Available via Zoom to those living anywhere in California
About Ali
Education
I received my BA in Deaf Studies (with an emphasis in the Arts and Education) and K thru 9 teaching credential, from California State University, Northridge, my Masters of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy from Phillips University, and a Doctorate in Psychology - Marriage and Family Therapy from Ryokan College.
Both my master's thesis and doctoral dissertation were on the subject of treating the family as a system when one member comes out as LGBTQIA++.
I am master-level trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) under a slew of highly-respected trainers including the amazing creator of EFT, Dr. Sue Johnson.
Trained in Relational Life Therapy with Terry Real.
EFT and EFIT Training:
2019 Externship: Sue Johnson, PhD & Scott Woolley, PhD
2020 Externship: Rebecca Jorgenson PhD & Scott Woolley, PhD (on clinical team)
2021 Core Skills: George Faller, MS, Lisa Palmer-Olsen, PsyD, Ryan Rana, PhD, Zoya Simakhodskaya, Ph.D., Lori Brubacher, M.Ed.
2025 Externship: Teri Murphy, PhD & Jim Furrow, PhD (on clinical team)
2019-Pres. Mastery Courses: Jim Furrow, PhD, Lisa Palmer-Olson, PsyD, Sharon Chatkupt Lee, PsyD, James Hawkins, Robin Williams Blake
Other fun facts about me
- edited and photographed a book called Facing 40: 27 women within a year of turning 40 share the truth about love, loss, sex, beauty, friendship, motherhood, independence, and touch choices. It's on Amazon.
- a trained improvisor, having completed the conservatory at Second City, Hollywood.
- proficient in American Sign Language.
- spent many years working as a portrait photographer for children of celebrities.
- raised two amazing daughters. One is a birth and postpartum doula and one is a drama therapist working with lucky young people.
- Other than freshman year of college at UC, Santa Cruz where I took my first Humanistic Psychology class in the middle of a redwood forest, I lived in southern CA my entire life. (until Spring '23)
- won the Jack Bell Distinguished Service Award for my work with children of LGBTQ Parents (COLAGE).
- an ordained minister and available to officiate your loving union.