COMPLETE C.V. AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
NOT FOR DESIGNATION
SPECIALTIES: Grief, loss issues, dissociation, depression, trauma, and spiritual issues. Trauma includes sexual assault, incest, violence, combat, and religious abuse.
Clinical orientation: Psychodynamic with an emphasis on interpersonal process which is informed by Attachment Theory and Existentialism.
Clinical experience: Individual, family, couple, and group therapy with adults, teens, and young children. Risk assessments. Parenting groups. Grief groups.
Overview of patients treated: Age 1 - 104; bereaved; terminally ill, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, addicted, deaf, and gifted.
Overview of issues treated: Grief, loss issues, trauma, dissociation, Dissociative Identity D/O (formerly Multiple Personalities Disorder), Combat PTSD, Bi-polar D/O, OCD, anxiety, Panic D/O, phobias, domestic violence, rape, gang rape, incest, ritual sexual abuse, childhood abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, alcohol/drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, dementia, chronic depression, chronic illness, terminal illness, sexual orientation,erotic minorities, encopresis, enuresis, attachment issues, spiritual abuse by clergy, religious abuse, earthly reconciliation, spiritual disintegration, and issues of the chronically mentally ill. Military rape, Military widow/ widower. Bereavement.
DEGREES
Ph.D. Pastoral Ministry with emphasis on Interfaith Pastoral Counseling
Summa Cum Laude
Newburgh Theological Seminary 2007
Dissertation: "Pastoral Counseling and Chaplaincy in Interfaith Settings"
M.A. Psychology with emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy
California Graduate Institute 2006
Qualifying degree for licensure as a Marriage & Family Therapist
M.S. Counseling Psychology with specialization in Loss Issues & Bereavement
Greenwich University 2001
U.S. Equivalency credentials evaluation by International Research Foundation, Inc.
Thesis: "Clinical Perspectives and Reflections on the Interface Among Psychotherapy,
Spirituality and Chaplaincy in Working with Dying Patients and their Families"
B.S. Professional Studies with emphasis on Adult Learning
Greenwich University 1999
U.S. Equivalency credentials evaluation by International Research Foundation, Inc.
Senior Paper:"Contemporary American Public School Education: Its role and what it produces"
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
MFT Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist 9/09 State of California
Lic #MFC 47627 Under the name: Gwen A. Finestone (Inactive status, as of 7/25/2020)
CT Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement
Certified January 2006 Association for Death Education and Counseling
Recertified 2014 - 2016
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
2020 Hecht Trauma Institute
Founder and CEO
Costa Mesa, Ca.
2020 President Emeritus
California Southern University
Costa Mesa, Ca.
2016 University President
California Southern University, a regionally accredited senior university
Costa Mesa, Ca.
2009 Marriage & Family Therapist
Founder and Executive Director, The House of Ruach: a California NPO 501(c)3
Psychotherapy and hypnosis for psychological and spiritual issues.
Adults, teens, children; individual, couples’ and group therapy.
2006 Marriage & Family Therapist
Living Success Center, Costa Mesa, CA
Population: Low-income individuals, couples, and families.
Individual, group, couples’, and family therapy for adults, children, and teens.
Parenting classes for court-ordered patients and self-referred patients.
Parent Educator; Bereavement Counselor & Educator.
2005 Therapist
Women’s Transitional Living Center, Fullerton, CA
Population: Domestic violence victims (female) and their children.
Parenting education classes, group therapy, and individual therapy.
2004 Bereavement Counselor & Chaplain
Odyssey Home Hospice, Garden Grove, CA
Population: Terminally ill patients, their families, children, caregivers, hospice staff.
Bereavement counseling and pastoral counseling. Spiritual care evaluations.
In-service training for hospice and nursing facilities staff (per Medi-Cal regs).
Funerals and memorials.
2002 Foster Family Therapist
Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services, Long Beach, CA
Population: Foster children age 1-17 years, foster parents, siblings, and bio-families.
Child and adult individual psychotherapy, loss counseling, family and conjoint therapies, parenting
education, and psychoeducational interventions.
Advanced court-ordered reunification, psychiatric evaluations, and I.E.P. process.
Psychological and behavioral assessments, treatment plans, and Court-ordered narrative reports.
2000 Bereavement Therapist & Chaplain
Wells House Hospice, CA
Population: Terminally ill patients, their families, children, caregivers, hospice staff.
Individual psychotherapy, grief counseling, family therapy, and pastoral counseling. Bereavement risk
assessments and spiritual assessments; staff tutorials and professional development seminars;
psychoeducational materials.
Medi-cal and Medi-care quality assurance compliance.
Funerals/memorial services.
2000 Psychiatric Therapist (Psychodynamic) & Sexual Assault Specialist
La Casa Mental Health Rehabilitation Ctr., Long Beach, CA
Population: Locked facility. Chronically mentally ill, incl dual-diagnosed and Developmentally Disabled.
Individual therapy for higher-functioning clients; group therapy. Mental health assessments and risk
assessments.
Liaison among Regional Center, case managers, conservators, County social workers, and patients’
families.
1999 Writer/Researcher, Research Associates, Culver City, CA
Clients: mental health professionals, educators, clergy, university deans, corporate business execs.
Literature and book reviews, and research papers on psychology, religion, volunteerism education.
1993 Director, CHOICES, a gang-avoidance program for at-risk middle-school girls.
Greater Long Beach Girl Scout Council.
1976 Lecturer: Sexual Assault, Southern California
1976 Hypnotherapist, Private practice.
1976 Family Planning Counselor, Phoenix Family Medical Clinic, Long Beach, CA
1976 Co-Founder, Executive Director, and Victim-Witness Advocate
Rape Hotline of Long Beach, Inc., California
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