PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
FOUNDER & CEO – PSYCHOLOGY BY DESIGN, INC. (2001 - present)
Developing progressive systems change via multi-agency collaborations at federal, state, and county levels. Promoting clinical best practices and service integration by developing conferences, creating training curriculum, and conducting round-table discussions with community leaders. Dissemination of research findings and evidence-based interventions at local and national conferences, and within academia, as well as with direct line staff at treatment service agencies, domestic and international.
Private Psychotherapy Practice: providing treatment for teens, adults, and geriatric clients
CLINICAL PROFESSOR – FULLER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY (2006-2011)
Clinical supervisor for post-doctoral fellows, interns, and clinical trainees at Fuller Psychological and Family Services
Clinical supervisor for Children of the Night – THRIVE program
TRAINING AND RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR – SHIELDS FOR FAMILIES (2007-2010)
Program development and implementation of inter-agency and national trainings in evidence-based best practices such as: Family-Centered Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, Intensive Case Management, Differential Response for Child Welfare, and SHIELDS-specific treatment models. Ensured provision of innovative, comprehensive wrap-around services for under-served clients and their families, in order to: decrease out-of-home placements; decrease interaction with criminal justice systems; increase sobriety and long term recovery; decrease mental health symptoms; and improve health outcomes. Developed collaborative SCAN Team to review and manage all 30 programs’ inter-agency child abuse reports and high risk family situations. Co-wrote and was awarded $5 Million ACYF grant. Member of Institutional Review Board (IRB). Provided clinical supervision for interns and postdoctoral fellows. Disseminate research outcomes and clinical best practices to local, state, and national service agencies.
DIRECTOR, PROTOTYPES STAR PROJECT (2003-2006)
Oversaw implementation of national demonstration project, the “Strengthening Treatment Access and Retention” cross-site grant funded by SAMHSA and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Apply industrial/organizational process improvement methods (PDSA rapid cycle changes) in order to increase client accessibility to services and client treatment program completion; Reconfigured three large, comprehensive, integrated treatment systems according to Six Sigma principles to achieve these ends. Taught Motivational Enhancement Techniques to treatment providers. Provided clinical supervision to interns and postdoctoral fellows. Disseminate best practices and provide technical assistance to local, state, and national service agencies. Ongoing work (post 2006) includes: member of the planning committee for the national Campaign for Access and Treatment; member of Women’s Treatment workgroup; and participation in the UNITED NATIONS Office on Drugs and Crime’s TreatNet dialogue.
DIRECTOR, PROTOTYPES PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (2006)
Developed continuing education program for licensed mental health and substance abuse professionals
GRANT REVIEWS – CENTER FOR THE APPLICATION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TECHNOLOGIES (2006)
External grant reviewer for the state of Nevada
DIRECTOR, PROTOTYPES SYSTEMS CHANGE CENTER (2000-2004)
Oversaw implementation of 2 national, cross-site SAMHSA research grants: “Women, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Violence Study.”
Chair of cross-site Children’s Intervention Committee. Co-Chair of the cross-site Parenting Committee. Trained staff in new clinical interventions and provided clinical supervision for mental health staff. Ongoing work (post 2004) includes: L.A. County-wide system change and service integration via multi-agency collaboration [DMH, ADPA, DPSS, DCFS, NDDC], developing conferences, creating training curriculum, constructing new forums and conducting round-table discussions with community leaders, and presenting at local and national conferences on clinical, service, and treatment issues related to trauma and co-occurring disorders.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR – GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (2000-2003)
Taught “Introduction to Forensics” to doctoral-level graduate students
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP - CHILDREN’S INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL (1999-2000)
primary focus of clinical work (individual, group, and family therapy sessions) was with victims of familial violence, including: battered spouses, victims of physical and/or sexual abuse, child and teenage witnesses to domestic abuse, witnesses to (or attempted victims of) homicide. Worked with the Los Angeles Police Department providing emergency crisis intervention to victims of assault/violence within the community. Assisted in forensic evaluations (i.e., 730 evaluations for family/dependency court system).
INTERNSHIP - METRPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER, LOS ANGELES (1998-1999) [APA approved]
provided long-term individual therapy, group therapy, and crisis intervention for both male and female inmates, including special needs populations such as the persistently mentally ill, chemically dependent, and HIV+ inmates; conducted competency and insanity evaluations for the federal court system, including administering full test batteries, clinical interviews, collateral contacts, and report writing; worked convergently with psychiatrists in determining psychotropic medication needs for mentally ill inmates; conducted suicide risk assessments for inmate placement on the Special Programs Unit; taught suicide prevention classes for all staff members.
[in addition] - PACIFIC PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES (1998-1999)
worked with sex offenders and their families in both individual and group therapy; administered psychological test batteries; learned plethysmograph and aversion techniques for behavior modification.
INSTRUCTOR – CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES (1997)
Taught “Survey of Psychological Testing” for both undergraduate and Master’s-level students
LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER & OUTPATIENT CHILD PSYCHIATRY CLINIC (1997-1998)
provided individual and family therapy for pediatric oncology & general medical patients; taught psychological testing to psychiatry residents; administered neuropsychological and personality test batteries to patients; provided testing and therapy for children, adolescents, and families on an outpatient basis
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR - CATALINA HOUSE (1996-1997)
oversaw Site Supervisors’ daily running of a transitional living program for emancipated women ages 18-23; made disciplinary decisions about residents; prepared county reports; maintained contact with funding sources, social workers, DCFS, and service contractors
LAC-USC MEDICAL CENTER & METROPOLITAN STATE HOSPITAL (1996-1997)
administered neuropsychological, intelligence, achievement, and personality test batteries to in-patient and out-patient adults, culminating in comprehensive written reports.
CASE MANAGER & THERAPIST - PROJECT IV (1995-1996)
work with individuals age 6 to18 years in Pasadena Unified School District who demonstrated emotional, social, and academic deficits
TEACHING ASSISTANT – GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (1995-1997)
Led 4 labs weekly for 1st year doctoral students for Legal & Ethical Issues class; helped prepare tests; graded coursework
BHC - ALHAMBRA (1995-1996)
co-led behavior management group for pediatrics; led chemical dependency group for adolescents; led reality orientation and symptom management groups for persistently mentally ill adults; completed initial psychosocial assessments; participated in treatment team meetings.
THE SYCAMORES (1994-1995)
provided individual therapy; co-led and developed curriculum for Sexual Abuse Prevention, Self Esteem, and Bereavement groups; on-site research
INFANT EDUCATOR – ADVANCE INFANT DEVELOPMENT (1993-1995)
Worked one-on-one with developmentally delayed toddlers age 9 months to 3 years, facilitating cognitive, language, gross and fine motor skills, social skills, and self-help skills.
SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TRAINEE (GS-5) – SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (1992-1993)
Provided services for geriatric, terminally ill, indigent, migrant, and immigrant populations at the Walla Walla, WA Branch Office