Meet our Continuing Education Faculty

Gerry Grossman, MA, LMFT

Gerry Grossman has successfully trained thousands of exam candidates for their BBS licensing exams since 1985. His teaching style is clear, incisive, humorous and empathic. As a trained hypnotherapist, he has assisted many people with test anxiety and other clinical issues. In 2016 Gerry received the Educator of the year award from AAMFT-CA.

In private practice, Gerry specializes in working with young children and their families.

 

Cory Anderson, MA, LMFT

Cory earned his master’s degree in 2005 from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and his bachelor’s degree from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Like many of Gerry’s students, Cory passed both licensing exams on the first try, and he understands the challenges you face as a student. In addition to working with Gerry Grossman Seminars, Cory is a therapist at RCA Counseling, one of San Diego’s most prominent group practices. Cory specializes in treating sexual addiction as well as chemical dependency. He’s received advanced training from Patrick Carnes, PhD, and the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals. Cory looks forward to meeting you at one of the San Diego-area courses.

 

Nancy Anderson, Ph.D., LMFT

Dr. Nancy Anderson is a California licensed psychotherapist (LMFT), professor of Marriage and Family Therapy (25+ years), and for nearly 20 years an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Her rich experience includes: clinical director of a non-profit agency, conflict resolution mediator in the courts, group facilitator (grief, cancer, abuse, marital enrichment, and others), and Crisis Intervention Team clinician. She has created more than 18 workshops focusing on healing and whole person integration.

The published author of several books, she is also producer of two videos which focus on using the tool of writing. Nancy discovered writing as a healing tool at twenty-two years of age when her own mother died. In 2000 she began teaching others how to write in ways that facilitate healing from heartbreak, grief, fear and anxiety, depression, divorce, and traumatic experiences.

Her degrees include: Ph.D. in Marital and Family Therapy, MA in Theology, MA in Counseling Psychology, and BS in Education. Through her own organization, The Catalyst, she provides individual and family psychotherapy, groups, and workshops. Nancy has enjoyed the unique experiences of running a marathon on the Great Wall of China, and climbing to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

 

Emily Bost-Baxter, MD

Emily Bost-Baxter, MD, is a psychiatrist in West LA. She went to Loma Linda University for medical school. She did a psychiatric residency followed by a research fellowship focusing on women in pregnancy with mood disorders at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She has worked in a variety of clinic settings since finishing her training. She currently has a private practice and works at the Alcott Center for Mental Health Services.

 

Mari Conti, MA, LMFT

Mari Conti, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, received her Masters Degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University in 1996. In May, 2015, Mari started her private practice at Gerry Grossman Seminars specializing in working with children and teens. She also serves as a substitute teacher at New Roads Elementary School and is going to begin supervising MFT and MSW interns for a transitional living program for young adults in Los Angeles which is scheduled to open by the end of this year.

Mari has over 15 years of experience working with children and families. She has worked with community based organizations for 11 years. She worked for 8 years in social services as a Group Home Counselor and Manager, a Foster Care Social Worker, Supervisor, Trainer and as an Agency Administrator. In addition, she has 3 years as a Coordinator for Masada Homes in Gardena, CA, providing the Lynwood School District with mental health services for a pregnant teen school based program, and an adolescent substance abuse program.

 

Samantha Deming, MA, LMFT

Samantha has been part of the Gerry Grossman instructional staff since January 2000. Samantha is an asset to the seminar because she has had many years of teaching experience prior to her teaching for the seminar. Students find her easy to follow because she very organized in her presentation. She is also very animated and brings a lot of her natural humor into the classroom.

In addition to teaching for Gerry Grossman Seminars, Samantha maintains a full-time private practice split between Santa Clarita and Encino. Her specialties include couples, anxiety, depression, trauma, E.M.D.R., grief, survivors after suicide, and the treatment of twins.

 

Melissa Drivon, MA, LMFT

Melissa is a licensed marriage and family therapist who earned her degree from John F. Kennedy University in 2008. She enjoys teaching and before joining Gerry Grossman she taught training courses for MFT trainees at the JFKU Community Counseling Center in San Jose.

In addition to teaching for Gerry Grossman, Melissa currently works for Suzanne Mell at Building Foundations Counseling Center, Inc. Before joining Suzanne, Melissa worked in community based mental health in the San Jose area. She specializes in working with couples and teens and veterans.

