Biographical Info:

As a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist since 1991, I have had the privilege to come alongside my clients in their life challenges and help them grow, heal and move forward in healthier ways. In becoming who we are today, we all have faced difficulties and obstacles because life is hard! Many of us discover in time that we have carried wounds from our past that have caused us to develop unhealthy ways of coping with our pain. These can show up in symptoms like depression, anger, anxiety disorders, addictions, and other compulsive behaviors. The good news is that we can learn to reduce and overcome these symptoms through proven successful approaches based in the latest advances in neuroscience and human development (attachment theory). I enjoy working with both individuals and couples, and love focusing on relationships (from dating through empty nesters and beyond). For couples with marital issues and those thinking about getting married, I am a certified instructor for PREPARE/ENRICH, which is a program used for premarital counseling, marriage counseling and marriage enrichment. The program includes a comprehensive online couple assessment along with feedback using skills-building exercises. I am also trained in the evidence-based Gottman method for marital counseling and improving relationship and communication skills which has been very successful for thousands of couples. My areas of specialty are trauma recovery and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), including events involving death, assault, deployment, and accidents. I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and have completed training approved by the EMDR International Association. EMDR is a very effective method for healing traumas of any kind and is also used with correcting negative beliefs (lies) about ourselves that have hindered us from living fulfilled lives. It is wonderful to see concrete results and relief for many of my clients almost immediately. For more information, I encourage you to visit the EMDRIA website at http://www.emdria.org and http://www.emdrinaction.com. My counseling style is real, interactive, strong and grace-giving, sharing who I am with clients appropriately. I use an integrative approach, bringing both my clinical training and seminary training into my therapy, though anyone not seeking this approach will receive my utmost respect and sensitivity to their world view. In addition to my practice, I serve as the Clinical Supervisor at Community Counseling Associates, Former Adjunct Faculty at Western Seminary, and on the Board of Directors for Mission of Grace Foundation. Professional Experience Licensed Psychotherapist in full time private practice since 1992 Supervisor of MFT interns & trainees since 1993 Adjunct Faculty, Western Seminary, 2009 – 2014 Seminar & Workshop Leader with special interest in Developmental and Recovery Issues, Visioning and Defining Your Mission, Practical Faith Specialty Areas Relationship Building, Couples Counseling Recovery & Trauma Issues Stress Reduction Counseling from a Christian World View Training CRM Basic Training EMDR Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Specialties:

Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Parenting, PTSD, Relationships, Stress, Trauma

CRM combines everything I know to be true about real healing all in one place. I understand the importance of neuroscience and somatic experience in relation to deep, true transformation, and CRM leaves no stone unturned for the purpose of pursuing true inner peace and contentment.

After completing CRM’s Advanced Core Self Training, it’s become clear that this is the correct path for me to pursue professionally. In addition, I have a BA in Psych and BA in Health Physical Education as well as an MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psych. Maintaining a personal trainer certification since 2001, I also stay up on current approaches to health and wellness. I have a little fun reporting on a weekly radio show out of Ventura called Girls On the Air, KVTA 1590AM Saturdays at 11! Feel free to learn more about my professional background at http://chakrastrength.com/about/our-founder/ or give me a call 805-628-2686. I offer private sessions in my home or via ZOOM.

Thank you to Lisa Schwarz for doing the work to bring CRM to us all.

Biography

I have had the privilege to work directly with Lisa on many occasions. Her mentorship has been invaluable and I have been a trainer in training for about one year. I have been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California since 2000. I specialize in moving clients through attachment disruptions, complex and acute trauma resolution, complex PTSD, PTSD, severe anxiety, addictions, depression, adoption issues, grief and loss.

I have been privileged to work with Veterans helping them move toward healing their brains and enabling them to move forward in their lives with more joy, compassion and love toward themselves and other. I am currently working part time as an independent contractor at Reconnect Intensive Outpatient Program in Pacific Palisades, California as a Trauma Specialist.

My goal is to move clients towards transformation and healing with a deep personal connection to mind, body and spirit, through greater self awareness, self compassion and personal empowerment. The CRM creates the conditions to process more rapidly and completely with greater ease and comfort to the suffering client. Ultimately, giving the client the ability to repair attachment issues with self and regulate their own bodies and attune to themselves and meet their own needs and to develop healthier relationships with others.

Specialties

Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Grief, OCD, PTSD, Relationships, Stress, Trauma