WELCOME, & THANK YOU FOR VISITING!
I am committed to addressing your individualized needs, by ...
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Participating in comprehensive intake/consultation services,
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Ensuring a positive therapy and assessment experience,
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Providing all-inclusive and competitively priced education and training packages, and
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Offering quality ongoing and follow-up care
My educational background is as follows:
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Ph.D., School Psychology, University of Houston (APA-Accredited) - August 2009
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Graduated Magna Cum Laude
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Recipient of the Texas Association of School Psychologists (TASP) “Outstanding Graduate Student (Doctoral Level)” Award (October 2007)
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M.A., Counseling Psychology, Houston Baptist University - May 2001
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Graduated Magna Cum Laude
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Recipient of Houston Baptist University’s “Outstanding Student in Graduate Psychology” Award (April 2001)
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Recipient of Houston Baptist University’s “Distinguished Academic Achievement” Award (April 2001)
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B.A., Psychology, Baylor University - December 1996
Prior to moving to California in 2008, I worked as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology in a Texas school district, providing consultation, assessment, and counseling services to children and adolescents within a school setting. I was also employed as an Educational Counselor-Liaison at top-ranked The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where I provided consultative services, as well as therapy, to children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with cancer, as well as their families. Finally, I provided home-based therapeutic services to children with developmental disabilities and their families through Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) of Harris County.
In June 2009, I completed a year-long APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship in Pediatric Psychology at top-ranked Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) prior to obtaining my Ph.D. in School Psychology. As an intern, I was the recipient of CHLA's USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities “Clinical Excellence” Award. In September 2011, I completed a two-year APA-accredited post-doctoral fellowship at CHLA in Pediatric Psychology, specializing in meeting the therapy, assessment, and consultation needs for children, adolescents, and young adults with developmental disabilities and/or chronic health conditions, as well as their families. In this capacity, I regularly consulted with local school districts and participated in IEP meetings to assist the children and adolescents that I served. Further, I also collaborated regularly with interdisciplinary teams and engaged in research in the areas of pediatric cancer and pediatric end-of-life care. Taken together, my unique array of professional experiences, coupled with exposure to a variety of settings, makes me well-qualified to interact with you, your child/adolescent, your family, or your organization.
My current activities include doctoral-level teaching/advising/mentoring, participation in community-based research, engagement in private practice, consultation with community agencies, and local, national, and international training in the areas of child and adult health, child trauma, end-of-life concerns, spirituality, clinician self-care, and grief and loss. My professional acumen affords me opportunities to serve as a journal editor for a child-focused, peer-reviewed, journal, as well as actively serve on committees within the American Psychological Association (APA). I also serve as a regional advisory board member for Comfort Zone Camp (a children's bereavement camp), as well as the Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome Association. Finally, I enjoy community volunteerism at Comfort Zone Camp, The Painted Turtle (a camp dedicated to children with chronic health conditions), Ronald McDonald House (a community organization that serves children and families coping with health issues), and my local church.
I sincerely welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver the best, high-quality services to you, your child/adolescent, your family, or your organization!