Therapists

Kathryn de Bruin

“Born and raised in South Africa a number of my first milestones were achieved in this beautiful, dynamic country.

Amongst these were completing my schooling, a Bachelors of Arts in Social Work, as well beginning my work experience in a private practice in South Africa’s capital city Pretoria. It was there that I facilitated preventative programmes in schools and practiced child therapy.

Alongside my husband, we moved to Aachen, Germany, for two years, an experience which enabled me to explore the human psyche in terms of environment adjustments and change management. It was after this two year period that my husband and I moved to San Diego, USA. Having lived in various countries, experiencing and working with different ethnic groups, I have become better equipped to relate to and counsel individuals dealing with life changes and challenges.

In 2004, having lived in San Diego for four years, I attained my Masters of Arts at Bethel Seminary, graduating Summa Cum Laude. It was during my training and internship that I was able to work in a variety of settings to gain the experience and expertise required for effective psychotherapy.

I have a passion to empower individuals and families to attain a higher standard of functioning. I am therefore licensed in California as a Marriage and Family Therapist, a registered Play Therapist Supervisor and an Emotionally Focused Therapy Supervisor. I am also passionate about supervising and consulting other professionals who work with children, families and couples. This includes weekly individual and group supervision to trainees and interns of the non-profit Alliant Couple and Family Clinic.

I am a wife and a mother of three children. This experience has enabled me to reflect on the significance of Child Therapy as well as Marital Therapy and given me the life experience necessary to interact with clients and professionals alike, ensuring a meaningful, sustainable connection.”

MyResume.doc

Ansley Fraser Curtis

Experience:

Education and Affiliations:

Additional Training:

Berenice Leon-Fonseca

I once heard someone say, “not everyone needs therapy, but everyone can benefit from it.” I couldn’t agree more. It can be scary to invite someone into your intimate life experiences, but in that, I see great strength. I honor that courage and vulnerability, and I am passionate about providing a safe space for the children and families that I work with.

I was born and raised in Arizona, to Mexican immigrant parents, and was exposed to diversity at a young age. As a result of my upbringing, I have a great understanding of multi-generational cultural differences and the struggles that come from being bicultural and bilingual (Spanish language). Marriage eventually brought me to sunny San Diego, California over 17 years ago, which has provided me with a great deal of experience in working with a diverse population. Over the span of 15 plus years, I worked as a Paralegal at the Office of the Family Law Facilitator, with the San Diego Superior Court, South County Division, where I helped parents and guardians navigate through their legal matters. Such experience has afforded me the opportunity to understand the process and the impact that the Family Court system can have on individuals and families. Ultimately, I was moved to pursue a career in mental health to end the stigma on mental illness, help empower people to live whole and healthy lives, and engage in meaningful relationships.

Because I believe in creating healthy emotional connections, I work within an Emotionally Focused Therapy lens to help support my clients on their journey towards healing and wholeness. It is a joy and a privilege to do the work that I do!

I look forward to meeting and working with you!

Therapeutic Specialties:

Children ages 2-18, with anxiety, depression, and mood disorders

Families; Adult children and parents, and families navigating through family separation

Parenting

Premarital

Faith-based Counseling

Education & Affiliations:

M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy from Bethel University – Seminary San Diego.

B.A. in Sociology from the University of San Diego

A.S. Paralegal Studies Cuyamaca College

AAMFT member

ICEFFT member

Additional Training:

Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship, Winter 2020

Gene Rosales Vivo

“In therapy, I believe in the importance of building connections, resilience and hope with every client or family system. I was born in the Philippines and grew up in a culture, which valued family, hospitality, industriousness and joy. In my professional experience, I have had the pleasure to work with a diversity of clients and families. I always believed that I am meant to meet every client and/or family, who I work with in order to walk the therapeutic path with them and be the agent of change in their current stressors or challenges.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). In my practice, I pull from different modalities such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral family therapy, play therapy, etc. to assist clients and families in their therapeutic process. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, transitional age youth and families as well as working with clients, who have experienced trauma, commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and/or psychosis. Providing a safe, collaborative, trauma informed care and empathetic space is important for me in my work. The best part of clinical practice is the ability to be part of someone’s journey and watch one’s growth process evolve. I look forward to meeting and working with you!”

Education and Affiliations:

Masters in Marital and Family Therapy, Alliant International University

Bachelors of Science, Kinesiology and Minor in Recreation, San Diego State University

CAMFT Member

Experience:

Clinical Director, New Alternatives Inc., Kenora Short-term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP)

Clinician, New Alternatives Inc., Crisis Action & Connection (CAC)

Clinician, Pathways Community Services, Catalyst Program

Trainings:

Motivational Interviewing

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Training

Trauma Informed Care

California Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths

Kore Busath

Kore holds a B.A. in English and a minor in Professional Writing for Civic Engagement from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She will graduate with her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University in August 2021. Kore is also working towards her PsyD degree at Alliant with a keen interest in trauma.

Prior to pursuing a career in mental health, Kore worked as a corporate communications advisor, providing strategic counsel to companies in crisis situations such as bankruptcies, sudden management changes, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and reputational attacks. Kore now applies the skills that she developed in that job to her work helping individuals, couples and families move through periods of transition, challenge, and distress.

Kore believes deeply that all people are capable of change, growth, evolution, and healing when met with compassionate care. She primarily works within the framework of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is pursuing certification in both models. Kore has also been a registered yoga teacher (E-RYT 200) since 2015 and, as such, brings mindfulness and somatic awareness into her work as a therapist.

Stephanie Mauro

Born and raised in New York, further shaped by the cultures which envelope Boston, Honolulu, Istanbul, San Francisco, San Diego, and extensive travel throughout S.E. Asia.  Prior to working in the field of mental health, Stephanie was an executive in the technology sector.  Stephanie worked for fortune 500s, mid-sized companies, as well as start-ups.

Stephanie holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Couple and Family Therapy program at Alliant International University-California School of Professional Psychology.

Stephanie follows the principles and practices of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based therapy.  She is focused on helping individuals, couples, and families find their balance together through building trust, repairing injuries, and renewing confidence in the bonds that enable them to face challenges and overcome obstacles and grow and thrive.  Stephanie’s sessions are client-centered and focused on building deep understanding to promote full engagement with purpose.  Stephanie works collaboratively with her clients on their goals while supporting their anchors of strength, values, and relationships.

Education:

Masters of Arts, Marriage and Family Therapy, Alliant International University

Bachelors of Arts, Communications and Business, S.U.N.Y Oswego

Affiliations:

Secretary, Leadership Board, San Diego Center for EFT

International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Member

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Member

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Member

Additional Training:

Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship

Trauma-Focused CBT Certificate

Parent-Child Interactive Therapy Certificate

Emotionally Focused Therapy Core Skills