Healing can begin by being a shoulder for someone to lean on and for the person to feel supported when life gets difficult or even if it gets horrific. Over the past 21 years, Wendy has exercised her extensive experience and passion for working with children, youth, adults, couples, and families to help thousands of people heal. Her extensive experience also has allowed her to successfully develop multiple groups and facilitate hundreds of group therapy sessions. Wendy brings a wealth of experience using various modalities of therapy including Brief Solution-Focused Therapy (BSFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and various other family systems therapy (i.e., Structural Family Therapy). Before working as a therapist, Wendy had a passion for working with children, teenagers, and their families, and so she completed a 2-year early childhood development diploma and worked to support families. Little did she know, in her early 20s, that this would begin her journey into becoming the strong therapist she is today. Due to her desire to work with people who were emotionally hurting, Wendy began a masters program, which then led to a doctoral program. While doing a Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy, Wendy developed a domestic violence screening instrument for the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. For her doctoral thesis, Wendy also wrote a book called Development of a Domestic Violence Screening Instrument. This screening Instrument is patented by Wendy in America.
Wendy’s hands-on journey as a therapist began by conducting therapy with underprivileged people who were homeless, as well as working with children and their families who were dealing with abuse and/or neglect. Because she had a desire to obtain a wealth of experience in different areas, Wendy then worked in a psychiatric hospital conducting individual, family, and group therapy for children and teenagers who were inpatient or outpatient, helping those struggling with various mental health issues such as suicide, anxiety, depression, self harm, and family issues. For 12 years Wendy grew into a stronger therapist while working in the Superior Court of California as a court mediator, helping parents, relatives, children, and teenagers deal with custody and visitation court battles. Her skills continued to grow as she began to facilitate 52-week domestic violence and anger management classes that were parole and probation court ordered. She also facilitated parenting, co-parenting, self-esteem, and various other groups.
Wendy then decided to change her journey and became a Caseworker with Children and Family Services, helping to support families dealing with abuse and/or neglect issues. Wendy was blessed to support struggling children, teenagers, and families grow into emotionally healthy and healed role models in society. Her lesser-used skills were strengthened through working in an Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program. he conducted individual and family therapy sessions and facilitated and developed psychoeducational and support groups to help individuals, families and loved ones, who were affected by psychosis. She helped these families understand what psychosis was and feel supported and empowered in their journey. For multiple years Wendy has also conducted therapy through various Employee Assistant Programs (EAP), helping employees and their families dealing with issues such as bullying/harassment, the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety, depression, stress, grief and loss, family issues, children/teenager issues, alongside other issues.
Wendy is a Christian counselor who can incorporate spiritual principles into mental health treatment if requested. In addition, Wendy and her dog, Bronco, are certified to do Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). The main goal of AAT is to have improved client emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. Bronco and Wendy have worked together in more than 100 hours of therapy. Bronco is ready and willing to work in sessions with Wendy upon request.