Dr. Gina Petrus is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 17390) with a specialty in child and adolescent psychology. Dr. Petrus has a Masters of Science degree in Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in Behavior Therapy and Health Psychology, from California Lutheran University. She received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology-Los Angeles, with an emphasis in Individual, Child and Family Therapy.
Dr. Petrus has held research and clinical positions at many major medical centers, including UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, the University of Southern California, Saint John’s Child and Family Development Center, and Childrens Hospital- Los Angeles. Dr. Petrus completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles- Division of Adolescent Medicine. She has extensive experience working with clients ranging in age from preschool through young adulthood, in a variety of treatment settings- community mental health, homeless youth agencies, school-based mental health clinics, home-visiting programs, and forensic settings. Dr. Petrus has designed programs for homeless/runaway parents and their children and has extensive experience designing and conducting group interventions. These groups have included the following: parenting, multifamily, children/adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, social skills, pre-school, and adolescent dual diagnosis.
Dr. Petrus recently served as Manager of the Life Style Consultation Program at the California Health & Longevity Institute at the Four Seasons- Westlake Village. Dr. Petrus assisted clients in initiating and maintained health-related behavior change in order to enhance overall health and wellbeing. She conducted workshops for corporate and consumer clients while at the Institute. Previously, Dr. Petrus served as the Sr. Community Mental Health Psychologist/Clinical Supervisor at County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health- Juvenile Justice Programs and also sees clients at Petrus Psychology Professional Corporation in Westlake Village, CA. She was also the Clinical Director at the Los Angeles Youth Network, a nonprofit agency serving runaway/homeless and foster care youth. Dr. Petrus has provided lectures for community members, health professionals, and teachers on topics such as parenting, positive behavior intervention and support, and adolescent dual diagnosis. She is fluent in Spanish.