 

Renee A. Duffey, Psy.D., LMFT

Renee has been teaching with Gerry Grossman Seminars since 1995. She enjoys helping people learn to think critically and utilize their own learning style while preparing for the exams.

Renee has master's degrees in Communications, Applied Spirituality and Counseling Psychology and completed a Doctor of Psychology from the Graduate Theological Foundation with an emphasis on Clinical Family Therapy. She is the Director of Guidance in a private high school and a lecturer in the Counseling Psychology and Gerontology program at Notre Dame de Namur University. Her private practice in Burlingame specializes in the integration of psychology and spirituality and she frequently consults with churches and schools regarding issues of abuse and crisis management.

 

Kristen Ewers, MA, LMFT

Kristen has been teaching and providing individual tutoring for Gerry Grossman Seminars since 2003. She completed her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Western Seminary in 2001 and obtained her license in 2003.

Kristen is the director of the Sacramento area Meier Clinics Day Treatment Program as well as the Marriage Intensive Program. She enjoys working with adolescents, families and couples in crisis.

 

Kevin Fitzsimmons. LCSW

Kevin J. Fitzsimmons has been a teacher, trainer, and supervisor of Solution Focused Therapy since 1995. He has taught courses in UCLA’s Graduate School of Social Welfare and in Antioch University’s Masters of Arts in Psychology program. In addition, he was co-director of the Southern California Counseling Center’s Resource Oriented Therapy Program in which the Solution Focused Therapy approach was predominantly featured. He is currently in private practice with offices in West Los Angeles and North San Diego County.

 

Dario Ghio, PhD, LMFT

Dario is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who earned his master’s degree at California State University Dominquez Hills. Dario also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Dario is a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor as well as a Master Addictions Counselor.
Dario was also an Associate Professor at California State University Dominquez Hills and taught Introduction to Alcoholism for eight years.

Dario is currently in private practice as well as the CFO/ Founder of Harbor Area Counseling Services Inc, a Non-profit Counseling center in the city of San Pedro, CA.

Dario has worked in the social services field for over twenty-five years. In the past he served for over ten years as the Clinic Director for an Adolescent and Adult Substance Abuse Treatment program, as well as serving on the management teams of several different organizations which include, a residential facility for disabled children, a Mental Health/Substance Abuse Assessment Center, an Educational/Job Advocacy Program.

 

Andrea "Annie" Ghio, LMFT

Andrea "Annie" Kotok, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist in Los Angeles and the Executive Director of Harbor Area Counseling Services, Inc. a non-profit counseling agency in San Pedro, CA. She has extensive experience as an educational consultant, having coached candidates to obtain the necessary skills to pass the CA and National MFT and Social Work licensing exams. Andrea has a unique perspective on testing having passed both exams on her first attempt. Andrea works with candidates to better understand content, develop test taking skills and manage test taking anxiety. For more information, go to www.andreakotoklmft.com.

 

Vicki Goodman, MA, LMFT

Vicki is one of our new staff members having recently passed the licensure exam. Having claimed victory around managing her test anxiety, Vicki has a desire to help others do the same.

Prior to graduating with her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Meridian University in 2011, Vicki was an instructor for over 20 years. She assisted people of various professions in obtaining licensure. The majority of that work consisted of helping those same professionals prepare for their license exams.

Vicki has worked with clients of all ages and stages but most extensively with adolescents and their families within the Marin school system. Vicki and her dog, Missy, became certified by the Humane Society as a dog therapy team in 2006. They worked together as Patient Care/Complimentary Care Providers for Hospice By The Bay. Missy has since passed away and Vicki plans to become certified with her dog, Max. She believes very strongly in the healing power of dogs and other animals.

 

Lori Granger, MS, MFT

Lori is the director of The Center for Mindfulness in Fresno. She specializes in mindfulness-based psychotherapy which marries the practice of mindfulness meditation with cognitive skill building to help relieve anxiety, depression, addictions, emotional eating, multi-task stress, obsessive thinking and relationship challenges.

