Gina McKernon-Cindrich
Psychological Assistant

The relationships we experience in our families, both of origin and procreation, often influence our thoughts, beliefs and actions. Understanding and actively participating in these relationships can bring greater awareness of how they impact us and those we are in relationship with.
I enjoy working with families to support them in their familial relationships and with challenges that arise within them.

Parenting can be challenging under the best of circumstances and for parents who have children with special needs or simply special personalities the potential of benefiting from encouragement, support and connection with resources is great. Working with parents and their children on family issues is something I enjoy a great deal.

There are many paths to parenthood.  Some do this through birth, others through surrogacy, adoption, guardianship, or are relatives caring for another family member’s child.  If you are in the process of considering alternative paths to parenthood or are parenting a child not born to you, I would love to help support you with the unique layers of issues your family may be facing.

Moreover, with six out of ten people having a personal connection with adoption, many persons and families are impacted by their connection with adoption.  The adoption experience can impact self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, beliefs, thoughts and behaviors.  Drawing from my professional, research and personal experiences I have a great interest in helping individuals and families understand the impact of adoption.

Please let feel free to contact me to see if I may be of assistance to you and/or your family.

Gina McKernon-Cindrich, Ph.D.
805-801-6855
drginacindrich@aol.com

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Shefali Vatsa
Psychological Assistant
PSB 36140
805-235-1882

What is Narrative Therapy?
Our lives are greatly influenced by the stories we tell about ourselves. These stories, or narratives, can be positive and can help lead us towards the creation of enriching, fulfilled lives, or they can be negative and lead us away from our true potential and the life we wish to lead. In sessions, our goals will be to identify and pursue those story-lines that empower you, to uncover strengths both visible and hidden, and to work on disengaging from plots that no longer serve you. I received my formal education at the University of California, Berkeley (B.A.), Pepperdine University (M.A.), and Pacifica Graduate Institute (PH.D candidate), and trained at schools and clinics in Orange County, Ca.

I look forward to exploring the richness of your story with you.

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Ms. Susan Hirsch, M.A.
Marriage and Family Therapist Intern #64372
805-234-3416

Life is meant to be joyous but sometimes we get stuck. My job is to help you get unstuck so you can experience the joy life has to offer.
To help you achieve that goal, I will draw on a variety of therapeutic methods, primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as Client-Centered Theory. Besides my formal training as a therapist at Cal Poly and Chapman University, I also draw on my
experiences as a business professional in the software industry as President of The Sant Corporation and Vice President of Dun and Bradstreet Software.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long will I be in therapy?
Length of therapy will be determined by the nature of your challenges. For many people, a short-term focus works, however, long-term therapy is available for on-going concerns.

2. Why can’t I solve my issues myself?
Sometimes we need to talk to someone else to reframe our understanding of our experiences and how they affect us now.

3. What method of communication do you recommend for couples?
Imago dialogue is one of the most effective tools for satisfying our innate yearning for wholeness and connection. The Imago dialogue is the language of love in all relationships. The three steps of dialogue include:
Mirroring
Validating
Empathizing
This process allows us to discover the other, grow into our potential, and experience a real connection with our partner.

4. What book do you recommend to improve couples communication?
Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples by Dr. Harville Hendrix