About Dr. Deena

Dr. Deena was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1967. Dr. Deena grew up in New York and Connecticut, which she still refers to as "home". She was a actress from a very young age. She discovered psychology while in her first year of college. She has always had a knack for understanding people and giving advice...but she did not realize she could make a career of it. She graduated from college and went straight on to Columbia University in New York, where she got her Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work.

At the start of her career Dr. Deena worked as a psychotherapist in the Bronx, NY with the homeless and chronically mentally ill. She then went on to work at a prominent New York hospital with children and their families for many years. She has also worked in the public and private school systems. In private practice she focused on working with people struggling with relationship, marital and parenting issues as well as addiction, depression and anxiety. In 2001 Dr. Deena went back to get her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Ryokan College in Los Angeles, CA. As the Clinical Director of a premiere dual diagnosis residential treatment center in Malibu, CA, Dr. Deena oversees all of the clinical and administrative aspects of the program.

Dr. Deena has long aspired to combine her skills as a psychotherapist with her entertainment background. Her dream has always been to be a radio and television talk show host. Dr. Deena's biggest inspiration: "My parents are my role models...they have always believed in me, even when I did not. They told me I could do anything if I worked hard and believed in myself. They were right. Their love story has also been an inspiration to me in my own life and has helped me direct people in relationships, with parenting and life issues.