Diane Lass, PhD., PSY23820
President and Founder of Center for Hope and Strength
Dr. Lass is a Clinical Psychologist and has worked in the field of domestic violence for over 14 years. Dr. Lass conducts indi
vidual and group therapy in addition to supervising interns and psychological assistants. Originally, Dr. Lass became the founder and President of Hope and Strength Psychological Services, Professional Corporation, working with domestic violence and sexual assault victims as a community partner with the San Diego Family Justice Center (SDFJC). Through Hope and Strength Psychological Services, Dr. Lass provided and continues to provide services offsite in private practice. In 2011, Dr. Lass formed and serves as President of the Center for Hope and Strength, Inc., a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization and community partner with SDFJC. In addition, Dr. Lass is the Administrator of Psychological Services for the San Diego Family Justice Center (SDFJC). She was also proud to be one of the original members of the Strategic Planning Committee for the SDFJC in 2003. Dr. Lass has helped to empower, motivate, transform, and inspire thousands of individuals over the past twelve years in various areas of their lives, having provided safety planning, crisis intervention, risk assessment, self-esteem building, psychoeducation related to cycles of abuse, power and control tactics, boundary setting, finding and rebuilding relationships, promoting wellness, empowerment, dealing with traumatic challenges, and establishing new beginnings. Dr. Lass assists clients in their unique journeys of moving forward. Dr. Lass is passionate about her work and feels fortunate to be in the position to help individuals in need. Her warm approach is compassionate and non-judgmental.
Experience, Orientation, Special Considerations: Dr. Lass has testified as an Expert Witness in Domestic Violence for the San Diego County Council, San Diego District Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’ s Office, Maricopa County Homicide Division and the United States Navy. Dr. Lass has appeared as a guest speaker on several television shows, including: Shades of San Diego, Fox TV5: San Diego’s Most Wanted, and San Diego Insider. She has also been interviewed by Glamour Magazine on the dynamics of domestic violence relationships. Over the course of her career, she has conducted approximately 7,000 risk assessments using Dr. Jacqueline Campbell’s Danger Assessment Instrument. Dr. Lass’ research experience includes her Ph.D. dissertation entitled “Associations between psychopathology and perception of risk among victims of intimate partner violence,” in which she and her committee members investigated the associations between PTSD and Dissociative symptoms among victims of IPV and how these symptoms are associated with victims’ perceptions of risk.
Education: Dr. Lass received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University, Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology , and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University.
Licensing, Associations and Affiliations: Dr. Lass is a member of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, National Coalition against Domestic Violence, and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Lass is the Chief Psychologist for the San Diego Police Department Historical Society.