An eclectic blend of professional and life experience along with ongoing formal and self-guided training has resulted in a seemingly disparate assemblage of expertise and professional services. The common thread is dedication to meeting clients’ needs as they arise. Key to this endeavor is a willingness to remain curious, develop multiple professional skills, and continue thinking “outside the box.”
VITA
| 1983 | Bachelor of Science, Business Management & Administration, Pepperdine University | |
| 1980-1992 | Small business management and administration | |
| 1990-1992 | Volunteer Counselor, Jewish Family Services Cult Clinic, Los Angeles | |
| 1990-1992 | Speaker, Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles Commission on Cults and Missionaries | |
| Aug. 1996-Aug. 1997 | Practicum Placement, Catholic Charities Center for Psychological Services, Van Nuys | |
| 1996-1998 | Volunteer Therapeutic Shadow and Advisor, Hill and Dale Family Learning Center, Gramercy Place, Los Angeles | |
| June 1997 | Master of Arts, California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles | |
| Aug. 1997-Jun. 1998 | Psychology Intern, Children, Youth, Family Services Consortium, Alhambra | |
| Aug. 1998-Aug. 1999 | Psychology Intern, Julia Ann Singer Center, Los Angeles | |
| Sept. 1999-Jun. 2000 | Counselor, Our Lady of the Valley School, Canoga Park Catholic Charities Center for Psychological Services, Van Nuys | |
| Apr. 2000-Mar. 2002 | Registered Psychological Assistant, Counseling Center of Santa Monica, Los Angeles | |
| February 2002 | Doctor of Philosophy, California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles (Multicultural and Community Clinical Proficiency) | |
| Apr. 2002-May. 2005 | Registered Psychological Assistant to Katina K. Kostoulas, Ph.D., Los Angeles | |
| May 2005 – Present | Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Private Practice, Los Angeles | |
| Sept. 2006 – Jul 2008 | Provisional Staff Member with Psychology Privileges, Brotman Medical Center Dept. of Behavioral Medicine, Culver City |
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
| 1992 | Communication Workshop for Cult Awareness Network Affiliates, Annual CAN Conference, Los Angeles, CA |
| 1993 | Panel Chair: Cult Phenomenon: Cult Affiliation and Clinical Assessment, Los Angeles County Psychological Association Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA |
| 1999 | Presentation, Factors Associated with Post-cult Distress: Research Findings
Symposium Panel Member, Toward a Common Research Agenda, Annual Conference of the American Family Foundation, St. Paul, MN |
| 2001 | Presentation, Trauma Research Applied to the Study of Cult-related Distress, Annual Conference of the American Family Foundation, Newark, NJ |
| 2002 | Presentation, The Prevalence of Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse Among Former Cult Members as Compared to the General Population, Annual Conference of the American Family Foundation, Orlando, FL |
| 2002 | Expert Interviewee, AM Radio Station KFWB Talk Show: Mind Control |
| 2003 | Coordinator, Psychological Research, Parts I & II And Presentation, Cults and New Religions: Findings from the Psychological Research, Annual Conference of the American Family Foundation, Orange, CA |
| 2009 | Expert Interviewee for History Channel show “That’s Impossible: Mind Control” |
| 2016 | Presentation, Cults: An Overview
Panelist, Cults & Sex Trafficking Conference, |
| 2018 | Presentation, The Integration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Neurofeedback (with Alpha-Theta) To Treat Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Trauma, Advanced Clinical Summit, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2018 | Presentation, Cults: An Overview, Recovering from Cults and Coercive Control: A Workshop for Former Members and Families, Los Angeles, CA |
Winocur, N., Sorensen, C., Vaughn, P.K., Whitney, J. & Foy, D.W. (November, 1996). Factors associated with post-cult distress: Addressing the controversy empirically. A poster presented at the 12th annual conference of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Francisco.
Winocur, N., Whitney, J., Sorensen, C., Vaughn, P.K., & Foy, D.W.(1997). The Individual Cult Experience Index: The assessment of cult involvement and its relationship to post-cult distress. Cultic Studies Journal, 14(2), 290-306.
CONSULTATIONS
| 2007 | Study and Report on the Efficacy of Jews for Judaism Counseling Services and Proposal for Future Evaluation (including instruments, methods, procedures and analyses). |
MEMBERSHIPS
The American Psychological Association (APA)
The Los Angeles County Psychological Association (LACPA)
Asperger Syndrome Education Network (ASPEN)
International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The Balanced Mind Foundation (Family Resources for Kids with Mood Disorders)
The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and
*****
Providing services for adults of all ages in the following areas:
*Asperger’s Syndrome
*Gifted and Twice-Exceptional (gifted with learning, developmental and/or psychiatric conditions)
*Bipolar Disorder
*Mindfulness and Positive Psychology
*Depression and Anxiety
*History of Childhood Trauma
*Cult Involvement and Mind Control