Dr. Jose David Cohen is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child therapist who holds a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. He has a multiculural background and is completely fluent in Spanish and English. Dr. Cohen has always directed his efforts toward building community in both his personal and professional life. With this in mind, he began California Psychological Enrichment Services, (CPES), Inc., in 1995. CPES is a mental health agency which offers psychological services, testing and a complete range of counseling programs for children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. Dr. Cohen specializes in the treatment of depressive disorders, anxiety, PTSD and domestic violence. He has worked with the Victims of Violent Crime Program for a number of years.

CPES provides services at the North Hollywood location, at various school sites, and at other residential and clinical settings. CPES is a multi-disciplinary group practice which is composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage, family, and child therapists, clinical social workers, and paraprofessionals. The staff at CPES includes bilingual and bicultural mental health professionals who provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy. CPES has strong community ties and a collaborative working relationship with various Police Departments, the Probation Department, the Department of Children and Family Services, local School Districts, community-based agencies, and residential treatment facilities.

"Operation Comfort came into existence as a direct result of my pain and frustration in witnessing how Mrs. Garibay, the mother of Angel Garibay reacted to the death of her son, a fallen Marine. This literally tore me apart and made me feel helpless, and I wasn’t able to sleep that night. However, I did think of helping mothers, like Mrs. Garibay, and all families who had a loved one fighting in the Middle East. In this way I transferred my nervous and anxious feelings into a positive and constructive attitude. Operation Comfort was born with the noble intention of helping those families who are hurting as a result of having their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers away at war.

It is Operation Comfort's mission to spread its wings into all communities and comfort all family members who are worried for their loved ones fighting overseas. Operation Comfort is already a successful therapeutic community in the state of California and will soon be enjoying success throughout our entire nation. In this manner, community by community, city to city, and state by state, we will create a protective barrier around our borders, fortify our citizens, and shelter our Nation under the umbrella of Service. I am very proud to be a part of Operation Comfort...and even prouder of all of you who made Operation Comfort a reality."

Dr. Jose David Cohen, 4/4/03

Dr. Steven Sherman is a licensed psychologist practicing in Los Angeles, California. His collaboration with Dr. Cohen began over ten years ago while they were graduate students at The California Family Study Center in North Hollywood. Following graduate school, and an unsuccessful career as a food server, Dr. Sherman moved to San Francisco in order to pursue his post-graduate education. He attended the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco where he earned his doctorate in clinical psychology.

While in San Francisco, Dr. Sherman worked extensively with adolescents and their families through acute and often life-threatening crises. He functioned as an individual therapist, a group facilitator, a program designer, and a community outreach coordinator. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he co-designed the residential program for adolescents at Vista Del Mar’s Community Treatment Facility. Last year, Dr. Sherman joined Dr. Cohen in his private practice at California Psychological Enrichment Services in North Hollywood. At the same time, he created "Partnership Works" in cooperation with his business partners, Howie and Rochelle Newman. Partnership Works is an company which provides relationship counseling to individuals and couples on the topic of creating collaborative partnerships.

On March 25, 2003, Dr. Cohen shared his vision of Operation Comfort with Dr. Sherman. Within twenty-four hours the two had made dozens of phone calls, sent out as many faxes, and capitalized upon the world wide web in a concerted effort to initiate Operation Comfort. With the gratuitous assistance of web developer, Lee Myrick, from Adept Studio, and the participation of numerous agencies and individuals, Operation Comfort is already a successful therapeutic community.