As an ordained Zen lay practitioner, Lori teaches and develops mindfulness and psychotherapy training workshops for therapists and the general public including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Awareness and Compassion Training (MB-ACT). Her practice is recognized by the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Stress Reduction Clinic. She has participated in numerous trainings with mindfulness mentors: Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield, Marsha Linehan, John Welwood and Tara Brach. Lori teaches courses in Counseling, Psychotherapy and Mindfulness at CSU, Fresno.

 

Barbara Griswold, LMFT

Barbara Griswold, MFT, is a practice consultant and the author of Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should (www.theinsurancemaze.com), now in the 2018 seventh edition. In private practice in San Jose, she has been interviewed on NPR's “Morning Edition," and her articles have appeared in Psychotherapy Networker and The Therapist magazines. She is a past member of the California Assn. of Marriage and Family Therapist’s State Ethics Committee and Board of Directors, and former Oral Examiner for the BBS. She invites therapists to contact her through her website with their insurance questions and problems, and to subscribe to her free monthly e-newsletter to keep abreast of the ever-changing world of insurance.

 

Sensei Kipp Ryodo Hawley

Ryodo began practicing Zen in 1978 and entered formal studies at the Zen Center of Los Angeles in 1980, working directly with Charlotte Joko Beck and Genpo Merzel Roshi as well as Taizan Maezumi Roshi, the founding Abbot of ZCLA. In 2007 he received Dharma Transmission from ZCLA’s current abbot, Roshi Egyoku Nakao, making him an independent Zen teacher. He continues to teach at ZCLA and also leads the Westchester Zen Circle, a meditation group he founded in 2009.

Ryodo is the author of Three Steps to Mindfulness: Bringing Zen Awareness Into Your Life, a manual for the Zen Mindfulness method he has been teaching since 2002. He is a member of the White Plum Asanga, the peer group of teachers in the lineage of Taizan Maezumi Roshi, as well as the American Zen Teachers Association and the Lay Zen Teachers Association.

 

Rocio Hernandez, Ph.D., LPCC, LMFT

Dr. Cio Hernández is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Marriage Family Therapist in California and Hawaii. She received her doctorate from UC Davis in Health Care leadership, where she designed an app to reduce test-taking anxiety. In her clinical practice, Cio specializes in psychological evaluations for Immigration, childhood development, adolescent sexual assault, family violence prevention, and offers EMDR Therapy to replace haunting memories with a new outlook on life.

Dr. Hernández is a member of the Institutional Review Board for the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute. She is the founder of the Marin Latino Health Policy Partnership and recently published Viva Marin: Latino Health Policy, Data, and Action Guide. After serving 9 years for the Marin First 5 Commission, Cio has joined the Contra Costa First 5 Commission. Cio has also served as a Public Information Officer on the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services Emergency Management Team.

Most importantly, Cio is a mom of a 19-year-old son who is studying at Seattle University.

 

Natalie Liberman, MSW, LCSW; M.A, LMFT

Natalie Liberman is a multi-lingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and her first Master's degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Natalie also holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Dubna.

Shortly after passing her LCSW exams in 2011, Natalie began teaching for Gerry Grossman Seminars, where she leads workshops helping candidates prepare for the LCSW and LMFT state exams, and a number of live Continuing Education classes. Natalie is well-regarded for her clear, engaging, effective and enthusiastic teaching style. She brings a wealth of clinical experience, knowledge, humor, and curiosity to all of her classes. She enjoys all aspects of working with candidates during the exam process.

In addition to teaching for Gerry Grossman Seminars, Natalie is part of the Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University since 2015, where she is a Professor at Graduate School of Education and Psychology at the West LA campus, as well as Pepperdine’s online Master's Degree programs. Natalie teaches the following courses: Individual & Family Treatment of Substance Abuse, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders, Psychopathology, and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy.

Natalie has worked in various clinical settings (Adult Day Health Care Centers, Outpatient Substance Abuse Agencies, foster care agencies, home health care agencies, and private practice). In her private practice, Natalie works with an array of clients dealing with substance abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, career and life transitions, sexual problems, social anxiety disorders, communication issues, self-esteem and general quality of life issues. Natalie has extensive training in contemporary psychodynamic theory, and also uses Humanistic-Existential, Cognitive-Behavioral treatment, and EMDR therapy depending on the unique needs of each client.

