BIO

I recently worked at Vantage Point Recovery in Thousand Oaks, CA  where I offered cutting edge integrated evidenced-based therapies that were remarkably effective and delivered in both individual and group settings.  The customized treatment plans were highly collaborative and responsive to the individual’s unique needs. The therapeutic team was comprised of caring practitioners who were deeply committed to serve others and valued their own continued personal growth and transformation as tools that enhance their professional lives. Focus was on short-term crisis intervention and skill building for clients who were transitioning to lower levels of care.  Vantage Point operated both Intensive-Outpatient programs (IOP) as well as a Partial-hospitalization program (PHP). Group focus included DBT, seeking safety, relapse prevention, social skill building, Codependency, and Solution-focused groups. 

I completed my Pre-Doctoral internship with Anka Behavioral Heath, Inc. in Concord, CA.  There I provided services at two facilities within the Anka Health Care system: Nierika House and Phoenix Center.  Nierika House is a brief inpatient crisis stabilization residential facility in a Community Mental Health setting.  This 16-bed facility receives post-hospitalization and community referrals for individuals with acute mental health crisis.  Most patients have chronic and severe psychiatric diagnosis with approximately 75% of the patient population being Dual-Diagnoses patients.  Delivery of brief solution-focused CBT individual therapies in addition to process and psychoeducational groups are provided on a daily basis.  Extensive consultation with psychiatrist, case managers, nurses and discharge planners regarding patient treatment and placement are also critical responsibilities in the milieu.

Phoenix Center is a social rehabilitation day treatment program, for individuals who experience severe and persistent mental illness, that focuses on creating a context in which patients have the opportunity to attain their highest potential for functioning in the community.  Delivery of individual therapy in addition to process and psychoeducational groups is provided on a daily basis within the context of increasing patient insight and functioning.  My work in the US Probation program at Phoenix Center is two fold: Substance abuse assessment and mental health referrals are processed and recommendations are made for therapeutic services based on client need.  Clients are then seen in groups and individual context with a focus on relapse prevention, reintegration into activities of daily living post-release and general mental health well being.  There is extensive contact and consultation with probation officers in the treatment planning-phase in order to fully implement treatment goals and monitor client progress.

I also worked for two years at the Pacific Center for Human Growth in Berkeley, CA. The Pacific Center primarily serves the local LGBTQI community but offers mental health services to the greater Bay Area community.  I carried a caseload of individual private-practice clients clients in addition to co-facilitating weekly groups including coming out groups, exploring sexual identity groups, transgendered support groups, and the youth peer support group.  My work at Pacific Center served a culturally diverse population consisting of adults, couples, and families ranging in age from 14 to 75 years.  A major component of my work at Pacific Center was with the East Bay AIDS Center (EBAC)at Summit Hospital in Oakland.  My services here coupled elements of case management, such as medication compliance and patient health monitoring, with the provision of providing individual psychotherapy to HIV positive clients in the Bay area.  I also co-facilitated various men’s groups in conjunction with East Bay AIDS Center (EBAC) staff. 

For two years I worked with PARTNERS Programs based out of San Rafael, CA.  As a senior staff member, I led the clinical team that provided mental health services to elementary, middle and various high schools in the Novato Unified School System.  Duties as lead therapist included assisting 1st year practicum students with in-vivo instruction and consultation, sitting in on sessions and providing feedback, and assisting with diagnostics and treatment planning.  Managed team caseloads, tracking of service hours, and serving as liaison between the mental health team and the school administration.  Led peer consultation group on a weekly basis for the entire school clinical team.  I worked with a culturally diverse student body, parents, faculty, and staff. I provided ongoing weekly psychodynamically oriented therapy with behavioral interventions for an average caseload of 12-15 of the most severely disturbed children and adolescents.  I have experience working with children and adolescents who struggle with ADHD, spectrum disorders, behavioral, and socialization issues.  I facilitated multiple groups including: social skills, friendship building, anti-bullying, anti-gang, substance abuse, and frustration tolerance groups.  Provided teacher and staff coaching, which involved in-vivo behavioral interventions, and provided crisis intervention for students and families in need.  I also co-facilitated weekly parenting groups for the greater parenting body on the district.

I began my clinical training in 2006 with Walden House, Inc. based out of San Francisco, CA.  There I worked with a culturally diverse population within the adult residential component of the program and specialized in working with dually diagnosed individuals.  Diagnoses included: substance abuse coupled with depression, anxiety, PTSD, borderline and histrionic personality disorders, and psychosis.  I performed agency intakes and made recommendations for individual or group oriented therapies.  I co-facilitated various social skills and psychoeducational groups such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Men’s Seeking Safety, Grief and Loss, Relapse Prevention, Mindfulness and Meditation practice.