This description has been prepared to inform you about my 10 years of professional experience in private practice at FCS and what you can expect from me as your therapist.

The majority of my experience has been working with:
Clients of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and multi-cultural experiences.

In particular, my clinical experience includes practice with relational aspects of the following:
Issues related to acculturation, child abuse, witnessing of crime, disappearance, domestic violence, environmental trauma, homicide, kidnapping and terrorist threats . . .
Cultural differences, divorce, marital conflict, family hostility and marital/family separation.
Cultural and social adaptation issues related to immigration.

The Therapeutic Process
First, we will carefully explore the concerns that brought you to therapy.

After we develop sufficient background to proceed, we will decide upon a goal and objectives. We will work closely to identify a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable and realistic. We will set up a timetable to meet your goal.

We will regularly evaluate progress. Treatment efforts will conclude when the sought-after goal is sufficiently achieved.

I will work with you at your pace.

The FCS Group Practice Model
I am a member of a group practice. One of the advantages to you is that I get to consult on an as-needed basis with other professionals whom I trust.

Confidentiality
All of our sessions will be confidential. My professional code of ethics prevents me from releasing any records without permission and discussing what is said during sessions with anyone other than my colleagues in peer consultation. The only exceptions to this are if someone is in danger of being harmed, or if the law explicitly states that confidentiality provisions do not apply.

Spirituality and Therapeutic Approach
I carefully and respectfully work from a bio-psycho-social and spiritually integrated theoretical perspective.

In our work together, we will explore your relationship experience(s). We will cover all relationships that are important to you, including your connection to faith.

In addition, our work will entail engagement in a series of effective clinical processes and therapeutic exercises.

I attend to multicultural and multigenerational influences, family of origin dynamics and life cycle considerations.

Length of Sessions
Therapy sessions are normally 45-50 minutes. Depending upon the nature of the concerns, sessions are held one or more times weekly. It is difficult to initially predict how many sessions will be needed. If this is important to you, I will be better able to discuss the probable number of sessions after we have explored and gained some background - usually, after two or three sessions.

In addition to my association with Family Consultation Service, I am currently employed as:
Core Faculty, MFT Program
Alliant International University
California School of Professional Psychology
San Diego, CA.
www.alliant.edu

Education:
2005 Ph.D.
Loma Linda University - Graduate School - Department of Counseling & Family Sciences, Loma Linda, CA.

2001 M.A.
Bethel University/Bethel Seminary San Diego, CA.

Affiliations and License:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC#44953
Clinical Member: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Clinical Member: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT)
AAMFT Approved Supervisor
AAMFT Trainer of the Trainers

From the American Association of Marital and Family Therapist website:

AAMFT Approved Supervisors are dedicated professionals who have obtained the educational, experiential and supervisory training required for the competent supervision of marriage and family therapists and trainees. Those who have earned the designation serve as mentors who support and nurture their supervisees’ strengths and resources, and provide a learning environment that ensures thorough marriage and family therapy (MFT) training and education.

AAMFT Approved Supervisors have a breadth and depth of MFT clinical and supervisory experience, and they stay involved in the professional MFT community. They are committed to refining their clinical and supervisory skills, and they participate in ongoing professional development through their affiliation with the AAMFT.

Available for Seminars, Community Dialogs and Speaking Engagements Covering:
Relationship Discord
Multiculturalism
Cross-Cultural Experiences
Family Life Cycle
Theory of Systems
Contemporary Issues of Latin America
Worldview Influences
Intergenerational Patterns
Relationship Impasses
Relationship Building
Latino Immigrants and Mass Movements
Liberation Psychology
Book Reviews and Discussions

Languages:
Bilingual Spanish

Contact:
lvargas@FCSSanDiego.com
619-280-3430 x127