Experience
Education
University of California
Berkeley, California
9/77 – 6/81
B.A. English; minors in writing and studio art.
Antioch
West University
San Francisco, California
9/86 – 6/89
Masters Degree Clinical Psychology; second degree in Drama Therapy.
Mental Research Institute
Palo Alto, California
9/87 – 6/89
Intensive Training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy; focus on communication,
identifying and solving problems in ten sessions or less.
Ilene has trained at Stanford University in Cognitive Therapy.
Counseling
Private Practice
San Francisco, Mill Valley and San Rafael, California
Licensed MFT 20+ years experience: psychotherapy with children, couples,
and individuals; Director of Brief Training Solutions, a professional
consulting practice in Brief Therapy for mental health-care professionals;
child therapy.
Kaiser Permanente Hospital
San Francisco, California
Professional Trainer in Brief Therapy for the psychiatry department;
how to elicit extremely critical material from patients and resolve
resistant and difficult problems.
Walnut Creek Hospital
Walnut Creek, California
Clinical Social Worker/Child Specialist: facilitated psychotherapy
and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults; conducted
in-depth, intake evaluations.
Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center: Day Treatment
San Francisco, California
Clinical Therapist: developed individual treatment plans within the
diagnostic spectrum of the DSM IIIR; monitored patients’ medication;
conducted daily psychotherapy groups using cognitive therapy, 12-step,
narrative and brief solution-focused therapy for adults; expedited
discharge planning.
UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute
San Francisco, California
Drama Therapy Rehabilitation Intern, children’s unit: conducted groups
using storytelling, enactment, sand tray, art, role-play and psychodrama,
filmed and facilitated video-drama group.
Program Development
- Keynote Speaker, Women’s Leadership Conference, College of Marin. (2008)
- Produced thirty free programs for the public on topics ranging from prosperity 101, global warming, non-violent communication. (2007-2008)
- President of Friends of the SGV Public Library. (2006-2008)
- Vice-president, San Francisco Chapter of California Marriage and Family Therapists. (1998-2000)
- Consulting Chair of the 1998 National Drama Therapy Conference, San Francisco.
- Organized peer-counseling and training programs for high school students.
- Featured Speaker at the 1998 Play Therapy Symposium at College of Notre Dame, Belmont, California .
- Developed programs for gang members and children at risk through the Emergency Response Team.
- Specialist in eating disorders; grief and loss; substance abuse; stress reduction; career-related issues.
- Developed, taped and edited radio programs focusing on national issues for public radio.
- Telephone Counseled at risk adults, Suicide Hotline. (1981)
Member of:
The Milton H. Erickson Institute of the Bay Area
The Marin Chapter of California Marriage and Family Therapists
The East Bay Chapter of CAMFT
The National Association of Drama Therapy
Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society
Ilene is the California Marriage and Family Therapists 2012 Educational Foundation Award Winner.
Brief goal-oriented therapy to transform your life into a success story. Find the confidence to put problems behind you and start living the life you want to lead. I am here to help you make your relationships, no matter how difficult, work.
'All attacks and criticisms are
tragic expressions of unmet needs.'
-Marshall Rosenberg, founder of Nonviolent Communication
415.263.6744
or, use this simple contact form