Clinical Background
I have been working in the mental health field for 38 years. I have a master's degree in Physiology, and my initial career was in neuroscience research at UCSF. After 13 years, I realized that my heart was drawn more to helping people than doing research, so I got my 2nd master's degree in Clinical Psychology.
After becoming a licensed LMFT, I began providing mental health services to children and families at Napa County Health and Human Services. While there, I became a clinical supervisor and the lead supervisor for Trauma Focused-CBT for Napa County.
After 8 years at the county, I was hired by Napa Valley Unified School District to start up a new mental health program. I co-created this program and trained and supervised psychology graduate students to provide mental health assessments and psychotherapy for K-12 students.
While at NVUSD I became a certified Mindfulness Teacher. I trained K-12 classrooms in the use of mindfulness practices and gave numerous public presentations on the use of mindfulness in a school setting.
In addition to these activities, I also performed IEP assessments and provided direct services to the students with the most intensive needs at NVUSD. I also became a certified suicide prevention trainer. I was deeply involved in creating the district suicide prevention protocol and training staff in suicide assessment and prevention.
I began my private practice part-time in 2010 and have been in full time practice since retiring from the school district in 2020.
Education
2005 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
2000 Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology
San Francisco State University
1991 Master’s degree in Physiology/Neuroscience
University of California at San Francisco
1988 Bachelor’s degree in Physiology (BS)
Bachelor's degree in Psychology (BA)
San Francisco State University
Certifications
QPR Gatekeeper (Question Persuade Refer): Suicide Prevention Provider.
QPR Gatekeeper Trainer: Provided district level trainings to NVUSD mental health staff on suicide prevention. Co-created NVUSD district policy on suicide prevention.
Mindfulness Instructor: Mindful Schools. Provided district level mindfulness training to NVUSD students and staff. Provided training on the application of mindfulness in mental health service delivery, trauma-informed mental health services and social emotional learning.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. California Institute of Mental Health. Provided direct services in TF-CBT to clients at Napa County Child and Family Behavioral Health and Napa Valley Unified School District.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Supervisor. California Institute of Mental Health. Supervised Napa County Child and Family Health clinicians and Aldea clinicians in the use of TF-CBT.
Public Speaking
Mindful Educators Alliance - Co-founder and presenter. Co-leader of daylong Mindfulness Retreats for educators, mental health professionals and community members in Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. 2018 - 2020.
“Mindfulness for Mental Health Professionals.” 3-hour training on the use of mindfulness practices in mental health to the Solano County Office of Education and Solano County Mental Health. 2/6/2019
“Working With Difficult Emotions.” Aldea 3rd Annual Suicide Prevention Conference. 90 minute presentation on the use of mindfulness practices in the treatment of mental health. 9/21/2018.
“Implementing Mindfulness Programs” Northern California Safe and Health Schools Conference. Presentation on the use of mindfulness programs in an educational setting for elementary, middle and high school students. 10/15/2017.