About Us
Our Mission
Socialdynamix seeks to empower youth of all abilities with better social and conversational skills, thereby gaining self confidence and a positive self concept to navigate the world.
Our Journey To Here
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Serving the Santa Monica community has been a passion for both Payal and Grace. They have served on the Board of a local non-profit, Growing Side by Side, and have created programming that offers inclusive social and recreational opportunities to neurodiverse youth. Grace and Payal have also facilitated youth support groups in the community since 2021.
After having their own children experience the benefits of the UCLA PEERS® program, Grace and Payal became PEERS® certified facilitators. Under the guidance of a PEERS® trained team of licensed psychologists, they are making this world renowned, evidence based program accessible to a larger and more diverse audience at schools in the community. They are passionate about collaborating with school site leaders, counselors, and school psychologists to empower students with better social and conversation skills.
Meet Our Team
Payal S. Maniar
Co-Founder Socialdynamix
PEERS® Facilitator
Payal Maniar has lived in Santa Monica since 2008 and is a mother of two adolescents, one being a neurodiverse learner. Payal founded Socialdynamix because she is passionate about building a more inclusive community in West Los Angeles. This begins with empowering our youth with the necessary skills to actively participate in the community. Payal dreams of building more programs that help youth develop skills essential in today’s high tech world.
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Payal brings a diverse set of career experiences including, finance, business development and operations experience, having previously worked at Bear Stearns, Accenture and several early stage ventures. Payal has also served on the board of a Santa Monica based non-profit, Growing Side by Side.
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In addition, Payal serves on two SMMUSD advisory committees, the Financial Oversight Committee and the Special Education District Advisory Committee. Payal also served on the Tri-City SELPA's Community Advisory Committee.
(310) 596-1614‬
Grace Lanzetta
Co-Founder Socialdynamix
PEERS® Facilitator
Grace Lanzetta is a Santa Monica resident who is a Registered Nurse with two neurodiverse children in the Santa Monica public schools.
After working for ten years in a Chicago teaching hospital, Grace became a caregiver to her first child who was born with a genetic syndrome. Her experience of having a child with complex behavioral issues fueled her interest in the practice of social skills; and she has witnessed the transformative difference an evidence based program can make.
Grace is currently a Co-Chair of the SMMUSD Special Education District Advisory board, an organizer of the Santa Monica Special Needs network, a parent support group. She has a passion for the Santa Monica neurodivergent community and making a difference.
(773) 391-0349
Reina S. Factor, Ph.D.
Program Advisor
Clinical Psychologist (Lic. PSY33734)
Dr. Reina Factor, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in interventions that involve the family. She has expertise working with autistic individuals and neuro-developmental disabilities, as well as individuals with a range of co-occurring diagnoses including anxiety, depression, early psychosis, ADHD, OCD, ODD, and mood dis-orders. She has specialized training in a number of evidence-based inter-ventions and assessments and works to tailor these interventions for individuals of all ages.
Dr. Factor currently works at Spectrum Psych LA, a private practice, serves as the Director of Training at the UCLA Parenting and Friendship Clinic, and is the attending psychologist at the UCLA Child OCD Intensive Outpatient Program.
Additionally, Dr. Factor has conducted extensive research, focusing on youth social and emotional development, highlighting the impact of systems (e.g., peers, parents, the family) and how they inform interventions, mechanisms of change and treatment outcomes.
reinafactor@spectrumpsychla.com
(949) 478-4619 (Direct) ​