Dynamic licensed clinical psychologist with more than twenty-five years of success as a clinician working with children, adults, couples and families. Comprehensive background in forensics including all facets of adoption, child abuse, attachment disruption, dually diagnosed and the severely mentally ill. Thorough knowledge of the dependency court system.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Forensic Psychologist
Encino, CA. 05/00 – present

• Expert witness for defense in Capitol Murder cases- Juvenile and Adult Adoptee Parricide and Homicide cases.
• Competency Evaluations for Birthmothers

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Private Practice Encino, CA. 09/95 – present

• Specializing in the needs of children, families, individuals and couples whose lives have been touched by adoption & foster care. Expert in trauma resolution, attachment disorders, infertility counseling, prospective adoptive parent education and birthparent counseling. Competency evaluations for birthparents.

Consulting Psychologist
Pfusion Corporation Sylmar, CA. 06/95 -10/03

• Provided therapy to severely mentally ill and dually diagnosed adult population in secured psychiatric institutions.

Adoption Liaison
Department of Children and Family Services –Adoption Branch Pasadena, CA. 09/97-05/02

• Prepared adoption studies, court reports and permanency planning for dependent children in the foster care system.

Child Abuse Investigator                                        
Department of Children and Family Services Van Nuys CA.  08/87-09/97

• Investigated reports of child abuse, interface with LAPD & Dependency Court.

Psychological Assistant-Internship
Children’s Institute International LA, CA. 08/85-04/86

• Provided play therapy for severely emotionally disturbed children.

Administrator & Co Founder
Adoption Family Services West Hills, CA. 12/88-12/94

• Program development and administration. Provided counseling, search and reunion services to adoptees, birth parents and adoptive families. Recruit, train and organized staff of independent contractors.

Director
PMS Self- Help Clinic- Studio City & West Hills, CA. 12/84-12/88

• Diagnosis & treatment of PMDD. Served as a Liaison and interfaced with the medical community.

Therapist 
Ingleside Hospital Rosemead, CA. 06/79-03/84

• Provided therapy to a partially hospitalized adult psychiatric population.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology 06/95

California Graduate Institute, Westwood, CA

M.A. Psychology/ Movement Therapy 05/80

Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, CA

B.A. Psychology/Liberal Arts 06/77

California State University Northridge, CA

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Concerned United Birthparents Retreat, Carlsbad, CA – Trauma and Treatment in Adoption 10/17

Vista Del Mar, Los Angeles CA – The Normative Developmental Crisis in Adoptive Families 11/13

Concerned United Birthparents Retreat, Carlsbad, CA – Panel of Adoption Mental Health Providers  10/13

Valley Trauma Center, Van Nuys CA – APSS Training-Healing The Attachment Injured Child   01/13

Westmark School, Tarzana, CA – School Issues for the Adopted Child   2010-2016

American Adoption Congress, Las Vegas, NV – Counter transference for the Adopted Mental Health Professional 2004,

American Adoption Congress, Las Vegas, NV – Support Group for Mental Health Professionals 04/05 and 04/07

Children’s Bureau Foster Family Agency, Los Angeles, CA – Adoptive Parenting for Foster & Adoptive Parents   09/06

Children’s Bureau Foster Family Agency, Los Angeles, CA – Working Therapeutically with Foster & Adoptive Child   09/03

Temple Judea, Tarzana, CA – Parenting Your Adoptive Child   05/01

Ventura College, Ventura, CA – Adoption-The Lifelong Issues   09/97

University of California, Los Angeles, CA – Adoption- The Lifelong Issues   06/87

Moorpark College, Moorpark, CA-Adoption – The Lifelong Issues   09/86-09/87

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Laurel Parnell PhD.  05/10 through 04/12
• Collaborative Couples Therapy Intensive, Dan Wile, PhD.  05-01 through 05-15/10
• Voice Dialogue, Elaine Rosenson, M.F.T.  09/05 through 10/17
• Accelerated Dynamic Experiential Therapy (ADEP) Intensive, Diane Fosha, PhD.  07-05 through 07-10-07
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Intensive. Sue Johnson, PhD.  06-10 through 06-15-05
• Kinship Alliance Adoption Training, Sharon Kaplan Rosia, MS.  02/04 through 09/04

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

The Neurobiological Effects of Inutero Attachment on the Adopted Individual, Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. Volume 29, Number 4, Summer 2015