Education

Masters Degree, August 2006

 

Masters Degree in Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute completed in August 2006.

Earned a specialization in Art Therapy.

Bachelors Degree, December 2002

 

Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

 

Licensure status

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist MFC # 51428

 

 

Experience

 

 

Therapist and Community Educator – April 2011 to Present

 

Manage a short-term psychoeducational private practice for clients newly diagnosed or affected by bipolar disorder. Treat individuals, couples, families, and adolescents who are not currently in crisis and in need of more intensive treatment.

 

Write and have published more than seventy educational articles online and several educational videos relevant to individuals and their loved ones affected by bipolar disorder and inclusive of all mood disorders. Training videos have covered mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and developing practical tools and life skills to build the capacity to tolerate overwhelm.

 

 

 

Life Adjustment Team– April 2012 to November 2014

Assessed severity of mental illness and interpersonal, family and community needs and goals. Developed treatment plans involving psychiatrists, families, treatment teams, and community resources. Implemented treatment plans through individual and team work using DBT and CBT skills. Plans were tailored to the needs of each client, as well as working with individuals and families affected by psychotic disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, developmental disorders and addictions. Intervened during crisis and family conflict.

 

Led weekly art therapy groups in the intensive outpatient program. Art therapy used DBT processes and interventions focused on toleration and containment of stressful emotion, radical acceptance and using the art process as a tool to develop behavioral plans for responding to emotion.

 

 

 

Clinical Internship: OPICA – February 2010 until February 2011

 

Assessed clients for the severity of dementia and facilitated programs that would meet their individual needs in order to provide stimulation, connection and the fulfillment of the needs for being treated with compassion, respect and dignity.

 

Developed and led therapeutic discussion groups based on clients’ interests and cognitive abilities.

Led and facilitated art therapy groups with clients with moderate to severe dementia. Provided education and support for the family members and caregivers of clients with dementia.

 

 

 

Clinical Internship: Cal Fam – August 2006 until June 2009

 

Assessed and developed treatment plans and conducted therapy with individuals, adolescents, and families in the counseling center from diverse cultural, socio-economic backgrounds, and co-occurring disorders.

 

Conducted individual and group therapy in an inpatient adolescent probation facility that focused on brief therapy and the development of effective coping skills.

 

Practiced individual and group therapy in middle school, high school and continuation school environments.

 

Worked collaboratively with colleagues and supervisors to develop treatment plans and thoroughly assess clients. Received training from clinicians in the field on all aspects of practicing effective therapy.

 

 

 

Clinical traineeship: Cal Fam – June 2005 – August 2006

 

Conducted therapy in a post-modern traineeship at California Family Services in Encino. Received intensive training in post-modern theories and practices emphasizing in narrative therapy. Practiced co-therapy with colleagues at the counseling center with diverse populations, cultures, and socio-economic statuses. Conducted individual therapy in an inpatient adolescent probation facility that focused on brief therapy and the development of effective coping skills.

 

 

 

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