About Us

Helpguide’s mission is to help people understand, prevent, and resolve many of life’s challenges. We empower people with knowledge and hope. Our goal is to give you the information and encouragement you need to take charge of your health and well-being and make healthy choices.

Helpguide was launched in 1999, following the suicide of Robert and Jeanne Segal’s daughter, Morgan. We believe that Morgan’s tragedy could have been avoided if she had had easy access to supportive health information. Our mission is to honor her memory and compassionate spirit by providing balanced, up-to-date, and motivating information about mental health, relationships, and lifelong wellness. See Helpguide's Story.

Helpguide is primarily funded by Robert & Jeanne Segal, along with others who support Helpguide's mission. We do not accept advertising, allowing us complete editorial autonomy. We devote our entire space to expert, unbiased articles that are easy-to-read, ad-free, and above all, helpful! If you would like to help us continue to grow, we invite you to support Helpguide with a tax-deductible contribution.

The Helpguide team

Helpguide's team consists of health experts, writers, and web professionals. We strive to offer a balanced view, with a focus on information you can use to help yourself.

Editorial team

Robert Segal, M.A., General Manager and Co-Publisher, spearheads the organization and management of the creative process. He has 53 years experience coordinating projects ranging from aircraft identification systems to Holistic Health conferences to boutique office buildings to Helpguide. His goal is to foster a synergy of creativity, collaboration, communication, humor and hard work. He gets his stress relief on the golf course.

Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., Managing Editor and Co-Publisher, is a sociologist, psychologist, and author. For over 35 years, Dr. Segal has explored Emotional Intelligence, helping people enhance their lives and improve their relationships. Her books have been translated into thirteen languages. Dr. Segal focuses on how individuals can empower themselves and bring about life-altering social and emotional change.

Melinda Smith, M.A., has a master's degree in psychology and over ten years experience as a health writer and editor. She is passionate about keeping up with the latest research and giving readers the facts they need to make better choices and take control of their mental health. She has significantly impacted virtually all of our mental health articles.

Gina Kemp, M.A., has collaborated on over forty Helpguide articles. She has over 15 years experience as a writer, editor and producer of content for online and print publications for corporate, academic and non-profit clients. She is constantly testing parenting skills and advice as the mother of two young children.

Joanna Saisan, MSW, has contributed to Helpguide for over five years. Among her areas of expertise are mental health, older adults, health education and working with veterans. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Maya W. Paul, Certified Holistic Health Counselor, is updating our Diet & Nutrition section. She works to transform the lives of her clients through a focus on nutrition and cooking. She loves to experiment with recipes, play soccer, and meditate.

Jocelyn Block is a writer, editor, and teacher with her master's in English/Creative Writing. She is passionate about the power words have to educate, illuminate, and empower. As a new mother with questions and concerns of her own, she understands the importance of accessible and accurate information.

Sarah Kovatch, M.F.A., has over six years experience writing and editing for educational textbooks and films and a variety of print and online content. Her goal is to encourage readers to own their health through user-friendly, fact-driven articles.

Website design and development

Joelle Belmonte Lead Web Designer, has over eight years industry experience using, testing, designing and building websites and applications

Jonathan Lhrar, Webmaster & Web Development, takes care of the technical well-being and functioning of Helpguide.org. He has extensive experience designing and managing websites for several organizations, including the BBC.

Past contributors

We appreciate the important contributions of the following writers and web professionals, who have had a significant impact on Helpguide:

Melissa Wayne, Suzanne Barston, Deborah Cutter, Psy.D., MFT, Tina de Benedictis, Ph.D., Douglas Russell, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Ellen Jaffe–Gill, M.A., Heather Larson, Jeff Bauer, Adrian Tarango, Linda Laucella, Lisa Flores Dumke, M.A., Leslie Lindeman, John Dorsey, Pat Davies, Sheila Hutman, Amara Rose, Pat Sullivan, 

Guest writers

William Buxton, M.D., and Verna Porter-Buxton, M.D., of UCLA-Santa Monica Neurological Associates, Rabbi Naomi Levy, and Bernie DeKoven.

Editorial Review Board

Our editorial review board includes Helpguide's managing editor, Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and the following people:

Marti Glenn, PhD  is the dean of Santa Barbara Graduate Institute of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has been a pioneering psychotherapist for over 25 years, as well as a professor of clinical psychology working with attachment, early development and trauma.

Monika White, Ph.D., is an Adjunct Professor of Gerontology at USC and former Executive Vice President of WISE & Healthy Aging. She has worked with older adults and their families since the mid-1970s. An author, lecturer and teacher, she is considered a pioneer in the field of aging.

Jaelline Jaffe, Ph.D., has been a licensed psychotherapist for 30 years, specializing in couple and relationship issues, eating disorders, adolescent treatment, and emotional aspects of medical conditions. Her counseling approaches life's problems as opportunities for growth and learning. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Steering committee

Our steering committee meets regularly to oversee the Helpguide project. Current members are:

• Charlene Underhill Miller, Ph.D. – Licensed marriage and family therapist
• Douglas Russell, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. – retired Medical Social Worker
• Grace Cheng Braun – President and CEO of WISE & Healthy Aging
• Lisa Alexander – Partner, Jakle & Alexander, LLP
• Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. – Helpguide’s Managing Editor
• Julia Miele – Executive Director, YWCA Santa Monica / Westside
• Monika White, Ph.D. – Adjunct Professor of Gerontology at USC
• Nancy Freedman – Trust & Estate Law
• Robert Segal, M.A. – Helpguide’s General Manager
• Sheryl Monaughan, Ph.D. – President of Project By Project Consulting
• Steve Litvak – Owner, One-Stop Print Shop

Collaborating Organizations

Members of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica are actively involved in updating Helpguide and serving on the Steering committee. Robert Segal, Helpguide’s General Manager and Co-Publisher, has been a Santa Monica Rotarian for 24 years. The club also provides a portion of the funding. Learn more about Rotary

WISE & Healthy Aging, is Helpguide’s IRS Section 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. In that role, WISE & Healthy Aging acts as the guardian of grants and donations to Helpguide and handles our accounting. WISE & Healthy Aging is a non-profit agency based in Santa Monica that provides programs, services, information and support for seniors, caregivers, and professionals in the aging field.