Education and Training
Formal Education
Psychology Doctor in Clinical Psychology, (Psy.D.), awarded in 2007 by Alliant International University/California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno and Sacramento, California, .
MA in Clinical Psychology, awarded in December 2005 by Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno, California.
BA in Psychology, magna cum laude, awarded in 1999 by the University of California, Davis, California.
High School: Liceo Psico-Socio-Pedagogico Veronica Gambara, 1971-1974, Brescia, Italy.
Training
To be on top of the available research and latest clinical knowledge is an ethical duty for a psychologist, and a great passion of mine.
On ongoing basis, I receive advanced training in several areas that are of particular interest to me, and vastly exceed my formal continuing education requirements. The ongoing learning widens my scope of practice and deepens my knowledge, contributing to continuously develop my treatment style to offer a more informed and helpful approach to my patients.
This training includes CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Functional Analytical Psychotherapy and Relational Frame Theory), MINDFULNESS-BASED TREATMENT, SELF-COMPASSION, DEEPENING PRESENCE, SOMATICALLY-FOCUSED TRAUMA TREATMENT, CONTEMPLATIVE NEUROSCIENCE and MEDITATION, and in the past two years PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION WITHDRAWAL, and are led by top experts in their fields, esteemed, ethical and respected scholars, researchers, clinicians, as well as spiritual teachers.
I am currently specializing in a unique trauma treatment approach called Somatic Experiencing, through the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. I enjoy the uniqueness, and mostly the effectiveness, of this body-based approach which recognizes the importance of addressing the body in order to process and hence "renegotiate" the effects of traumatic events in people's life. Trauma can be devastating and destructive. Trauma renegotiation can bring rich rewards in term of meaningful, deep transformations that can enrich life to levels before unknown.
(Note that I was supposed to be done with this training in the summer of 2020, but the onset of covid delayed everything. Hence, I am still at it.)
Practicing what I preach is very important to me; to continue practicing self-development and the ability to stay present with my experience, which is recognized by neuroscience research as a great skill to cope with a variety of body/mind situations and afflictions (See Kabat Zinn, Neff, Hayes, Hanson, Harris, and many others -only clinically relevant reference are mentioned here) I regularly attend weekend and week-longs mindfulness and presence retreats, the week-long at least once a year.
During the height of the Corona virus crisis, lots of face to face events were substitute by online events. Now that things are returning to be more embodied, My last significant course was a psycho-spiritual development, 3-months long, course, that took place in the winter of 2020. A meditation online retreat followed in the summer of 2021; in addition, I attended my share of webinars and zoom events, addressing mental illness, self-care using integrative medicine approaches, psychoanalysis matters, and other topics of interest to me.
Due to unworkable conflicts in 2019, and a family loss, I was unable to attend my week-long retreat, so
my latest week-long presence retreat took place in September 2018, in Greece; life challenges mixed with beautiful experiences provided vital learning experiences. The year before it happened in Norway, where I experienced deep and enriching teachings and practiced developing presence, the of art of being in the here and now. Before that, I attended a week-long retreat, (in November 2016), in a remote location on the Pacific ocean in Costarica), where we also practiced deepening presence and the ability of being in the here and now. All of these retreats were led by a wonderful, humble and effective spiritual teacher. These retreats allow me to continue strong on my self-development path, as well as to pass on what I learn that is related to health and wellness, to gratitude, self-compassion, and spiritual development, so as to create a meaningful, fulfilling life. In turn, I can help my patients to do the same.
I do the best I can to regularly attend the CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES' World Conference, held each year in a different part of the world. This year, 2022, it was held in San Francisco, here in California. I was so grateful to catch the last two days of it, and, as usual, learned so much!
Attending this conference is an important part of my training and development as a person and professional, and I truly cherish the experience. It not only affords me exposure to the latest research data and happenings in the field and participation in unique wonderful experiential workshops, but also exposure to other cultures, and precious connections with colleagues I only see there, once a year. In addition, it's also a great deal of fun!
Lastly, I constantly read books, articles, and blogs related to psychology, which add to my learning, and I regularly consult with other professionals to process and enrich my work.
The data, concepts and techniques learned during advanced training and personal reading, as well as quality consultation, are of great benefit to my practice, which remains vital and cutting-edge informed.
Psychology Doctor in Clinical Psychology, (Psy.D.), awarded in 2007 by Alliant International University/California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno and Sacramento, California, .
MA in Clinical Psychology, awarded in December 2005 by Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno, California.
BA in Psychology, magna cum laude, awarded in 1999 by the University of California, Davis, California.
High School: Liceo Psico-Socio-Pedagogico Veronica Gambara, 1971-1974, Brescia, Italy.
