Dr. Monica Blied, PhD, MACL, BSP (she), is a distinguished Clinical Psychologist, Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University, wife, mother of three, and the visionary founder of Faces of Health in Claremont, California. With a career defined by innovation, leadership, and a commitment to empowering others, Dr. Blied combines personal experience with professional expertise to help individuals navigate life’s challenges and embrace their full potential. Her lived experience with lupus, diagnosed in 2012, profoundly informs her work and fuels her passion for creating meaningful change in the lives of others.
Dr. Blied’s academic achievements include earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary, where she was honored with the David Allan Hubbard Achievement Award, a recognition bestowed upon one outstanding graduate each year. She also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Pepperdine University. Before entering clinical practice, Dr. Blied excelled as an Account Manager for a global property restoration firm, honing her skills in leadership and problem-solving. She later served as the Program Manager for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention at the Loma Linda VA, where she led the successful launch of the Whole Health System, a transformative approach to healthcare delivery for veterans.
Dr. Blied’s clinical training is rooted in some of the most rigorous research and treatment environments in the country. She spent more than four years at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, with rotations spanning pediatric traumatic brain injury research, adult neurocognitive disorders, adolescent mood and self-injury, and dementia care. She completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the VA Northern California Healthcare System and her APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship at VA Loma Linda, with concentrations in behavioral medicine, substance use treatment, trauma treatment, and primary care–mental health integration. The breadth of this training is part of what allows her to work across diagnosis, therapy, and whole-person care—and to meet clients with both clinical precision and lived understanding.
Dr. Blied speaking at a 2025 LupusLA fundraising event. She is a member of the Medical Advisory Board for LupusLA, and has lived with systemic lupus since 2012.
Beyond her assessment practice, Dr. Blied provides evidence-based psychotherapy for adults navigating chronic illness, trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and the long tail of late-diagnosed neurodivergence. Her therapy work integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, EMDR, Brainspotting, Heart Rate Variability biofeedback, somatic and mindfulness-based skills training, and chair yoga—because healing rarely happens in just one modality, and the body and brain need to be addressed together. She also provides clinical supervision for graduate trainees and organizational consulting for universities, healthcare systems, and corporations on stress reduction, burnout prevention, late diagnosis, and cultural humility.
In 2022, Dr. Blied launched the Faces of Health mobile app and a suite of self-paced stress management courses designed to deliver culturally responsive, neuroscience-based tools to diverse communities. Building on this success, she introduced the “Empowerment Through Understanding: Adult ADHD and Autism” online modules in 2024. This resource provides practical strategies for executive functioning, self-regulation, and thriving with neurodivergence, reflecting her dedication to expanding access to mental health skills.
Dr. Blied is also a published clinical researcher and educator. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research at UCLA focused on the long-term cognitive and neurological outcomes of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents, with published work in Journal of Neurotrauma, Neurology, Journal of Neuroscience, and Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. Her broader scholarship spans 12 peer-reviewed journal articles, 4 book chapters, and more than 85 presentations at local, national, and international conferences, including the International Society for Autism Research, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and the American Psychological Association. As an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University, she teaches graduate courses in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Health Disorders, Physiological Psychology, and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Dr. Blied in her service as a worship team member
Dr. Blied has been widely recognized for her leadership and service. As a Fellow of the APA Minority Fellowship Program, she was one of only 11 individuals in the nation to receive this prestigious honor in 2016. She has served in numerous leadership roles, including being the 2025 Chair of the California Psychological Association’s Division of Education and Training (Division II), where she earned the Distinguished Leadership Award in 2024 for advancing anti-discrimination initiatives. Additionally, she has left a lasting impact on the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35), where she co-created the Mentor Match Program and established the thriving Campus Representative Program.
Her accolades also include the Student Distinguished Service Award from the California Psychological Association’s Division of Neuropsychology and the Psychology of Black Graduate Student Women Award from the American Psychological Association. These honors highlight her commitment to excellence, her contributions to the field, and her dedication to fostering equity and inclusion.
In her clinical practice, Dr. Blied integrates diverse modalities, including biofeedback, EMDR, Brainspotting, chair yoga, and health coaching, offering holistic support to her clients. Beyond her professional achievements, she remains deeply connected to her community, leading chair yoga and mindfulness classes and serving in her local congregation. Her faith perspective and lived experiences ground her approach, enabling her to inspire hope and resilience in those she serves.
“Your health is not a measure of your faith.” — Dr. Monica Blied
In her personal life, Dr. Blied treasures quality time with her family, whether enjoying nature documentaries together or dancing while indulging in tasty new foods. Her commitment to uplifting others is matched by her curiosity and appreciation for life’s simple joys. Through her compassion and forward-thinking leadership, Dr. Blied aims to leave a lasting impact on the field of mental health and the lives of those she serves.
Dr. Blied with Dr. Chaplain Richard Ross and Veterans in the San Bernardino County community – Veteran’s event 2019
Professional Affiliations & Leadership
- Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (2021–Present)
- 2024 Chair-Elect, California Psychological Association, Division of Education and Training (Division II)
- Medical Advisory Board Member, Lupus LA (2020–Present)
- Fellow, APA Minority Fellowship Program (2016)
- Co-creator, Mentor Match Program — APA Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35)
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist — California (#30328) and New York (#027552)
- Certified Brainspotting Practitioner; EMDR-trained; Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback-trained
Awards & Honors
- David Allan Hubbard Achievement Award, Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology — awarded to one outstanding graduate annually
- Distinguished Leadership on Anti-Discrimination Award (2024), California Psychological Association, Division of Education and Training
- Psychology of Black Graduate Student Women Award, APA Society for the Psychology of Women (2017)
- Student Distinguished Service Award, California Psychological Association, Division of Neuropsychology (2015)
- APA Minority Fellowship Program Fellow (2016) — one of 11 selected nationally that year
