The challenging client isn’t going anywhere, and family court can heighten their fears, anger, sadness, resentment, distrust and self-doubt. The question is how you stay effective and steady while you work with them.
In my 40-year career in mental health treatment, I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of people from ages 3 to 85. My experience spans clinics, agencies, schools, juvenile halls, and family law cases. My clients have come from all walks of life and races, from business professionals, highly educated, and high-income earners to those who were undereducated, underemployed, and in struggling socioeconomic groups.
I’ve worked with children and adults with ADHD and neurodivergence, mental illness, and mood disorders, as well as angry teenagers, abused children, adults who were abused as children, and children of alcoholics. One specialty was treating child sex abuse victims and sex offenders known to the victim. But my clients also included those simply looking to improve their lives and relationships, along with a few bikers from motorcycle gangs, the California Highway Patrol, and sheriff’s deputies. I’m proud to say that angry teens, bikers, sheriffs, and highway patrol officers have referred me to their friends and co-workers.
During my tenure, I collaborated with many attorneys in family and criminal court and was qualified an expert witness in Nevada County family and criminal Court. I also certified and supervised foster parents and was a foster parent to teen girls.
In 2000, I opened a counseling agency in Northern California, where I served as clinical director and therapist until my retirement in 2017. Over sixteen years, I authored grants and proposals that secured $1.5 million in federal grants from the California Emergency Management Agency and local contracts.
In 2018, I moved to Italy, where I bought a small olive farm. Now, I’m pursuing new adventures, including writing essays and editorials, selling my olive oil, and coaching individuals and attorneys to help them identify and achieve their goals and/or work with challenging clients.
Experience
Northern California Abuse Treatment / Founder, Executive Clinical Director January 2000 to January 2017
- Provided individual, family, couples, and group therapy, ages 3 to 85.
- Developed parenting skills training and education programs tailored to blended, foster, and adoptive families.
- Conducted presentations on child sexual abuse awareness and prevention, and developed a training seminar for law enforcement, attorneys, and judges on sex offenders.
- Specialized in treating a range of mental health issues, including anxiety and mood disorders, personality conditions, learning disorders, ADHD, trauma, and grief.
- Supervised trainees and interns.
- Treated juvenile and adult sex offenders.
- Provided mental health, psychosocial, sex abuse, and family assessments.
- Developed and managed county contracts, working with juveniles in juvenile hall, on probation, and other wraparound programs.
- Operated a CHAT (child abuse treatment) program with funding through a federal VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) grant, specifically for treating child victims of crime and abuse.
- Secured $1.5 million in federal grants from the California Emergency Management Agency and local contracts. Sole author of all grants and proposals.
- Qualified as an expert witness in family and criminal court, Nevada County, CA.
1982 to 2000
- Cross Creek Family Counseling, Sacramento, California: Outpatient counseling center treating child abuse, sex abuse, and families in CPS and foster care.
- A.F.T.E.R. Counseling Center, Sacramento, California: Outpatient counseling center working with low-income individuals and families.
- Martin’s Achievement Place Program, Sacramento, California: Therapist/Social Worker in a residential treatment program for felony juvenile sex offenders.
- Sarah’s Maternity Home, Sebastopol, California: Program/Clinical Director of a residential treatment program for delinquent and severely emotionally disturbed (SED) pregnant teens and teen mothers.
- Hope House Inc., Albany, New York: Therapist/Social Worker, providing in-home counseling for at-risk adolescents and their families.
- True To Life Counseling, Sebastopol, California: Therapist/Social Worker in a residential treatment program for juvenile dependents and wards of the court. I also taught communication skills and provided counseling at a nonpublic school for SED teenagers and co-developed a Foster Family Agency.
- Community Support Network: During my internship through Sonoma State University, I provided counseling at a semi-independent living program for adults with schizophrenia.
Education
- Sonoma State University: Master of Arts Degree, Psychology
- California State University, Chico: Bachelor of Arts Degree, Psychology
- Sacramento City College: Associate of Arts, Early Childhood Education/Development
License/Certification
- Marriage, Family, Child Therapist (LMFT): CA. Lic. No. MT 22869 (1987 to 2021)
- Continuing Education Provider: Board of Behavioral Science (2003 to 2006)
- 60 Hours Communication Skills
Association Memberships & Board Positions
- California Coalition on Sexual Offending (CCOSO): Board Officer and Corresponding Secretary (2000 to 2003)
- Association of the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA): Clinical Member (2000 to 2005)