My work history covers a variety of experiences in several areas. For the majority of my 30 year career I have been in private practice. I have counseled my clients in regards to growth, relationship issues such as divorce and domestic violence, I have taught techniques to deal with stress, crisis, and trauma.

I have had a number of other occupations before and after becoming a therapist. While I was at CSUN, I worked part-time as a Sign Language Interpreter. I was not a novice to Sign Language since I had come from a family with a deaf aunt and uncle. While attending classes at the University of Arizona, I also worked part-time in the dormitory as a dorm parent at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind. Immediately after graduating from the U of A, I accepted a teaching assignment at the Marlton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Los Angeles. I taught junior and senior high school students. After this teaching at Marlton School, I was invited to participate in a teaching internship at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, NTID, in Rochester, New York. During the summer program, I taught incoming students new social skills to help prepare them for their college years. A few years later, I accepted a third teaching position as teacher and school counselor in a special education school in Pomona, CA. My self-contained classroom was the only one in the school with deaf and autistic children. I used Sign Language with all my students. As a school counselor, my clients were a mix of hearing and hearing impaired students.

I have had several other types of community positions. I operated as a therapist in a group home setting with 18 children between the ages 5 to 17. These children were removed from their homes because they were abandoned, abused, or neglected in some way. As a therapist, I have also managed caseloads in two different psychiatric hospitals and one outpatient program. I also established a new Counseling Center within Planned Parenthood. Under a grant provided by the Helen Keller National Center in New York, I developed and directed services for the Deaf-Blind at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind. This position also incorporated becoming a liaison for Deaf- Blind persons throughout California.

Outside of my therapy practice I am member in the National Disaster Medical System, Mental Health Response Team. I am on active duty which means that I may be called upon to respond to some of our national disasters at the request of the president. Another organization I participate in is the National Care Network; I am called upon to assist in our local community when there are incidents of death, shootings, or other staff or administrative emergencies occurring in the workplace. I have first hand knowledge and experiences working with people during times of extreme crisis, stress, and trauma.

I am also registered with the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). CAMFT is a self-regulating organization that provides support for therapists and general information to the community. I have been a member since 1981.

These experiences that comprise my professional background have taught me how to become an advocate, support person, and responder to the special needs of my clients.