Dr Jane Tavyev Asher

Dr Jane Tavyev Asher is a Board-Certified Child Neurologist who has served as Director of the Division of Child Neurology, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, and Lifestyle Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles since 2010, with current academic appointments as Associate Professor at both UCLA and Cedars-Sinai. She completed all of her medical training at Texas Children's Hospital/ Baylor College of Medicine, which is one of the country’s top training programs for Pediatric Neurology. Dr. Tavyev runs a busy clinical practice, incorporating Lifestyle Medicine, particularly for treatment of migraines, tics, and ADHD-type symptoms. Her approach combines the modern innovations offered by Lifestyle Medicine, with the traditional evidence-based style of her classical training. Her style is minimalistic and holistic, with heavy parental involvement. Distinguished locally, she has been listed as a Top Doctor by LA Magazine for over a decade. She has speaking engagements locally and nationally, to both parent groups and physician-education groups, on topics related to child neurology and development, parenting, pediatric lifestyle choices, and optimizing children's brain development. She has developed curriculum on Dietary Interventions in Child Neurology for the American Academy of Neurology, and has presented this and other Pediatric Lifestyle data to other physician education programs, subsequently sharing this information with parent/ school groups as well. Dr Tavyev also serves as a Co-Investigator for the Healthy Brain Child Development Study, which is currently the largest long-term research study of early brain and child development in United States history, funded by the NIH. In her free time, she shares information via Facebook as the Neurotic Neurologist (a trifecta of general developmental advice) and "Bright Baby, Beautiful Mama" (optimized diet for the developing brain), with more coming soon.

Michael Karric

Originally from the rural Sierra Foothills near Lake Tahoe, California, Michael grew up with minimal internet access and an antenna TV. His childhood was filled with hiking, biking, skiing, archery and quality time in nature (usually with a book). At UCSB, he discovered a passion for software engineering, launching a career that would take him deep into the fast-paced world of tech startups. For over a decade and counting, he has worked as a software engineer in high-growth companies, where he witnessed firsthand how digital products are intentionally designed to maximize user engagement—often at the expense of mental well-being. Through the use of "dark UX patterns" (subtle psychological tricks embedded in software) companies manipulate users into spending more time on their platforms, prioritizing profit over people’s health. While these industry practices had always troubled him, it wasn’t until Michael became a parent that the full impact of these design choices became painfully clear. Watching how digital devices and platforms influenced children’s behavior and development validated his professional concerns. Determined to better understand these challenges, he and his wife immersed themselves in research, reading extensively about the effects of technology on childhood development. One book in particular, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, resonated deeply, confirming their observations and inspiring them to take action. This journey led them to like-minded advocates and ultimately to the creation of PAUSE, a movement dedicated to promoting healthier digital habits for families. In his free time, Michael enjoys playing and watching soccer—if you’re looking for him on a weekend, you’ll likely find him at an LAFC home game with his kids.

Dorsa Karric

Dorsa Karric is a proud alumni of the BHUSD, having attended Hawthorne Elementary and Beverly Hills High School from kindergarten through graduation. She is happily married to Michael Karric and the proud mother of three amazing children, two of whom have now started their educational journeys within the District as students at Horace Mann and Hawthorne Schools. Outside of raising a family, Dorsa is an attorney with a background in criminal defense, juvenile delinquency defense, juvenile education rights, civil litigation and estate planning. Throughout her career, she has consistently advocated for families, guiding them through complex legal systems and representing their best interests. Her passion for ensuring children thrive in balanced learning environments, both as a professional and a parent, makes her a strong advocate for PAUSE’s mission. Dorsa is dedicated to fostering a future where technology enhances, rather than hinders, the development of the next generation.

Parisa Leviadin, Psy.D., Clinical Director

As a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience in treating mood and anxiety disorders, chemical dependency, relationship and family conflicts. Parisa serves as a devoted clinical director. She specializes in the treatment of various disorders with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Neurofeedback; and as a certified Neurofeedback specialist, she helps patients with ADD & ADHD, Migraines & Pain Disorders, as well as executives and athletes seeking Optimal Brain Performance. Dr. Leviadin is known for her techniques in treating children and adolescents with mood and learning disorders. She conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations and assessments for personal injury, disability, and diagnostic differentiation and IQ testing for educational placement and individualized treatment plans. Her training and supervisory experience include the California Stress Control Clinic, UCLA Anxiety Disorders Clinic, The Help Group, Santa Clarita Child and Family Center, Children’s Hospital, Pasadena City College Assessment and the Tarzana Treatment Center Substance abuse program.

Education UCLA, BA in Communication Studies Graduated Summa Cum Laude CSPP, MA in Clinical Psychology, Individual, Child and Family, Couples Therapy CSPP, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Individual, Child and Family, Couples Therapy EEG Institute, Neurofeedback Certification Licensed by California Board of Psychology

Affiliation American Psychological Association, Member California Psychological Association, Member

Rashelle Hakak, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist

Rashelle Hakak is a mother of three and a clinical psychologist specializing in children, adolescents, and families. She witnessed the profound impact of the COVID-19 school shutdowns and the increase in screen time that has become normalized among children. She observed significant changes in children and families during and after the closures, including a concerning decline in educational standards as computer-based curricula took precedence over in-person engagement.

Rashelle is deeply concerned about the negative effects of increased screen time and social media exposure on children and teens, which disrupt their academic performance, social-emotional development, mental health, and overall physical and neurological health. Driven by a passion for preserving healthy childhood development, Rashelle is committed to stopping children from falling victim to non-empirically validated, technology-driven educational programs that hinder essential peer interactions and multi-sensory learning experiences vital to their growth. She is on a mission to work with the school district to reduce unnecessary screen time in the classroom that supports the students and teachers and promotes more engaging, developmentally appropriate, and data-driven learning environments.