Evidence-Based Psychological Care with Compassion and Precision
At Talisman Learning Centre, we are dedicated to helping children, adolescents, and adults better understand their minds, overcome challenges, and move toward meaningful, lasting growth. Our work combines scientific accuracy with deep empathy, ensuring that every individual receives personalized psychological care tailored to their developmental, emotional, and cognitive needs.
We specialize in comprehensive psychological and neurodevelopmental assessments, along with depth-oriented psychotherapy, to provide clarity where there is confusion, direction where there is uncertainty, and hope where individuals and families feel stuck.
Ready to gain clarity about your concerns?
Our Clinical Philosophy
We believe that every person is more than a diagnosis or a list of symptoms. Difficulties with attention, learning, mood, or relationships often have deeper developmental, neurological, and emotional roots. At Talisman Learning Centre, we take the time to understand the whole individual, their history, strengths, environment, and lived experiences, before arriving at diagnostic and therapeutic conclusions.
Our approach integrates neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and depth-oriented psychotherapy to ensure evaluations and therapy are accurate, meaningful, and genuinely transformative.
Not sure what type of evaluation you need?
Dr. Joe Matadama, Psy.D.
Clinical & Neurodevelopmental Psychologist
Talisman Learning Centre is led by Dr. Joe Matadama, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychological, neurodevelopmental, and forensic assessment, as well as psychodynamic and integrative psychotherapy.
Dr. Matadama’s clinical training spans community mental health centers, hospitals, forensic institutions, and correctional psychiatric settings, offering a uniquely comprehensive understanding of mental health across diverse populations and life stages.
He completed advanced clinical training at Augustus F. Hawkins Mental Health Center, a Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health site, where he conducted detailed neuropsychological evaluations for adolescents and adults with complex psychiatric and cognitive conditions. His pediatric neuropsychology training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles focused on evaluating children with neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, and seizure disorders, working closely with multidisciplinary medical teams to guide diagnostic clarity and intervention planning.
His forensic psychology experience includes court-ordered psychological evaluations at Patton State Hospital and clinical work within APA-accredited correctional psychiatric units in the Los Angeles County jail system. As a Staff Psychologist with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, he collaborated closely with the Sheriff’s Department, providing crisis stabilization, competency evaluations, and therapeutic care in high-acuity forensic environments.
Learn more about our clinical approach and specialties
What We Specialize In
We provide comprehensive, evidence-based psychological assessments and therapy for a wide range of concerns, including:
Each evaluation integrates standardized testing, developmental history, behavioral observations, and clinical expertise to provide accurate diagnoses and actionable recommendations for families, educators, and healthcare providers.
Concerned about developmental, learning, or emotional challenges?
Therapy That Goes Beyond Symptom Relief
Beyond assessments, we offer psychodynamic and integrative psychotherapy for individuals seeking deeper emotional healing and long-term psychological growth. Therapy focuses on understanding patterns, improving emotional regulation, strengthening relationships, and building resilience.
We work with individuals experiencing:
Our therapy model emphasizes respectful pacing, emotional safety, and collaborative goal-setting so that meaningful change emerges naturally and sustainably.
Looking for therapy that addresses the root causes, not just symptoms?
Multidisciplinary and Collaborative Care
Effective psychological care often requires collaboration. We regularly coordinate with physicians, educators, therapists, and regional support services to ensure evaluation findings translate into practical support across home, school, and clinical settings.
This integrated approach allows clients to receive comprehensive, well-coordinated care that supports both immediate needs and long-term development.
Need coordinated care for your child or family?
Culturally Responsive and Accessible Care
We are committed to serving diverse communities with culturally informed and linguistically attuned services. Dr. Matadama is a fluent Spanish speaker and provides therapy and psychological assessments in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessible and responsive care for individuals and families from varied backgrounds.
Prefer services in Spanish or need culturally responsive care?
Forward-Thinking, Research-Informed Practice
Our work is grounded in current scientific research and evolving clinical best practices. Dr. Matadama also holds a Certificate in Psychedelic Medicine and Research from the California Institute of Psychedelic Research Studies, reflecting engagement with emerging therapeutic modalities as mental health treatment continues to evolve.
This forward-thinking orientation ensures our care remains both innovative and firmly rooted in evidence-based practice.
Want to explore modern, research-informed psychological care?
Our Mission
Our mission at Talisman Learning Centre is to provide comprehensive, compassionate, and scientifically grounded psychological care that helps individuals and families gain clarity, access appropriate support, and achieve lasting personal growth.
Through careful assessment, depth-oriented therapy, and collaborative care, we aim to transform uncertainty into understanding, and challenges into opportunities for healing and development.
Take the first step toward clarity and growth → Request an Assessment | Schedule a Consultation