 

Elizabeth Marshall, MA, LMFT

Elizabeth is a licensed marriage and family therapist who earned her Master's in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University in 2003.

She is a Regional Supervisor for a Military & Family Life Counseling Program (MFLC) supervising clinicians working on military installations throughout Southern California. Currently she supports MFLCs on Camp Pendleton, CA. She also completes Educationally Related Mental Health Assessments (ERMHs) for school referred children.

Elizabeth has worked with a multitude of diverse populations including active duty and veteran service members and their families, children and adolescents, foster youth, single parent families, severely mentally ill, crisis, and hospice.

 

Suzanne Mell, MA, LMFT

Suzanne has been teaching courses and providing one-to-one tutoring for Gerry Grossman mostly in the Sacramento area, since September 1999. She received her Masters degree from National University - Sacramento in 1995 and passed her licensing exams in January 1999. Her area of expertise is working with children, adolescents and their families, but over the years she has worked with many different ages and stages.

Suzanne has worked for Amador County Mental Health as a child clinician and as their Children's System of Care Coordinator, and has also provided clinical supervision for MFT and CSW Interns. Currently she is in private practice in the Amador & Sacramento County areas and is a contract clinician at Rite of Passage - Sierra Ridge group home.

Suzanne is empathetic to those preparing for their exams. She presents the course materials in a well organized manner and also uses humor to decrease her students' test anxiety so that they can remember that they are competent human beings.

 

Chuck Moshontz, MA, MFT

Chuck holds MFT licenses in California and in Oregon, where he now lives and has a private practice. Chuck taught at Gerry Grossman Seminars for 10 years and taught at Antioch for 5 years. Chuck has been a supervisor for more than 10 years, working with interns from Southern California Counseling Center and the Antioch University L.A. Counseling Center. He has participated in a Gestalt study and consultation group with the Pacific Gestalt Institute for 12 years.

 

Adriane Nada, MA, LMFT

Adriane received her master's degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton. Using Gerry Grossman study materials and courses, Adriane passed both the written and clinical vignette MFT licensing exams on her first attempt. She is now teaching Gerry Grossman courses and provides tutoring services for those licensing candidates in the Orange County area.

In the past, Adriane has worked in the school system, providing therapy for elementary aged children. Adriane is currently working, and has worked for the past four years, with families who have experienced domestic violence and abuse at a local agency. As a licensed therapist Adriane is pursuing a practice that will integrate a holistic approach to psychotherapeutic healing.

 

Jorid Nygard, MA, LMFT

Jorid has been preparing therapists for their MFT licensing exams since 1991. Through the many years of helping develop course materials and teaching courses for the MFT Written and WCV exams, Jorid has developed a comprehensive mastery of all the subject areas involved in passing the exams.

Her high level of energy and wonderful sense of humor make her a popular teacher. Many exam candidates experience the exam preparation process as an overwhelming and daunting challenge and greatly appreciate her command and overview of the many subjects involved, finding her teaching style and structure extremely beneficial.

Jorid has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1988 and has specialized in the areas of couples therapy, addiction, trauma, divorce and chronic illness. She runs divorce support groups as well as groups for people in early recovery from addiction. Jorid combines a contemporary psychodynamic approach with an experiential style. In addition to teaching for Gerry Grossman Seminars, Jorid is an adjunct faculty member at Pepperdine University.

 

Patricia E. Patton, Ph.D.

Patti is a clinical psychologist (PSY 13266) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 27419). She created such Gerry Grossman Seminars Continuing Education courses as Domestic Violence, Anxiety Disorders and Anger Management. She was also instrumental in the development of the Gerry Grossman Seminars BBS exam prep courses for LCSW candidates, and continues to teach those courses.

 

Scott L. Singer, MA, LMFT

Scott has worked for AIDS Project Los Angeles since 1994 and has experience running their intensive in-home case management and mental health programs. He maintains a private practice in Los Angeles which focuses on issues pertaining to gays & lesbians, HIV/AIDS, and addictions.

 

Pam Sirota, Psy.D., LMFT

Pam has a private practice in West Los Angeles and Encino specializing in social skills groups, family issues, children and adolescents, grief support, and parenting. Her extensive experience as a special education teacher and pre-school director makes her an ideal instructor. She has been working as a private GGS tutor since becoming licensed in 2005. Pam has received her doctorate as a Clinical Psychologist.

