Life is constantly presenting us with change. Just when we might feel like we know what the day will bring, there might be something around the corner that takes us by surprise; maybe even something that has been there that we didn’t even notice before! With change, comes thoughts and feelings we might not be ready to have, such anxiety, sadness, and fear. Coping with these changes can be difficult at times and we might need a little support. One of these unexpected events might be the diagnosis of a developmental delay, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Hello, my name is Rachael and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I live in Northern California after living in New Jersey for 7 years and growing up in Arizona. I have a bachelors degree from the University of Arizona in Family Studies and Human Development. I then completed my masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Seton Hall University in New Jersey while providing in home behavioral services to children with special needs through early intervention programs. After graduating in 2007, I worked at a community mental health center specializing in providing individual, couples, and family therapy with families who have a family member diagnosed with ASD. I also participated in an externship program at the Minuchin Center in Manhattan for the following 3 years. I was able to fine tune my structural family therapy techniques while applying cognitive and narrative techniques. Since this time, I have moved to beautiful Northern California and became a mother, which has been the most impactful experience to date!