Curriculum Vita
In limited private practice in San Diego.
Education
Masters in Counseling Psychology, Antioch University Graduate Pgm., Los Angeles. Degree completed at National University, San Diego, 1999.
BA from Antioch University, Los Angeles.
Certifications in California Law and Ethics, stepparenting, domestic violence, treating trauma, PTSD, dealing with grief, personality disorders, NIH training Cannabis and Mental Health Therapy. Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy®
B.A. in Liberal Arts with Major in Psychology, Antioch University, Los Angeles, 1995
Clinical & Counseling Experience
In private practice as a licensed psychotherapist in La Jolla, CA. I work primarily with individuals and couples, specializing in relationship issues, PTSD, recovery from high-demand groups, stepfamily dynamics, depression, and anxiety.
Completed 30-hour training to become an approved clinical supervisor through AAMFT.
2017 – Co-wrote and Directed musical “The Geeze & Me” – music and lyrics by Hedges Capers. Mounted in downtown San Diego.
2003 – 2007 - Mattersight Corporation (now NICE)
Senior Consultant with with eLoyalty (now NICE), a tech consulting firm in Chicago. I am a SME (Subject Matter Expert) in PCM (Process Communication Model.) I offer individual coaching in the model. Worked on-site at Merrill Lynch, Great West, United HealthCare, Monsanto, Vodafone Dublin. Domestically and abroad.
Psychological test scorer (Thematic Apperception Tests) for Mattersight Corporation, Chicago.
Previous Positions – 1999
I was employed at the YWCA Domestic Violence Counseling Center in San Diego. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals, couples, and groups for female and male DV perpetrators. The treatment program included psychoeducation and process. It also involved many administrative tasks including interfacing with social services and other community groups.
I worked with Zeiders Enterprises, Inc., as a clinical counselor at the Navy Fleet and Family Support Center at North Island, Coronado for 3 years.
- Caseload of about 30. Managed a variety of cases including stepfamily dynamics, bereavement, rape, domestic violence, loss, anxiety and issues dealing with children. The facility offers brief solution-focused psychotherapy, usually consisting of 10 – 12 sessions, but extending to 24 in some cases.
- Adjustment disorders, stepfamily issues and V-codes, depression, anxiety. Additionally, coached on transition issues in the military. Taught a relationship class to individuals and couples. I left this position due to increased work in the corporate arena.
In clinical private practice with Caroline Stewart and Assoc., LCSW 14173, in Mission Hills, CA., where I worked with couples, individuals, and families for three years.
Trained in CISD (Crisis Incident Stress Debriefing.) Naval Air Station North Island
1998
Volunteer at Children of the Night, Los Angeles, a facility for run-a-way teens funded by Bette Midler, running improvisational/psychodrama groups. Worked with adolescents in crisis.
1997
American Red Cross caseworker, Los Angeles, in Emergency Services. Left position due to relocation to San Diego.
Consulting Experience
Senior consultant and Subject Matter Expert with eLoyalty Corporation (Mattersight acquired by NICE - behavioral and cloud analytics innovators) for five years as coach and trainer in various companies both domestically and overseas, including Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo, Great West, United Healthcare and Vodafone, the largest European mobile communication corporation.
I have worked as a trainer/coach with Spencer/Shenk/Capers and Associates, a consulting firm in Los Angeles. I taught Process Communication Model as well as individual coaching in the model. Additionally, I provide seminars, training clinicians in Process Therapy Model.
1995
Conferences: wrote and presented paper on Justice theory “The Application of Rawlsian Theory to Psychotherapy” at Fordham University, for the Journal of Moral Education. Invited to present at Harvard Medical School Conference. With Dr. Al Erdynast.
Honors and Awards
Commencement Speaker - Antioch University Los Angeles, 1996
Emcee - National Charity League event, San Diego. 2010.
Teaching - talks to interns about having a career as a psychotherapist.
Instructor - taught professional acting class for the camera at Actors Workshop Studio in San Diego.
Clinical Orientation
My orientation is primarily Object Relations, utilizing Cognitive-Behavioral, Gestalt, and emotionally-focused techniques. My preference is to observe the individual client (or couple) and assess what type of intervention will be most effective. I utilize Gottman Theory, cognitive-behavioral techniques as well as assessing dynamics of social support cornerstones in short-term or long-term treatment. I utilize PTM (Process Therapy Model) in working with clients as well as EFT.
Recent Trainings:
- Personality Disorders: Diagnosing, Treatment and Management
- The Polyvagal Theory and PTSD
- Healing Trauma – Daniel Siegel
- Bi-Polar Disorder
- Working with Emotionally Avoidant Couples
- Diagnosing Emotional Disorders in Children
- Partners in Peace
- Sprint CISD Training
- PTSD
- Gestalt Techniques
- Domestic Violence Training Certification
- Certified Trainer in Process Communication Model
- Certified by Stepfamily Association of America
1989 - 1998
- Actress (Nancy Locke Capers) Roles in over 23 films, numerous episodic television roles, commercials and theater in Los Angeles. (Pretty Woman, Dead & Buried, spokeswoman Jane Fonda Work-out Wear commercial, etc.)
- Theater Director. Former Artistic Director of Alliance Theater Company, Los Angeles
- Co-Wrote produced screenplay for independent company, Vantage Films, with Wings Hauser.
- Co-Wrote and sold screenplay to Paramount Pictures which was in development for 2 years ("Holy Toledo") with Jules Lichtman.
- Published magazine author.
- Winner of Best Revival of of 1996 Award for production of “House of Blue Leaves”
- Director of Buried Together at The Improv, Los Angeles
- Director, producer, and co-writer of book for musical "The Geeze & Me" with Hedges Capers, opened in San Diego.
Current Professional memberships in CAMFT, AAMFT, SAG-AFTRA.
Current Journals, Recent Books Read and Videos:
- Into the Darkest Places Marcus West
- No Cheating, No Dying by Elizabeth Weil.
- Mean Mothers: Overcoming the Legacy of Hurt by Peg Streep
- The Emotionally Absent Mother by Jasmin Lee, Cori, MS, LPC
- Directions in Sexual Harassment Law by Catharine MacKinnon and Reva B. Siegel
- Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
- Sexuality Fluidity Understanding Women’s Love and Desire by Lisa M. Diamond
- Better Boundaries by Jan Black & Greg Enns
- Understanding the Borderline Mother Christine Ann Lawson
- The Marriage Clinic by John Gottman
- Fighting for Your Marriage Videos – The PREP Approach
- How to Recognize Emotional Unavailabilty and Make Healthier Relationship Choices by Bryn Collins
- Cultic Studies Review Journal
- The Mastery of Therapy by Charles Frasier
- Emotional Vampires by Albert J. Bernstein
- The Ways We Love by Sheila Sharp
- Family Networker Magazine
- Psychology Today
- CAMFT Journal
- California Therapist
- Journal of Family Violence
- American Psychologist Journal
References: Marcia Schatz, MFCC, Navy Fleet & Family Supp Cntr. 619 545-6071
Caroline Stewart, LCSW, Mission Hills, CA 619 491-0080
Dr. Albert Erdynast, Antioch Univ., Los Angeles 310 578-1080