Clinical Director, Co-Founder

Frances Milligan, MA, LMFT, C-DBT

Clinical Director, Co-Founder

Frances is a Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Lido Wellness Center (LWC). With over thirteen years of experience in the mental health and social work field, Frances co-founded LWC to bolster outpatient care offerings by providing high-quality, individualized treatment focusing on the whole person. Her clinical journey began with offering therapeutic supportive services to foster youths and transitional age youth in an outpatient setting. Noticing a discrepancy in accessibility of care and clinical services for untreated adverse childhood experiences and trauma, her clinical experience focused on treating the presentation of those impacts in the form of substance use disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders.

Her mission to address untreated, underlying symptoms launched her practice in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), specializing in treatment of emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, and eating disorders. In her DBT practice, Frances provides a non-judgmental therapeutic space for patients to explore individual barriers and strengths on their road to recovery and wellness by building sympathetic relationships in an effort to become a true advocate on their healing journey.

In her role as Chief Operations Officer, Frances focuses on the operations of Lido Wellness Center and Lido Wellness Living and interfaces with all the departments to help ensure consistent communications and smooth flow of daily functions to enhance our patients’ and family’s experiences.

I love being able to make a difference in patients’ lives and working alongside LWC’s skilled clinicians. With our supportive clinical team and range of services for an individualized approach, we provide a judgement-free zone where patients can explore and grow.

Frances has an extensive educational background. In addition to her DBT certification, she is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She graduated from Hope International University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and received a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from National University. In taking care of her own mental health, she emphasizes self-care by incorporating yoga and mindfulness into her daily practice.

Chief Development Officer, Co-Founder

Collin Weeden

Chief Development Officer, Co-Founder

Collin is a Co-founder and the Chief Development Officer of Lido Wellness Center (LWC). Prior to LWC, he spent seven years working in addiction and eating disorder treatment and during that time, recognized a need for an outpatient care offering that provides the wider community with a safe space for recovery and compassionate clinical excellence. LWC fulfilled his vision of equitable wellness treatment, and he serves in his role as Director of Admissions with that principle at the forefront.

Collin provides primary support and placement for all incoming LWC patients, offering a guiding hand into their wellness journey. He also works with individuals to help them understand their financial options and how insurance may help cover some of the costs of the program. He is LWC’s primary contact for those seeking help for themselves or a loved one, and he works expertly with LWC’s clinicians to provide proper screening and assessment for potential patients.

Patient care is Collin’s top priority, and he works to ensure that a potential patient’s placement, at LWC or elsewhere, is the most fitting and beneficial for their individual needs. Collin is adept at assisting potential patients through the important task of program selection, offering clear explanations and recommendations that enable potential patients to make the most informed decision possible regarding their care.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is witnessing patients’ transformations. From working with them in the admissions process up to their first day at LWC, to watching them progress in their wellness journey, patient success is what drives me.

For Collin, supporting patient success begins at admissions and continues throughout the patient’s LWC journey and beyond. He is invested in their daily success as an enthusiastic team member supporting the clinicians who prepare and guide patients on their path to progress. In his personal life, Collin values time spent with his partner and his dog, and enjoys spending time outdoors connecting with the world around him and exercising his green thumb in his garden.

Psychiatrist, Medical Director

Eric Chaghouri, MD

Psychiatrist, Medical Director

Dr. Eric Chaghouri is a 2007 graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his B. A. in Biology with Summa Cum Laude honors. While at UCLA, he helped the men’s varsity volleyball team earn a National Championship in 2006. He was named the UCLA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2007.

He earned his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine in 2011. He completed his internship training in 2008 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the remaining three years of residency in general adult psychiatry at the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center. He served as the Chief Resident in psychiatric emergency services during his fourth year of residency. He also served as Resident Clinical Instructor and Volunteer Faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine.

After completing residency, Dr. Chaghouri accepted a fellowship position in forensic psychiatry at the prestigious USC Institute of Psychiatry and Law. His scholarly activities included publishing in Legal Digest and presenting research findings at the Keck School of Medicine annual conference.

Since completing his forensic psychiatry fellowship, he has established a successful and thriving practice in West Hollywood and Century City, California, focusing on treatment of co-occurring psychiatric and addictive disorders. He works in an array of capacities with attorneys, courts, and other parties in actual or potential litigation. He also has extensive experience consulting and providing opinions on psychiatric issues for major television networks. Dr. Chaghouri’s interests include addiction medicine, substance use disorders, forensic psychiatry, medical ethics, psychological autopsy, gender wellness, and evidence-based treatment of psychiatric conditions.

Psychiatric Nurse

Hassan Gomar, RN

Psychiatric Nurse

Bio coming soon

Psychiatric and TMS Provider

Grace Collins, PMHNP

Psychiatric and TMS Provider

Bio coming soon

Director of Clinical Development

Lauren-Rachelle Palazuelos, PsyD

Director of Clinical Development

As the Director of Clinical Development (DCD), Dr. Palazuelos is responsible for providing clinical leadership, fostering high-quality patient care, standardizing clinical protocols, developing plans for program expansion, and contributing to the recruitment and retention of clinical staff.

She completed her BA in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton and received her MA in Clinical Psychology in 2009 and subsequently her PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology.  Dr. Palazuelos has also completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship focused on trauma-informed care.

Dr. Palazuelos has worked within a variety of mental health settings including schools and PHP/IOP programs as primary therapist, program director, and clinical director.  She has also worked in various community mental health organizations and has a private practice where she provides individual, family, couples, and group therapy in English and Spanish.

As well, she has worked at a medical facility with a multidisciplinary team (physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers) where she completed therapy, cognitive assessments, and evaluations with patients.

Dr. Palazuelos is passionate about her job and providing the best for our patients. She has received extensive training in trauma-informed care and has been exposed to a variety of evidence-based practices.  As a trauma-informed provider, she believes that treatment should be tailored to the individual, as each person is unique and has specific needs.

Two of the aspects that she most enjoys about working with Lido Wellness Center is seeing the patients improve their mental health and do well and being able to collaborate and work with a strong and passionate team who put patient care first.

When asked what she loves most about her job at Lido Wellness Center, she says, “I love working directly with the clinicians and patients, and I fell in love with Lido’s mission of ‘providing integrative, holistic, and comprehensive care.’ I love that we are able to honor each person’s uniqueness.”

In her personal life, she incorporates wellness and self-care through practicing meditation, playing the piano, and reading. She loves to dance and spend time with friends and family.