an
Epidemic) and others, leveled against practices by drug researchers,
physicians, and patient advocacy organizations, implying that many
of them have been duped by "Big Pharma" into complicity
with overprescribing drugs of dubious value. These accusations,
true or not, provide justifications for selectively responding to
request for access to medications for patients in public and private
systems.
Instructor's
Bio:
Roderick Shaner, M.D. is the Medical Director of the Los Angeles
County Department of Mental Health (LAC DMH). Dr. Shaner's major
responsibility is to help ensure quality clinical services for individuals
and their families who receive services through LAC DMH programs.
His office has responsibilities that include development of clinical
standards, clinical risks management, managed care, pharmacy, LPS
designation, clinician credentialing, physician recruitment, and
peer review. Dr. Shaner is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at
the Keck School of Medicine at USC. He is certified in General,
Child, Geriatric, and Addiction Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Shaner is a strong advocate for those with mental illness and
their families. |
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| 16.
"Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (rTMS) for Depression and
other Mood Disorders, Its Safety, the Procedure and Results." |
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For 30 years researchers have seen areas of reduced brain function
during episodes of depression. This has been replicated many times
and generally has been located in the left frontal brain. Transcranial
Magnetic Stimulation uses a painless electromagnet, applied for
45 minutes, 5 days a week for a month. Our company, Smart Brain
and Health, have pioneered the use of a PET brain scan to precisely
locate the area(s) needing treatment, with a very significant increase
in percentage of responders. The transcranial magnets are placed
over these identified areas to stimulate underlying brain functioning.
Attendees will learn the therapeutic uses of Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation, treatment outcome, and patient selection criteria.
Instructor's
Bio:
Dr.
Robert H. Gerner has conducted research on mood disorders starting
at the NIMH and subsequently at UCLA and the Greater Los Angeles
VA. He has more than 125 published scientific articles on brain
chemistry, brain imaging and pharmacology in this area. He was an
original member of the UCLA Affective Disorder Clinic and has continued
to be active in teaching. Currently, he combines private consultations
with clinical pharmacology research as President of the Pacific
Institute for Medical Research in Westwood, and imaging/Transcranial
Magnetic Stimulation/Neuroimaging at SmartBrain in Santa Monica.
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