Selected Professional Experience

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Adjunct Faculty

February 2022 - Current

University of San Diego, School of Leadership and Education Sciences

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• Instructor for COUN 550 Couples and Sexuality Spring 2022 course.

• Responsible for teaching the physiological, psychological and social-cultural variables associated with sexual behavior, gender identity, psychosexual dysfunction, family dynamics and interpersonal trauma.

• Teaching goals focused on increasing

  • students' knowledge base of counseling practices related to human sexuality

  • students' awareness of one's personal perceptions, attitudes and affect associated with sexuality issues

  • students' skills in assessment and intervention of sexual concerns

  • students' application of marital and familial counseling techniques &

  • specialized focus in assessment of spousal and partner abuse, intervention strategies and same-gender abuse dynamics

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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 

January 2017 - Current

Pacific DBT

                                                                               

• Currently providing DBT services and evidence based practices for depression, anxiety disorders, BPD, and bipolar disorder, via telehealth 

• Established and offered the only comprehensive DBT program for adults in Sonoma County

• Active member on Pacific DBT treatment team. Responsible for: leading mindfulness practices, triaging weekly team meetings, formulating case conceptualizations, providing constructive feedback and conducting psychoeducational presentations on topics relevant to working with our client's symptomology and diagnoses

• Utilize phone-based skills coaching in times of mental health crises and escalation of symptoms with goal of preventing non suicidal self-injury, suicide attempts and blocking target behaviors

• Provide thorough assessment, treatment planning and discharge planning, utilizing collaborative care with auxiliary providers relevant to patient care 

• Conduct weekly DBT Skills Groups, following Marsha Linehan's skills training manual structure. Lecturing on Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness

• Family Connections Leader for NEABPD, using a web based platform to provide a 12 week psychoeducational/skills based course for family members or loved one's of someone with BPD or emotion dysregulation disorders, in the US and EU. Promoting skills, individual resiliency and competency in managing BPD within the family system. 

• Responsible for organizing and managing administrative tasks related to private practice activities including: billing, establishing single case agreements with insurance providers, maintaining and storing treatment notes and client information in HIPPA compliant fashion

• Member of Northern California Cognitive Behavioral Therapists and California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists

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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 

December 2016 - October 2018

Ginger.io

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• Provide HIPPA compliant, web-based, brief therapy utilizing: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy strategies for clients using the Ginger.io app for mental health services

• Collaborate with providers through the app and utilize software data to inform treatment

• Member of hiring and on-boarding team: Responsible for conducting behavioral style interviews to mental health clinicians for potential new hires

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Marriage and Family Therapist Intern

November 2013 - December 2016

Dialectical Behavior Center of San Diego

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• Completed 3000+ supervised, clinical hours working with individuals, couples and families

• Provided comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for those struggling with challenging emotional and behavioral issues, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, chronic depression, self-injurious behaviors, suicidality, anxiety disorders, PTSD and shame 

• Facilitated two Adult and Multi-Family DBT skills training groups involving: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness and Walking the Middle Path

• Actively participated in weekly multi-disciplinary treatment team meetings aimed at providing support for therapists to ensure adherence to the DBT model and other evidenced based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 

• Trained in utilizing bio-feedback as ancillary treatment for clients wanting to strengthen their ability to self-regulate and smooth their transitions between parasympathetic and sympathetic states through breathe work

• Co-led psychoeducational and skills based workshops for spouses and family members of people with emotion regulation disorders

• Led training at CSU-San Marcos and co-lead training at Balboa Naval Hospital to psychology students and practitioners at each institution, on DBT foundations, case formulation and working with emotion dysregulation based disorders

• Managed full time case load of 25+ clients consisting of adults, adolescents, families and couples

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Per Diem Therapist, Marriage and Family Therapist Intern

January 2015 - November 2016

Sharp Mesa Vista

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• Therapist for a variety of Intensive Outpatient Programs including: Chronic Pain, Dual Diagnoses, Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse

