ABOUT

MY BACKGROUND:

I am a board certified art therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in San Juan Capistrano.

I TEACH: Faculty for nearly a decade at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and current core instructor for UCLArts & Healing, I have been an invited workshop and keynote speaker at numerous venues including universities, major hospitals, conferences, and local groups and businesses. I currently serve as the Admissions Consultant for the Loyola Marymount University department of Marriage and Family Therapy.

I AM AN EXPERT FOR MEDIA OUTLETS: I have contributed to over 100 media outlets including: PBS, Lifehacker, Cosmo, Elle, USA Today, US News and World Report, Women’s World Magazine, Boston Globe, She Knows Parenting, UCLA’s Healthy Years, EHow Family, and more. I also appear as a parenting expert on KidsInTheHouse dot com.  I am a media ambassador for the American Art Therapy Association and an expert for the Women’a Media Center.

I AM AN EXPERT CONSULTANT FOR MY PROFESSION’S GOVERNING BOARD: I consult for the Board of Behavioral Sciences on ethics and standard of care in disciplinary cases and complaints brought against therapists.

I WRITE: My award-winning book, The Innovative Parent: Raising Connected, Happy, Successful Kids through Art is available through all major distributors. I have also written articles for Parenting OC, LifeSpan Learning, Special Education Advisor, Foundation for Art and Healing, the Journal of Clinical Art Therapy, and more.

I SUPERVISE, CONSULT, and enjoy new challenges that come my way: I provide supervision for interns and serve on the advisory boards for UCLArts & Healing and The Foundation for Art and Healing. I also consult with agencies looking to enhance or build comprehensive therapeutic programs.  In collaborative law cases, I have served as a child specialist and communications expert.

I HAVE UNIQUE SPECIALTY IN AUTISM, LEARNING DIFFERENCES, ADHD, MISOPHONIA, and more: I was formerly clinical director at a widely respected Los Angeles non-profit agency, The Help Group, where I worked with children and teens challenged by Autism, ADHD, and learning differences for nearly ten years.  I have worked with teen and adult clients with misophonia.

I AM A MOTHER: of three!

I AM INVOLVED: I am a former Speaker to the Assembly of Chapters and Director on the Board of Directors of the American Art Therapy Association.  I am a past president of the Southern California Art Therapy Association and have been honored with their Honorary Life Membership Award and Outstanding Service Award.

I AM A LIFE-TIME LEARNER:

I hold specialized training in:

• EMDR (from the EMDR Institute)
• Art Therapy (Board Certified by the Art Therapy Credentialing Board)
• Trauma Resilience Model 
• The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Certified Practicioner & SSP Remote Delivery (Certified SSP provider by Unyte and Integrated Listening Systems)
• Behavioral Intervention (certified Behavioral Intervention Case Manager)
• Disaster Mental Health (from the American Red Cross)
• Collaborative Family Law (from the Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association)
• Gottman Couples Therapy
• Mindful Based Stress Reduction
• Mindful Self Compassion