CENTER FOR HOPE AND STRENGTH - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Bio: I have been a therapist at Center for Hope and Strength since February of 2018. I am fortunate to be working in a field that I am committed to and passionate about. More… Bio: My name is Cathy McRae and am an adult therapist at Center for Hope and Strength. I have been doing therapy here since February of 2018. I am fortunate to be working in a field that I am committed to and passionate about. I believe that supporting and encouraging people to be the best version of themselves not only provides them with hope and strength, it also provides a better place for everyone to thrive. Experience, Orientation, Special Considerations: I have worked in therapeutic settings that include: addiction; crisis management; at risk youth; severe mental health; as well as doing therapy with families and couples. Prior to therapy, I was a teacher in early childhood and a college basketball coach. My work history and my personal life are a testimony to myself and those around me that being able to be of support, assistance, and encouragement feeds my soul and gives my life meaning and purpose. Education: Master's degree in Counseling from San Diego State University Master's degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cal State San Marcos

Job Titles:

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Bio: As a therapist I believe transformation is a life long skill that can be a terrifying, thrilling and an empowering process. I try my best to provide a safe environment to my clients More… Bio: As a therapist I believe transformation is a life long skill that can be a terrifying, thrilling and an empowering process. I try my best to provide a safe environment to my clients and to join them where they are, on their own unique process to better themselves. When an individual is allowed to speak freely, it promotes acceptance, understanding one's own values/ beliefs and allows growth. As a client centered therapist it is my commitment to offer authenticity, collaboration and an empathetic approach to ones individual journey. It is a honor and privilege to provide an encouraging and positive therapeutic experience. Experience, Orientation and special considerations: Prior to working at Center for Hope and Strength, Danielle worked for San Diego unified school district where she worked with children ages 2-18 and their families. Danielle also works with teenagers and adults in residential who are dealing with trauma and eating disorders. Danielle therapy background orientation would be cognitive behavior and dialectic behavior therapy. Education: Master degree in clinical psychology from the University of San Francisco.

Job Titles:

• Clinical Psychologist
• Member of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council

Dr. Lass is a Clinical Psychologist and has worked in the field of domestic violence for over 14 years. Dr. Lass conducts indi vidual and group therapy in addition to supervising interns and psychological assistants. Originally, Dr. Lass became the founder and President of Hope and Strength Psychological Services, Professional Corporation, working with domestic violence and sexual assault victims as a community partner with the San Diego Family Justice Center (SDFJC). Through Hope and Strength Psychological Services, Dr. Lass provided and continues to provide services offsite in private practice. In 2011, Dr. Lass formed and serves as President of the Center for Hope and Strength, Inc., a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization and community partner with SDFJC. In addition, Dr. Lass is the Administrator of Psychological Services for the San Diego Family Justice Center (SDFJC). She was also proud to be one of the original members of the Strategic Planning Committee for the SDFJC in 2003. Dr. Lass has helped to empower, motivate, transform, and inspire thousands of individuals over the past twelve years in various areas of their lives, having provided safety planning, crisis intervention, risk assessment, self-esteem building, psychoeducation related to cycles of abuse, power and control tactics, boundary setting, finding and rebuilding relationships, promoting wellness, empowerment, dealing with traumatic challenges, and establishing new beginnings. Dr. Lass assists clients in their unique journeys of moving forward. Dr. Lass is passionate about her work and feels fortunate to be in the position to help individuals in need. Her warm approach is compassionate and non-judgmental. Experience, Orientation, Special Considerations: Dr. Lass has testified as an Expert Witness in Domestic Violence for the San Diego County Council, San Diego District Attorney's Office, San Diego City Attorney' s Office, Maricopa County Homicide Division and the United States Navy. Dr. Lass has appeared as a guest speaker on several television shows, including: Shades of San Diego, Fox TV5: San Diego's Most Wanted, and San Diego Insider. She has also been interviewed by Glamour Magazine on the dynamics of domestic violence relationships. Over the course of her career, she has conducted approximately 7,000 risk assessments using Dr. Jacqueline Campbell's Danger Assessment Instrument. Dr. Lass' research experience includes her Ph.D. dissertation entitled "Associations between psychopathology and perception of risk among victims of intimate partner violence," in which she and her committee members investigated the associations between PTSD and Dissociative symptoms among victims of IPV and how these symptoms are associated with victims' perceptions of risk. Education: Dr. Lass received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University, Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology , and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University. Licensing, Associations and Affiliations: Dr. Lass is a member of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, National Coalition against Domestic Violence, and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Lass is the Chief Psychologist for the San Diego Police Department Historical Society.

Job Titles:

• Registered Psychological Assistant

Bio: My goal and passion is to empower individuals and families to grow in their personal and relational aspects of their lives and/or heal from traumas or other difficult life situations.

Job Titles:

• Associate Professional Clinical Counselor

Bio: We all have the ability to heal, grow, and strive towards achieving wellness in our lives. In order for an individual to progress there are challenges in which we have to face to better ourselves.

Job Titles:

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Bio: I believe understanding ourselves and our family experiences are essential for growth and healing. As a therapist, my goal is to support you through this process and empower you to live a fulfilling and joyful life.

Job Titles:

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Bio: I believe that there are few things in life more powerful than our thoughts. Our thoughts impact our emotions, our behaviors, our environments, and the people who make up our support system and community. More… Bio: I believe that there are few things in life more powerful than our thoughts. Our thoughts impact our emotions, our behaviors, our environments, and the people who make up our support system and community. We hold the capacity to affect change within ourselves and in our lives. I view individuals as experts in their existence - each of us knows what is best, what will and will not work for us, how we can best be supported, and most importantly, we possess all of the tools necessary to help ourselves. In my practice of therapy, I provide support for individuals and families, so that they are able to identify the areas in which they need support, as well as their unique set of strengths and skills, and how they can utilize these to change their environment, create a more positive self-concept and a more positive life. Experience, Orientation, Special Considerations: Taina has experience providing group and individual therapy, case management and parent coaching services to adults and children, in both English and Spanish. She has worked with individuals from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds, and with various mental health needs. She worked with survivors of domestic violence, children and families, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and with victims of human trafficking in San Diego, prior to joining Center for Hope & Strength. Taina draws from a number of psychotherapeutic approaches, with the bulk of her work focusing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Strength-based Therapy. Education: Master of Science in Counseling Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy University of San Francisco Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education National University