 

H. Dan Smith, EdD, LMFT

Dan is a licensed marriage and family therapist whose practice has been within a busy psychiatry office for over 15 years. His primary clinical interests include treatment of adolescent and adult populations as well as family therapy; most of his clinical practice has been within managed care and EAP environments. He is a professor of counseling at California State University, Fresno where he specializes in law and ethics, child abuse assessment and treatment, therapy techniques, and supervision of therapists in field settings. Dan has developed various supervision technologies that are in widespread use within counselor training programs across the country.

 

Christina J. Stimmann, MSW, LCSW

Christina earned her BA in Biochemistry from Mills College, her MS in Health Services Administration from St. Mary’s College, and her MSW – specializing in public child welfare – from California State University, Stanislaus. Over the last 20 years Christina has worked in various health and social service settings including HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, sexual assault, child welfare, child forensic interviewing and health education. Currently, Christina is the Coordinator for the Solano County Family Justice Center and maintains a small private practice in Davis.

Christina’s teaching experience includes working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa, an outreach educator for domestic violence and HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention, and as an instructor for UC Davis Extension teaching social work courses to adult learners for the last five years. She is trained in E.M.D.R and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (M.I.N.T).

In addition, Christina has taken the entire Gerry Grossman Seminar preparatory program for both the written and clinical vignette portions of the LCSW exam. She is very confident that you too will gain the study skills, knowledge base, and testing focus needed to pass both exams.

 

Andrew Teton, MA, LMFT

Andrew received his Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Santa Barbara, and has also participated in the Hakomi Body Inclusive Therapy training. He studied with Gerry Grossman Seminars for both his written and orals exams, and, after passing both on the first attempt, Andrew started offering Gerry Grossman Seminars classes for both licensing exams in Santa Barbara where he has found associates in the Central Coast area extremely receptive to having locally based licensing classes.

In 2017 Andrew received the Excellence in Teaching Award from Antioch University, Santa Barbara. He is also noted for his sense of humor and has served as the "comedy break" entertainer at several local CAMFT functions.

 

Anne Wilford, MA, LMFT

Anne received her Master's degree from John F. Kennedy University and has been an instructor with GGS for 20 years. Prior to her clinical work, Anne had an extensive career in Expressive Arts and Theater. She co-authored and performed in the award winning theater piece "Leftovers...the Ups and Downs of a Compulsive Eater". This is an improvisationally developed show about women and body image. Anne's DVD of the show, used in concert with the accompanying "Leftovers" workbook and experiential workshops have helped many who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder.

Anne's early clinical experience included working with adolescent psychiatric in-patient programs and adult dual-diagnosis day treatment. For the last 20 years, she has had a private practice in Berkeley, working with individuals utilizing depth psychotherapy and transformational couples' work. With individuals she specializes in Binge Eating, issues with aging, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and has experience with a variety of other issues. In her work with couples she emphasizes identifying and repairing problematic relationship dynamics. This will lead to communication and growth. She also specializes in conscious divorce/uncoupling.

Anne has over 40 years of teaching experience and truly enjoys the balance of teaching and practicing depth psychotherapy. She teaches exam preparation for the California Clinical exam and a number of Continuing Education classes. She brings humor, curiosity, and a wealth of experience to all of her classes. Over the years she has found that she is able to help students identify their particular challenges with the test taking process. She has developed a number of anxiety management techniques that students can utilize before and during the testing process. Anne's intention is to make a challenging process positive and interesting.

 

Cristina Wood, MA, LMFT

Cristina received her master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, California, in 2007, and founded West Los Angeles Anger Management that same year. Since then, she has been teaching classes and providing one-on-one coaching for clients presenting issues with anger and stress management.

Working for Providence Community Services, in Hawaiian Gardens, CA, Cristina has been providing counseling for children, adolescents, and their families in the school-based programs since 2007.

Cristina is part of the Adjunct Faculty at Corporate University of Providence, where she developed and taught Narrative Therapy teleclasses for the agency staff nationwide. This class offers 6 hours of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) approved by BBS.

Cristina is an EMDR trained professional and has been treating clients with issues related to trauma, anxiety, and depression in her private practice in West LA. She is multi-lingual, working with clients in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

 

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