Education		Doctor of Psychology California School of Professional Psychology San Diego, California 1991-1995 APA-Approved Program Major: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Project Title: The Relationship of African Americans' Racial Identity Attitudes to Ratings for Counselors Varying in Ethnic Consciousness and Race." Master of Arts California School of Professional Psychology San Diego, California 1991-1993 Major: Psychology Bachelor of Arts University of California Irvine, California Bachelor of Arts, cum laude 1989-1991 Major: Psychology Major: Political Science Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, California 1987-1989
Teaching Experience		St. Margaret's Episcopal School San Juan Capistrano, CA 2005-2007 Developed curriculum and taught introductory psychology course to high school seniors Applied for and received UC credit for course. St. Margaret's Episcopal School San Juan Capistrano, CA 2006-2007 Developed curriculum and taught Human Development Class to middle school students. Developed curriculum for advisory program for middle school students. Saddleback Community College Mission Viejo, California 1996-2001 Associate Faculty Duties: Academic instruction of undergraduate students for introductory psychology courses. El Camino Community College Torrance, CA Spring 1995 Internship Duties: Facilitated group discussions, classroom observation and weekly conferences with mentor teacher. Mentor Teacher: Michael Wynne, Ph.D
Applied Experience		Licensed Psychologist PSY #15986 Private Practice Laguna Hills, CA. 2001 - Present Practice includes working with individuals, couples and children. Special issues include academic and diagnostic assessment, relationship and parenting issues, depression and anxiety. School Psychologist St. Margaret's Episcopal School San Juan Capistrano, CA 2001-2007 Appointment included classroom observation, in-service for teachers. Crisis intervention, assessment and treatment recommentation for Students and parents, and short-term counseling. Licensed Psychologist PSY #15986 Group practice: Mission Psychological Consultants 1998-2001 Duties: Individual couples, children and group psychotherapy. Practice included intakes, diagnostic and academic assessment, crisis intervention and biofeedback with children and adults diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Special issues included domestic violence, divorce, chronic pain and illness, relationship issues, depression and anxiety. School Psychologist Mission School San Juan Capistrano, CA 1997-2000 Appointment includes classroom observation, In-service for teachers, assessment and treatment recommendations for students and parents, short-term counseling. Registered Psychological Assistant Mission Psychological Consultants San Juan Capistrano, CA 1996-1998 Duties: Individual, Couples, Children and group psychotherapy. Appointment includes intakes, testing, assessment and biofeedback with children and adults diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Internship County of Orange Health Care Agency Mental Health Services Santa Ana, CA 1994-1995 Duties: Individual psychotherapy with chronically mentally ill clients appointment included intakes, testing, assessment and crisis intervention Internship Family Service Center Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, CA 1993-1994 Duties: Psychotherapy with service members. Co-facilitated group for perpetrators of domestic violence. Appointment included intake, testing and assessment Practicum Counseling Center University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 1992-1993 Duties: Individual and couples psychotherapy with college students. Appointment included intake, assessment and outreach activities.
Professional Publications		African American Students' Ratings of Caucasian and African American Counselors Varying in Racial Consciousness. Want, Valerie; Parham, Thomas A; Baker, Richard C.; Sherman, Mark Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology 10(2), May 2004, 123-136
Workshops Presented		"Interracial Dating" Co-presented for residenc hall students at UCI "Pros and Cons of Intra-hall Dating" Co-Presented for residence hall students at UCI
Professional Presentations		"Swimming with Sharks: The Internet Pitfalls that Plague Our Children." Co-Presented to St. Margaret's parents. Marital Relations Class Five week course taught at St. Georges Episcopal Church "Little League Parent Syndrome" Co-presented to Laguna Hills Little League "Essential Life Skills" A ten week course presented to Horizion High School students. The course taught students how to resolve conflict without violence, how to control their anger and implement appropriate coping mechanisms, how to identify positive and negative family patterns and to identify the student's role in the family "Stopping School Violence." Co-presented at Mission Viejo Library Six week parenting class highlighting effective versus ineffective parenting techniques. St. George's Episcopal Church and Academy, Rancho Capistrano Church "Dealing With Difficult Parents" Inservice: South Orange County preschool directors and teachers at Mission School "Arguing with your child: why?" Co-presented at Geneva Presbyterian MOPS. Seminar highlighted ineffective versus effective parenting styles through the use of role plays "Soothing the difficulty patient" A continuing education seminar co-presented at Saddleback Memorial Hospital (March 1999). "Whose house is this" and "Pushing your child to succeed without pressure." Co-Presented at: FEMALE Support Group (April 1998), Ocean Hills MOPS (March 1998), Mission School (March 1998), Our Savior Lutheran School (Feb. 1998), San Dieguito Methodist Church (Feb. 1998), Edison Academy (Jan. 1998), St. John's (Jan. 1998), "How to be a Mother Inc.",(Nov. 1997), Shepard of the Hills (June 1997), Mt. Olives Church (Feb. 1997), Our Savior Lutheran School (Feb. 1997), Mission School (Jan. 1997) and Abiding Savior Lutheran School (Oct. 1996). Seminars highlighted ineffective and effective parenting styles through the use of role plays. "Hey I Thought Marriage was a Partnership: Where Are You?" and "Uh, Excuse Me, Where's the Romance?" Seminar presented to South Coast Christian Assembly, Valentine's Day 1998. "Social Support: The Double-Edged Sword" Presentation to the American Fibromyalgia Foundation at Hoag Hospital (Feb. 1997). Want, V., Parham, T.A., Baker, R., & Sherman, M. "African Americans' ratings for counselors varying in ethnic consciousness and race". Paper presented at the American Psychological Association annual meeting, Toronto, Canada, August 1996. "Meeting the Needs of Seniors" Co-Presented at the Santiago Senior's Club (Oct. 1996). Presentation included role plays which normalized psychotherapy, assessment and treatment of depression in the senior population.
Memberships and Civic Activities		Orange County Psychological Association Editor, The Orange Psychologist 1995-2000 UCI Alumni Association Board Member 1999-2005 Vice President Scholarship Committee PSI CHI The National Honor Society in Psychology