About Me
My work within the field of mental health began when I was 18 years-old and I obtained a position as a care provider within a residential facility for severely emotionally disturbed youth. My role was entry-level and involved ensuring the safety of the children as well as engaging them in self-care activities and fun time. During my employment there I discovered that I wanted to become a therapist. I began intensely pursuing academics in order to obtain my Bachelor of Arts degree. At California State University Long Beach I was actively involved in the psychology department including helping with events and working closely with my professors. It was during this time that I volunteered at a large community mental health center in the activities department working with adults diagnosed with schizophrenia. Immediately upon graduation from CSULB I began my graduate degree program at Pepperdine University. The curriculum at Pepperdine afforded me the strong foundation to begin my traineeship at a South Bay substance abuse center. There I provided individual and group therapy to teens and adults. After obtaining my master’s degree from Pepperdine I delved into the non-profit sector for four years working with at-risk youth and underserved populations. In 2014 I decided to go into private practice specializing in adolescents and trauma.
License Information:
Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC 52515
Education:
-Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University, 2010
-Bachelors of Arts Degree in Psychology from California State University Long Beach, 2008
Professional Affiliations:
-California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Training:
-Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) with the Somatic Experiencing International Organization
-Reflective Parenting Training Levels 1 & 2
-Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training
-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Levels 1 & 2
-Attachment Focused EMDR training with Dr. Laurel Parnell