• Part-time staff therapist for the Senior Intensive Outpatient Program, responsible for overseeing care of clients managing depression, anxiety disorders, life transitions, grief/loss and issues related to aging

• Facilitated CBT, DBT, and ACT skills based groups to patients in a variety of settings

• Developed curriculum and taught psychoeducational lecture series to patients and family members of patients currently enrolled at SMV programs 

• Utilized Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction techniques and interventions to service patients

• Participated in multi-disciplinary treatment teams at San Diego County's largest, privately owned psychiatric hospital

• Assisted patients in discharge and relapse prevention planning at time of program completion

• Proficient in Cerner

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Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee

August 2012 - August 2014

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, Senior Intensive Outpatient Program, San Diego, CA

Dialectical Behavior Center of San Diego, Scripps Ranch, CA

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• Completed 750 clinical hours working with older adults in the context of skills groups, individual sessions, family sessions and couples therapy

• Received supervision on clinical hours completed working with older adults with a variety of presenting problems including: anxiety disorders, major depression, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, self injurious behavior, family life cycle transitions, pseudo-dementia and grief and loss

• Trained on providing thorough assessment and evaluations, including the use of MoCA and MMSE, client based advocacy and coordinating care with physicians and other treatment providers

• Lead psycho-educational lectures to older adults on issues related to mental health ​and wellness

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• Received supervision focused on completing thorough assessments using the SCID and providing evidenced based practices for treating shame, trauma, depression, anxiety, suicidality and non suicidal self-injurious behaviors

• Active member of comprehensive, multidisciplinary, DBT treatment team

• Developed and implemented skills based curriculum for a 24 week, parent training program

• Co-facilitated DBT skills training groups for Adults and Adolescents

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Professional Activities

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• Family Connections Leader teaching 12 week online skills based class for US, UK & EU family members through NEA BPD | 2022, 2019, 2018

• Led training for psychology and post-doc students at Cal State University San Marcus | DBT foundations and clinical applications | 2 Day Training | 2016

• Co-Led training at Balboa Naval Hospital for staff and faculty | DBT for Borderline Personality Disorder| 2015 

• Co-Presenter at Aurora Behavioral Health's Lecture Series | DBT Strategies and Implementation | 2015 

• Lead workshop for BPD Global | DBT skills for families | 2014

             

Continuing Education

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• Understanding and Treating Moral Injury: Melanie Harned | DBT PE Webinar Series 2022

• OCD A to Z: Diagnosis, Assessment and Treatment of OCD: Jonathan Abramowitz | Compass Training Institute 2022

• Understanding and Treating Trauma Invalidation: Melanie Harned | DBT PE Webinar Series 2022

• ACT for trauma: Russ Harris | Psychwire 2021

• Finding Freedom through Loss: Oren Jay Sofer | Online Spirit Rock Retreat 2020

• Cultivating Your Expert Mind: Discussions with DBT Experts | Practice Ground Series 2019

• The Neurodharma of Love: Rick Hanson | Woodacre 2019

• The Essence of Buddhist Psychology: Jack Kornfield | Spirit Rock 2018

• Skills for Psychological Recovery | Sonoma County 2018

• The Art of Surrender: Christiane Wolf | Woodacre 2018

• ISITDBT & ABCT Conference | San Diego 2017

• NEABPD: Family Connections Training | Walnut Creek 2017

• Foundations of Exposure Therapies | Behavioral Tech 2016

• "The Gottman Summit" Emotion, Trauma and DBT | Integrating Research and Interventions | Seattle 2015

• DBT Intensive Foundational 5 Day Training | Behavioral Tech | New York 2014

• Working with Couples, Parents and Families in Distress: Alan Fruzzetti | Behavioral Tech | Seattle 2014

• Emotionally Focused Therapy in Action: Sue Johnson | San Diego 2014 

• Gulbenkian Global Mental Health Forum | Lisbon 2013

• West Coast Geriatric Psychiatry Conference | San Diego 2013

• Bridging the Couple Chasm: Gottman's Level One Training | San Diego 2012