I received my B.S. from Oklahoma State University in 1990. My degree was in Family Relations and Child Development. In 1995, I earned a M.S. in Counseling from California State University, Bakersfield. I was then awarded my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2004 from the California School of Professional Psychology. My doctoral work emphasized children and families; specifically, the parent/child attachment relationship.
I have been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT34634) since January 1998. I am a Registered Play Therapist and Play Therapist Supervisor., which means I have extensive education, training, and experience in incorporating play therapy techniques into my sessions. I am a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and was the Kern County Chapter Vice President from 2008-2010.
In addition to providing therapeutic services, I have extensive training and experience in conducting psychological evaluations and bonding assessments. I have been a featured speaker at numerous local conferences and have almost 10 years of experience teaching undergraduate and graduate level college courses in counseling and psychology. I continually hone my therapeutic skills by attending advanced training and workshops in a variety of areas such as couples counseling, family law, and play therapy.
Feel free to review my Curriculum Vitae.
On a personal note, I am an OC native and have been living in Bakersfield since 1991. My husband and I have 2 young adult sons, a cat, and a Yorkie (who you will likely meet if you come to my office!) I love spending time being active with my family, traveling as much as I can, and cheering on my favorite sports teams (Dodgers, Rams, Thunder, and OSU Cowboys) :)
