Education & Training

“Work makes life sweet.”
— Granny Dora

This is not a comprehensive list of my education and training, but offers education and training most relevant and supportive along my path

  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, with an emphasis in Postmodernism, Postcolonialism and & Feminism studies, Sonoma State University, graduated with distinctions in 2001 Sonoma County, California

  • Tai Chi/ Chi-Gung study & practice; joyful discipline with Dr. Katy Ha* and community, Sonoma State University, CA 1995-1999

  • Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Antioch University, graduated in 2005 Santa Barbara, California

  • Providing counseling services since 2004 (20+ years direct experience in the field).

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    Areas of work include:

  • Intensive in-patient & outpatient settings with dual-diagnosis adolescents (substance abuse/ dependence and mood “disorders”).

  • Care Manager for LA’s largest public health plan; serving the highest risk, dual covered Medicaid & Medicare members on the streets, in hospitals and where ever we could meet- to coordinate preventative care and other essential health services.

  • non-profit settings serving LA and Ventura county’s most marginalized communities with high quality, low cost mental health services.

  • CA LMFT License #50162, licensed in 2011

  • OR LMFT License #T1301, licensed in 2017

  • Oregon Board Approved Clinical Supervisor, 2018

  • Ventura County Rainbow Alliance - counseling and HIV/AIDS services for LGBTQIA+ from 2004-2005

  • The Relational Center, studies in Relational Gestalt, anti-oppressive models of care, community & relational culture building, from 2008-2011; Los Angeles, CA

  • Ongoing studies (since 2008) with Dan Siegel and The Mindsight Institute

  • Reiki Master Practitioner Training (Usui Reiki attuned), 2018-2019 with Meghan Quinn of New Aeon Healing Arts; Eugene, OR

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) trained and certified, 2018; Portland, OR

  • Complex Trauma Training with Janina Fisher, 2019

  • Attachment Focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma with Laurel Parnell, 2020

  • Relational Uprising, 2020

  • IFS workshops & trainings 2021-ongoing:

    • Internal Family Systems: A Step-by-Step Guide Through Clinical Applications of the IFS Model 

    • Dick Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems Master Class: Experience IFS in Action with Complex Trauma and PTSD

    • The Treatment of Trauma and the IFS Model: Dr. Richard Schwartz and Dr. Jeanne Catanzaro in Portland, OR (2025)

  • Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism with Resmaa Menakem & Carlin Quinn, 2021- ongoing

  • Unwinding the Trauma-Conflict Web: Loving Justice Skills for Transforming Culture with Kai Cheng Thom, Fall- Winter 2022

  • Leadership coaching & Relational Culture building with Mark Fairfield, 2020- current

*rest in eternal peace & joy (I know you will), Dr. Katy Ha. As a freshman in college, you were the first person to teach me how to recognize, curiously witness and be kind towards my emotions. You taught me the gift of balancing discipline, fun and emotional expression while being witnessed & having purpose inside of community. Every morning you provided a safe and sacred space for us young, lost souls to gather and be present with the complexity of life! You taught me the essential importance of silence & listening. You taught me the power of humor and the spiritual wisdom of not taking oneself too seriously. You created a warm, joyful, “home” where everyone belonged- and did so with ease & grace- inside of a university gymnasium!

You were a true blessing to so many and I bow my head in respect.