Genelle Weits García, PhD
Licensed Clinical Health Psychologist
Dr. Genelle Weits García completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2006 at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), now called Alliant International University. Her Master of Science in Health Psychology was earned at the same school, while her Bachelor of Science was completed at Michigan State University.
She has over 20 years of experience working in a variety of settings, mainly targeted at health promotion and illness management, including a hospital-based chronic pain rehabilitation clinic and a pediatric oncology and hematology unit. She developed an Outpatient Health Psychology Program, focusing curriculum on health-related topics as well as how to adjust activities and exercise when there are physical challenges.
Dr. Weits García additionally created a Spanish Language Track for an Outpatient Program to reach immigrant and minority populations with the psychological tools helpful in navigating mental health challenges. This utilized her Spanish-speaking skills to improve the San Diego-Tijuana communities.
Dr. Weits García worked as the Primary Supervisor of the Health Psychology Service
For 14 years, she worked as the Primary Supervisor of the Health Psychology Service at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. She worked with Active Duty Military and other beneficiaries who were dealing with medical conditions (Parkinson’s Disease, Cancer, Lupus), Chronic Pain (Neuropathic, Arthritic, Vascular, and Myofacial), and physical symptoms not well explained by medicine (stress symptoms, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and less well understood conditions (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Dysautonomia Syndromes).
Often, the main issues addressed were depressive and anxious symptoms, sleep difficulties, relationship conflicts, and difficult life events and traumas. She led groups, met individually, and included partners, friends/roommates, and caregivers regarding the needs of a client. She additionally consulted with and educated medical colleagues to ensure a cohesive multi-disciplinary treatment team approach.
Dr. Weits García formally supervised over 100 pre-doctoral interns as a Faculty Member for the Naval Medical Center, an American Psychological Association (APA) approved internship program. She was recognized with the Faculty of the Year Award in 2019 and Master Clinician title in 2020 (Junior Clinician title earned in 2009).
Dr. Weits García was one of the founding committee members creating the Mind Body Medicine Program for the Navy. She became the Director in 2021, bringing nervous system education and mindfulness practices to hospital staff and patients alike. She has been invited to speak at various conferences, including The 7th Annual Primary Care Symposium, Physician Wellness Program, Diabetes Care Symposium, and Palliative Care and Hospice Conference. She introduced mindfulness practices to incoming medical trainees, coached medical residents on sleep improvements for shift work, and offered specialty lecture series on biofeedback and mindfulness to psychiatry residents. She most recently was an invited psychologist for the Bring Change 2 Mind conference for youth in San Diego in 2025.
She was one of the founding committee members creating the Mind Body Medicine Program for the Navy.
She has taught international audiences regarding her specialty areas. Some lectures include: Self-Care for the HealthCare Team (Burnout Prevention and Management), Biofeedback: Making the Invisible Visible, and Changing the Pain Brain: The Mind-Body Connection and Mindfulness Practices. Conferences included the Annual Pain Care Skills Conference, Arthritis Foundation and American Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO) conferences, and the Association for Applied Psychophysiological Biofeedback (AAPB). Finally, she was the main speaker at an event hosted by the Mexican Consulate and Latino Network Consortium.
She has numerous publications on topics related to Mind-Body Connection, Trauma, and military applications of Health Psychology. See publications listed below, if interested.
She continues with her supervisory role and consultation services to mental health providers, military and private healthcare teams, and organizations looking to improve wellbeing in the workplace.
Dr. Weits García takes a holistic and integrated biopsychosocial approach.
Dr. Weits García takes a holistic and integrated biopsychosocial approach toward health and addresses each client with an inquisitive, eager stance at getting to what they want to see improved. Her research-backed interventions come from a variety of theories and practices, creating a treatment approach tailored to each client’s needs. She will not simply let you talk, rather the work requires each client to gain increasing self-awareness, openness to trying new (and old) ideas, and being willing to be vulnerable. This can all be done with a mix of seriousness and humor—following the adage that we must laugh at ourselves and some circumstances, or life can become too serious and burdensome.
Dr. Weits García brings a warm presence with genuine curiosity. Her training and life experiences have led her to be an understanding and compassionate psychologist.
Contact her now to see how your work together can transform your experiences.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Emphasis
Dr. Weits García welcomes all humans to engage in therapy with her.
She does not discriminate based on any individual factors.
She is committed to constantly learning about differences and how to best honor and respect them.
Dr. Weits García welcomes feedback and discussions surrounding any biases (unconscious or conscious) and how to minimize its impact on others.
Publications
Cazares, P.T., Caporaso, E., Rumsey, D., Segovia, F., Yablonsky, A., Anderson, L., & Weits, G. (2021). Women’s Mental Health in the U.S. Military — Where Are We Now? A Review of Recent Research. Current Psychiatry Reports (23): 67.
McChesney, K. A. and Weits, G. Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects of Pain. Yong, R. J., Nguyen, M., Nelson, E., and Urman, R. D. (eds.) Pain Medicine: An Essential Review, 31 (129-132). Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2017.
Parker, J., Afandaor, J.H., Goodie, J.L., Porter, S.J., Weits, G.I., & Cassidy, D.G. Training and Practice in Military Specialty Psychology. Bowles, S. & Bartone, P.T. (eds.) Handbook of Military Psychology: Clinical and Organizational Practice, 5 (133-151). Guilford Press /Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2017.
Weits, G. Trauma and Pain: Linking Emotional and Physical Symptoms. Ritchie, E (ed.) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Related Diseases in Combat Veterans, 15 (213-224). Guilford Press /Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2016.
Weits, G. (2016, February). Expressions of Psychological Trauma: A Case Study Exemplifying Mind-Body Connection. Poster presentation at the Resilience Summit, San Diego, California.
Hess, L. & Weits, G. (2016, February). Staff Well-Being and Resiliency: Mind-Body Medicine Staff Participant Ratings. Poster presentation at the Resilience Summit, San Diego, California.
Millegan, J., Ram, V., Bhakta, J.P., Brown, A., Weits, G., & Hess, L. (2016, August). Integrating Mind Body Medicine into the Military Healthcare Delivery System. Poster presentation at the annual convention for the American Psychological Association, Denver, Colorado.
Millegan, J., Ram. V., Bhakta, J.P., Brown, A., Weits, G., & Hess, L. (2016, May). Reducing Burnout in Military Healthcare Professionals through Mind Body Medicine. Poster presentation at the annual meeting for the American Psychiatric Association, Atlanta, Georgia.
Weits, G. The Effects of Verbal Emotional Expression on Physical and Psychological Health in Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia, Paper Presentation. The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Annual Scientific Meeting, March 20-23, 2007; Washington, D.C.
Weits, G. The Effects of Verbal Emotional Expression on Physical and Psychological Health in Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia: A Controlled Study, Poster Presentation American Psychosomatic Society (APS) Annual Scientific Meeting, March 1-4, 2006; Denver, CO
Gevirtz, R. and Weits, G. Very Low Frequency Heart Rate Spectral Activity is Associated with Rumination/ Worry, Oral Presentation Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) Annual Meeting, March 29-April 2, 2000; Denver, CO