Training
To be on top of the available research and latest clinical knowledge is an ethical duty for a psychologist, and a great passion of mine.
On ongoing basis, I receive advanced training in several areas that are of particular interest to me, and vastly exceed my formal continuing education requirements. The ongoing learning widens my scope of practice and deepens my knowledge, contributing to continuously develop my treatment style to offer a more informed and helpful approach to my patients.
This training includes CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Functional Analytical Psychotherapy and Relational Frame Theory), MINDFULNESS-BASED TREATMENT, SELF-COMPASSION, DEEPENING PRESENCE, SOMATICALLY-FOCUSED TRAUMA TREATMENT, CONTEMPLATIVE NEUROSCIENCE and MEDITATION, and in the past two years PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION WITHDRAWAL, and are led by top experts in their fields, esteemed, ethical and respected scholars, researchers, clinicians, as well as spiritual teachers.
I am currently specializing in a unique trauma treatment approach called Somatic Experiencing, through the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. I enjoy the uniqueness, and mostly the effectiveness, of this body-based approach which recognizes the importance of addressing the body in order to process and hence "renegotiate" the effects of traumatic events in people's life. Trauma can be devastating and destructive. Trauma renegotiation can bring rich rewards in term of meaningful, deep transformations that can enrich life to levels before unknown.
(Note that I was supposed to be done with this training in the summer of 2020, but the onset of covid delayed everything. Hence, I am still at it.)
Practicing what I preach is very important to me; to continue practicing self-development and the ability to stay present with my experience, which is recognized by neuroscience research as a great skill to cope with a variety of body/mind situations and afflictions (See Kabat Zinn, Neff, Hayes, Hanson, Harris, and many others -only clinically relevant reference are mentioned here) I regularly attend weekend and week-longs mindfulness and presence retreats, the week-long at least once a year.
During the height of the Corona virus crisis, lots of face to face events were substitute by online events. Now that things are returning to be more embodied, My last significant course was a psycho-spiritual development, 3-months long, course, that took place in the winter of 2020. A meditation online retreat followed in the summer of 2021; in addition, I attended my share of webinars and zoom events, addressing mental illness, self-care using integrative medicine approaches, psychoanalysis matters, and other topics of interest to me.
Due to unworkable conflicts in 2019, and a family loss, I was unable to attend my week-long retreat, so
my latest week-long presence retreat took place in September 2018, in Greece; life challenges mixed with beautiful experiences provided vital learning experiences. The year before it happened in Norway, where I experienced deep and enriching teachings and practiced developing presence, the of art of being in the here and now. Before that, I attended a week-long retreat, (in November 2016), in a remote location on the Pacific ocean in Costarica), where we also practiced deepening presence and the ability of being in the here and now. All of these retreats were led by a wonderful, humble and effective spiritual teacher. These retreats allow me to continue strong on my self-development path, as well as to pass on what I learn that is related to health and wellness, to gratitude, self-compassion, and spiritual development, so as to create a meaningful, fulfilling life. In turn, I can help my patients to do the same.
I do the best I can to regularly attend the CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES' World Conference, held each year in a different part of the world. This year, 2022, it was held in San Francisco, here in California. I was so grateful to catch the last two days of it, and, as usual, learned so much!
Attending this conference is an important part of my training and development as a person and professional, and I truly cherish the experience. It not only affords me exposure to the latest research data and happenings in the field and participation in unique wonderful experiential workshops, but also exposure to other cultures, and precious connections with colleagues I only see there, once a year. In addition, it's also a great deal of fun!
Lastly, I constantly read books, articles, and blogs related to psychology, which add to my learning, and I regularly consult with other professionals to process and enrich my work.
The data, concepts and techniques learned during advanced training and personal reading, as well as quality consultation, are of great benefit to my practice, which remains vital and cutting-edge informed.
Professional Affiliations, Past and Present,
and Organizations I Like and Follow
Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences, Member (03/11-Present)
Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy, Education & Living, Member (04/18-present)
Mad in America, https://www.madinamerica.com, (2011-present)
International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry, (ISEPP) (10/11-present)
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, (02/14-present)
MindFreedom http://www.mindfreedom.org
PAST MEMBERSHIP:
American Psychological Association, Past, Member, Division 12, (12/03-12/11))
Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, Past, Member of the Board of Directors, Diversity Chair (01/13-03/14)
Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy, Education & Living, Member (04/18-present)
Mad in America, https://www.madinamerica.com, (2011-present)
International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry, (ISEPP) (10/11-present)
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, (02/14-present)
MindFreedom http://www.mindfreedom.org
PAST MEMBERSHIP:
American Psychological Association, Past, Member, Division 12, (12/03-12/11))
Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, Past, Member of the Board of Directors, Diversity Chair (01/13-03/14)
