About Me
Credentials
Masters of Social Work, UCLA, 1983
Bachelors in Human Services and the Behavioral Sciences (double major),
University of La Verne, 1981 Summa Cum Laude
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Washington: #LW60243428 since May 2012
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California: #LCS11654 since 1985
Background
I have been a clinical social worker for 35 years, in private practice since 1989, and invested in the field of counseling my whole life. I knew at the age of 16 that I wanted to work with people. I started off as a Peer Counselor in High School – that was in 1976. In college I was as a Crisis Line Listener, an advocate for rape victims, and a counselor at an inpatient psychiatric hospital. After the death of two classmates, I initiated the first ever Suicide Awareness campaign on campus.
My first internship at UCLA was with the San Bernardino County Department of Mental Health. My second year placement turned into a permanent position with the Child Guidance Centers in Orange County California (www.CGCOC.org). During my 9 years at CGCOC I received extensive training working with preschoolers, school aged children, adolescents, parents and families from all walks of life, and eventually became the Program Coordinator and Supervisor of Social Work Interns. I established the first parent education programs for court ordered families in Orange County, provided expert testimony in child pornography and abuse cases, ran support groups for children and teens, and produced videos “What Parents Need to Know about Divorce,” from the voices of their children.
In 1989 I started a Private Practice in Los Alamitos, California, continuing to work with children and families. For several years I led support groups for adolescents and young adults dealing with eating disorders. I also worked with individual adults overcoming depression, anxieties and healing life’s hurts. My practice flourished for 22 years in Los Alamitos. In 2011 my family relocated from California to the state of Washington. I reestablished my practice here in Washington in 2012.
Credentialed Training Programs and Professional Development
Family Therapy Training Program, two semesters at University of California, Irvine
Parent Education Instructor (Adlerian Effective Parenting program)
Treatment for Children of Alcoholics, trained by Claudia Black
Child Sexual Abuse Network, a two year training program
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders, trained by David Burns
Play Therapy with Children, trained by Violet Oaklander
Family Systems Therapy, trained by Carl Whitaker
Mental Health Issues in Young Children
Sand Tray Therapy Training Program
Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Interactive Guided Imagery
Child Custody Mediation
Collaborative Law
EMDR
Continuing Education
Over the years I have completed over 1,500 hours of training and coursework. A few of the seminars I have attended are:
Brief Therapy Solutions Focused Therapy Cognitive/Behavioral Techniques CBT
Ethics Psychotropic medications Anorexia, Bulimia, and Eating Disorders
ADHD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Oppositional Defiance
Learning Disabilities Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorders
Selective Mutism Early development Separation Anxiety and Phobias
Attachment Neurodevelopment "Whole Brain Child" with Daniel Segal
Anger Management Domestic Violence Emotional Regulation of Mood Disorders
Addictions Chemical Dependency Codependency & Boundaries
“Healing the Shame that Binds You,” seminar with John Bradshaw
“Permission to be Precious,” recovery seminar with Pia Mellody
I live in Mill Creek with my husband of 35 years. We have two adult daughters.
In my spare time I enjoy the arts, music, cooking, hiking, travel, and volunteering at animal shelters.
Masters of Social Work, UCLA, 1983
Bachelors in Human Services and the Behavioral Sciences (double major),
University of La Verne, 1981 Summa Cum Laude
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Washington: #LW60243428 since May 2012
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California: #LCS11654 since 1985
Background
I have been a clinical social worker for 35 years, in private practice since 1989, and invested in the field of counseling my whole life. I knew at the age of 16 that I wanted to work with people. I started off as a Peer Counselor in High School – that was in 1976. In college I was as a Crisis Line Listener, an advocate for rape victims, and a counselor at an inpatient psychiatric hospital. After the death of two classmates, I initiated the first ever Suicide Awareness campaign on campus.
My first internship at UCLA was with the San Bernardino County Department of Mental Health. My second year placement turned into a permanent position with the Child Guidance Centers in Orange County California (www.CGCOC.org). During my 9 years at CGCOC I received extensive training working with preschoolers, school aged children, adolescents, parents and families from all walks of life, and eventually became the Program Coordinator and Supervisor of Social Work Interns. I established the first parent education programs for court ordered families in Orange County, provided expert testimony in child pornography and abuse cases, ran support groups for children and teens, and produced videos “What Parents Need to Know about Divorce,” from the voices of their children.
In 1989 I started a Private Practice in Los Alamitos, California, continuing to work with children and families. For several years I led support groups for adolescents and young adults dealing with eating disorders. I also worked with individual adults overcoming depression, anxieties and healing life’s hurts. My practice flourished for 22 years in Los Alamitos. In 2011 my family relocated from California to the state of Washington. I reestablished my practice here in Washington in 2012.
Credentialed Training Programs and Professional Development
Family Therapy Training Program, two semesters at University of California, Irvine
Parent Education Instructor (Adlerian Effective Parenting program)
Treatment for Children of Alcoholics, trained by Claudia Black
Child Sexual Abuse Network, a two year training program
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders, trained by David Burns
Play Therapy with Children, trained by Violet Oaklander
Family Systems Therapy, trained by Carl Whitaker
Mental Health Issues in Young Children
Sand Tray Therapy Training Program
Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Interactive Guided Imagery
Child Custody Mediation
Collaborative Law
EMDR
Continuing Education
Over the years I have completed over 1,500 hours of training and coursework. A few of the seminars I have attended are:
Brief Therapy Solutions Focused Therapy Cognitive/Behavioral Techniques CBT
Ethics Psychotropic medications Anorexia, Bulimia, and Eating Disorders
ADHD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Oppositional Defiance
Learning Disabilities Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorders
Selective Mutism Early development Separation Anxiety and Phobias
Attachment Neurodevelopment "Whole Brain Child" with Daniel Segal
Anger Management Domestic Violence Emotional Regulation of Mood Disorders
Addictions Chemical Dependency Codependency & Boundaries
“Healing the Shame that Binds You,” seminar with John Bradshaw
“Permission to be Precious,” recovery seminar with Pia Mellody
I live in Mill Creek with my husband of 35 years. We have two adult daughters.
In my spare time I enjoy the arts, music, cooking, hiking, travel, and volunteering at animal shelters.