About Dr. Gonzalez, Psy.D., LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, #103979
Dr. Gonzalez holds a doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) in Marriage and Family Therapy and is licensed as a Marriage Family Therapist (#103979) in the state of California. She offers therapy with individuals, families, couples, and groups using an eclectic approach of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Solution Focused. Her approach is personally tailored and collaborative, with the goal to promote short-term relief and long-term growth to help individuals reach their fullest pontential. Dr. Gonzalez has a broad range of skills and experiences which make her an effective and relatable clinician for both children and adults.
Dr. Gonzalez came into the field of marriage and family therapy with a passion and interest in helping others find peace after a trauma experience. Her ability to connect and understand different challenges that individuals experience after a trauma has allowed individuals to transform their deep hurt to healing and finding peace.
Education
Dr. Gonzalez completed her Doctorate Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) in 2018 from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, in San Diego. Dr. Gonzalez investigated the lived experiences of Mexican-American MFTs working with Mexican-American Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence using Bowen Family System theory.
She completed her MA in marriage family therapy at University of Phoenix and graduated with top honors.
Dr. Gonzalez graduated from University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services.
Internships
Earlier in her career, Dr. Gonzalez worked for the Family Wellness Center as a bilingual therapist and provided therapeutic services to underserved children, families and couples. In addition, Dr. Gonzalez had the great privilege to lead a team of clinicians while working for San Diego Center for Counseling, a partner of the Family Justice Center, in San Diego and provided consultations, mental health training, and mental health therapeutic services to trauma survivors of domestic violence.
For the past 5 years, Dr. Gonzalez has been an adjunct professor at Alliant International University, school of psychology. Teaching 1st year MA students who are entering the field of Marriage Family Therapy.
Dr. Gonzalez has a genuine passion for her work, and is extremely enthusiastic and dedicated to her clients.
Professional Memberships
Writings
Dr. Gonzalez had the great privilege to contribute a chapter about working with suicide grief in the book Responding to Suicide. The books on suicide has been recognized by the Catholic Publishers Association. The book was selected as finalists by the Catholic Publishers Association for excellence in publishing in the 'General Interest' and 'Resources for Ministry' categories.
Winner of a first-place award in resources for ministry from the Association of Catholic Publishers and a third-place award in pastoral ministry books from the Catholic Media Association.
Many pastoral leaders feel ill-equipped to respond to the turmoil of those who face the death by suicide of a loved one. Responding to Suicide is the first book written for Catholic leaders and that takes a holistic approach to understanding suicide and ministering effectively in its aftermath.
More than a dozen leading mental health practitioners, Catholic theologians, and pastoral care experts share how best to respond to suicide as leaders in parishes, schools, healthcare systems, and other Church settings. The book offers a cross-disciplinary approach that provides basic information about the central role of mental health in suicide and clarifies Church teaching about suicide, funerals and burials for those who have died by suicide, and their afterlife.
The National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that suicide was the tenth most common cause of death among Americans of all ages in 2017 and the second leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four year-olds.
Death by suicide is usually sudden, often violent, and frequently comes at the end of a long and difficult struggle with a mental illness. Heaped on top of that is a social stigma that leaves loved ones in shock and often burdened with shame. Responding to Suicide addresses common concerns of the bereaved following a suicide: skepticism that Catholic leaders will understand; fear that the Church teaches that their loved one is in hell; and belief that they will find little if any support in the Church.
More than a dozen contributors from across the spectrum of Catholic life provide rich guidance rooted in firsthand experience of suicide loss. Contributors include Deacon Ed Shoener, Bishop John P. Dolan, Msgr. Charles Pope, Leticia Adams, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, and clinical experts in the field of mental health and suicide. They share personal stories of loss, grief, hope, and healing, and clear up misconceptions about Church teaching.
They offer practical takeaways for pastoral leaders:
- dos and don’ts when talking about suicide
- guidance for preaching and planning funerals
- information on the role of mental illnesses in suicide
- resource lists for those who grieve as well as for your own professional development
- suggested protocols for ministering to a school or parish community following a suicide
- ideas about forming parish outreach ministries to the bereaved that address the needs of suicide loss
Links to Book:
Purchase on Ave Maria PressPurchase On Amazon
