Staff: Interns and Trainees
The Community Healing Centers supervise a staff of Marriage and Family Therapy Interns who offer services on a sliding scale at all three of our locations. Call for information and availability.
415-499-1115.
Interns
Pamela M. Ashkenazy
Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, IMF #57729
Pamela Ashkenazy practices within a Family Systems approach to help clients build rewarding familial relationships. Her training is focused on bereavement and loss. Currently she offers bereavement groups for parents who are challenged with realigning their lives after the death of a child. Pamela works within a client-directed framework, allowing for flexibility in her therapeutic approach, particularly in her work with families of adolescents.
Pamela is realizing her vision of guiding parents out of challenging times and into psychological and emotional unity. Currently she is involved with Trips For Kids, The Youth Leadership Institute, and teen programs focused on addiction in the family. She has been a volunteer with Marin Services for Women. She has completed a training program with Suicide Prevention of Marin County.
Supervised by Amelia Pryor, Ph. D., LMFT #34681
Cathy Della Valle, M.A.
Marriage and Family Therapy Intern, IMF #51673
Specializations: Anxiety & Depression, Postpartum Depression, Grief & Loss, Life Transitions, Parenting
Cathy Della Valle earned her MA in Counseling Psychology in 2000 (with honors). She has worked as a volunteer on the Suicide Prevention Hotline and then as a Grief Counselor at Family Service Agency of Marin. After completion of Graduate School, she worked full time at Managed Health Network and continued to intern with Family Service Agency of Marin. Recently, she has been working for a nurse/psychotherapist learning about hormone imbalance and how it is related to mental health.
Her theoretical approach is rooted in psychodynamic psychology; however, she has always practiced within a Family Systems approach to help clients find strength in their current struggles. Her work is also informed by a Humanistic/ Existential orientation. She works from various theoretical models to match clients’ needs. Having a good fit between therapist and client is essential for any kind of movement and/or growth to take place.
Supervised by Ellen Hammerle, Ph.D., LMFT #32398
Maya Johansson, MA
Marriage and Family Intern, IMF #61313
Maya earned her MA in Intergral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She has experience working with adults, adolescents and couples and specializes in the queer and LGBT community. She provides services in both English and Spanish.
Maya is an AEDP (Accelerated Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy) level one therapist, and practices using an attachment-based model which incorporates relational and somatic techniques as well. This model is very warm and heart-based, and also informed by the latest neuroscience research on how the therapeutic relationship and safety allow for healing. She welcomes anyone who has further questions or may be interested in an initial appointment to call and speak with her directly.
Supervised by Ellen Hammerle, Ph.D., LMFT #32398
Catherine Lucey, MS
Marriage and Family Intern, IMF #49636
www.shinefamilyresources.com
Catherine received a MS in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University and is a certified Gottman Educator. She has over 18 years of experience working with families and children as an educator and a therapist. Her passion for helping individuals through transition began while working for the National Outdoor Leadership School and continued her work as a director and educator for an Environmental Wilderness Program for school children on Oahu, Hawaii. In the Bay Area, Catherine has worked as a parent educator with families of divorce at Kids Turn, counseled students and parents at Kent and Del Mar Middle Schools in Marin, and provided psychotherapy for adolescents, parents, and groups at the Family Service Agency of Marin.
Currently, Catherine facilitates support groups for new moms as well as workshops and counseling for couples seeking to strengthen their partnership in early parenthood. With compassion and understanding, she uses an interactive, support-focused approach to help each client build on their "unique" strengths and skills they need to shine.
Supervised by Ellen Hammerle, Ph.D., LMFT #32398
Charles Murray
Marriage and Family Intern, IMF #55472
Charles has been a registered MFT intern for over two years working in Marin County with a variety of clients including children exposed to domestic violence, and people in different stages of recovery. He utilizes various theoretical approaches based on his clients' needs. His practice evolves in response to the development of the therapeutic relationship with each client.
With children he uses play therapy and sand tray extensively. His approach with adult clients ranges from CBT to Object Relations with an emphasis on understanding a client's history from a holistic approach.
Charles has an MA in Applied Psychology from Golden Gate University, and a BA in Humanities from San Francisco State University. He has over 15 years' experience in project management in the financial services industry, which he uses to help inform therapy with clients who are dealing with career related issues such as layoffs, job changes and career-fulfillment goals.
Supervised by Amelia Pryor, Ph. D., LMFT #34681
Elizabeth Sullivan, MA
Marriage and Family Intern
Elizabeth earned her MA in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She works with individuals, couples, families and kids to heal and transform suffering and to better-understand ourselves.
Elizabeth has also studied Intuitive Listening with Kim Chernin, Ph.D., and sand tray play therapy for children. She consults with the SEIU's Institute for Change, Community Grows, and other social change organizations on leadership and management issues.
Of her practice, she says, "We all feel sad, anxious, depressed and overwhelmed and need help figuring things out sometimes. I work with people who want more meaning in their lives and more freedom for themselves. We will use talk, dreams, stories, and play to work creatively on the project of your life."
Supervised by Ellen Hammerle, Ph.D., LMFT #32398
Dan Scharlack
Marriage and Family Intern, IMF #62827
Dan Scharlack has been doing clinical work for over eight years, and earned his MA in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. He has worked in both community and private settings with people from all walks of life. He's helped couples find more intimacy and love in their relationships, spiritual practitioners to deepen their awareness and embodiment, and people struggling with depression and substance abuse to resolve past traumas and find greater peace.
While Dan uses many different forms of therapy, his primary interest and training is in the body-mind approaches of Somatics and Gestalt. By working deeply with the emotional and sensory aspects of experience, Dan helps people to access their own untapped inner resources for healing and growth. His work is focused on the present, and on helping people to be with whatever is arising for them in the moment. Through the process, clients find that they are able to let go of limiting habitual patterns, increase their intuition, and find a greater sense of freedom and joy in life.
Dan brings a strong social conscience to all of his work, and currently enjoys serving LGBTQ populations, artists, activists, those on a spiritual path, and others interested in healing and transformation. In addition to seeing clients privately, he does therapy with individuals, couples, and families at Westside Community Services in downtown San Francisco. This fall, he will be an assistant teacher for a class on Nondual spiritual traditions in psychotherapy at California Institute of Integral Studies.
Dan feels deeply moved by the opportunity to serve people, and truly loves the work that he does.
Supervised by Amelia Pryor, Ph. D., LMFT #34681
