Description (2950 characters max)
I initially focused my clinical studies and work with Children and families. However, as I began to work professionally with children who had been abused in counseling, I met their foster grandparents who were struggling in their re-parenting role. After that, I left to work in Glendale Adventist's inpatient psychiatric unit, and mostly worked with their "Psych-Med" section which was largely composed of older adults, and fell in love with working with the elderly adults and their families. I have had many varied experiences in both Los Angeles County's GENESIS Program as well as the Supervisor at a local Senior Center's Social Services dept. I have mentored Social Workers and love my two-fold business as an Aging Life Care® Manager, who also offers psychotherapy, while some folks are simply my psychotherapy clients. I particularly enjoy being a support as a Therapist to those who are Care Partners for family members with dementia, as I am one for my Parent, too.
An Aging Life Care® Manager (also known as a Geriatric Care Manager) is someone who oversees the care and well-being of the disabled and elderly where they live. It is a private pay arrangement, often paid by a Fiduciary or the adult 'kids' of the family who need support in their parent's care and are overwhelmed. Often, it is also an issue of transference, as family dynamics are at play, and me being an outsider, can state the concerns more plainly and directly, with a plan of how to coordinate the services. I provide one-time consultations or ongoing services, in a monitoring role, as well as to go to Dr. appts., oversee medications and interview/monitor Caregivers in the home. I enjoy the mix of both types of work during a week, and attempt to be very strategic in the psychotherapy treatments, to allow my clients to 'graduate' back to their own lives. Call me for additional information.
