Meet the Falcone Institute Team
Madeline Falcone, LMFT
Executive Director
California MFT License #24414
Madeline Falcone, LMFT, founded Falcone Institute in 1988, following 13 years as a special education teacher and learning resource specialist, primarily in San Diego area schools. From her time in the public school system, where she saw too many bright students emotionally misunderstood and cognitively underestimated, Madeline was inspired to develop a more comprehensive approach to helping individuals integrate their learning and emotions. After earning her Master of Science in Counseling from San Diego State University and her California Marriage and Family Therapist license, Madeline transformed her vision into action – creating a comprehensive, holistic therapeutic practice, guided by the Falcone Method©, specializing in fostering academic, emotional and personal skill development.
As an insightful and inspirational educator and therapist, Madeline masterfully applies decades of experience to her work with children, adolescents, adults and their families, including a longstanding specialty in supporting adopted children and their families. She has collaborated with hundreds of individuals, families, educators and healthcare professionals, and has trained educators and therapists throughout her career. With a passion for continued learning, she is a Certified BodyTalk® Practitioner and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and in June 2024 she completed the Certificate Program in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research through the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her individualized, heart-centered and intuitive approach to healing and learning continues to evolve.
Sierra Titone, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Therapist
California SLP License #33356
Sierra joined the Falcone Institute team in April 2022. She provides skilled evaluative and therapeutic speech and language interventions, including social pragmatics and executive functioning, to build upon the skills a child already possesses to increase their level of confidence in communicating in a variety of settings. Sierra earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Colorado, Boulder and Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University.
Angelica Benson, Ed.M.
Community Engagement and Program Specialist
Angelica was an early Falcone Institute team member, and then spent twenty years as Lindamood-Bell’s Learning Center Development Director. Her outreach efforts have increased collaboration with like-minded professionals and generated greater community exposure. Angelica’s responsibilities recently expanded to include team training and one-on-one psychoeducational coaching.
Noura Tagdiri, BA
Psychoeducational Coach
Noura graduated from Pitzer College in May 2025 with a degree in Psychology. As a student, she gained extensive experience supporting neurodivergent individuals, including cofacilitating social skills groups at the Claremont Autism Center. Noura brings genuine compassion and a love of learning to her work, and she is committed to making a positive difference in every client's experience.
Mariana Garcia, BS
Psychoeducational Coach Intern
Mariana joined the Falcone Institute team in July 2026 after graduating from the University of California, San Diego, where she double majored in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology. Drawing on her academic training and her own personal and family experience, she understands how closely emotions, thinking, and learning are connected. She has seen firsthand how neurological differences can shape a person's confidence and independence.
Kristin Harris, MBA
Executive Administrator
Kristin joined the Falcone Institute team in 2013 after spending over ten years volunteering in numerous capacities through local school districts and other non-profit organizations. She earned a B.A. in Social Ecology with a Minor in Psychology, and later her MBA, from U.C. Irvine.