education and experience

I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Davis, California (PSY 21603). Since 2009, I have worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Currently, I monitor suicide prevention programs and support suicide prevention efforts at 9 prisons in the Northern California Region. During my career with the department, I have coordinated suicide prevention programs in a 400-bed inpatient psychiatric facility and in an outpatient settings, supervised inpatient and outpatient programs, delivered direct services, provided consultation on complex cases, and trained staff in suicide risk assessment and intervention.

I have a part-time practice where I provide individual psychotherapy for adults. On topics related to suicide, I have given presentations designed for mental health professionals, delivered customized training for mental health agencies, and published peer-reviewed articles. I have also served as an expert witness in cases of correctional suicide.

I earned my doctorate in clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University (San Diego), one of the first free-standing schools of professional psychology in the nation. I completed a two-year postdoc in the Co-occurring Disorders Program at the Gifford Clinic, an outpatient mental health service administered by the UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry. Soon after, I was a lecturer at Alliant International University where I taught classes in introductory clinical psychology, attachment, ethics, and chemical dependency. In 2009, I co-edited the book Attachment Theory and Research in Clinical Work with Adults with Ety Berant. I have written other clinical articles, most often on topics related to suicide.

I am a member of the Sacramento Valley Psychological Association and the American Association of Suicidology.  I am a Certified Correctional Health Professional, a designation given by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.