I am the counselor for students with last names Li– Ri for the 2008-2009 school year.  I am delighted to be a member of the excellent Canyon Crest Academy Counseling team.  I am looking forward to getting to know the students and their families, the staff and community.   

I grew up in Southern California and I attended the University of California, San Diego for my undergraduate degree, starting as a biology major at Revelle College.  I found I was more interested in my human behavior courses, so I changed my major to psychology and moved to Muir College, where I graduated Cum Laude in 1993.  I attended graduate school at Pepperdine University and then earned a Masters of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from San Diego State University. 

Before moving to the school system, I worked in diverse settings including the UCSD Department of Psychiatry, San Diego Center for Children, and San Diego Children’s Hospital.  For the past five years, I was a school counselor in San Gabriel, California.  I loved my school but I missed San Diego and wanted to return as soon as possible!  In my free time, I love to travel, snowboard and to be outdoors.

My counseling philosophy is student-centered and systemic.  As a comprehensive counselor, my job is to provide academic, career and college, and social and emotional support to students.  I believe each student and family has unique talents and abilities, and it is my goal to serve as a resource and to foster each student’s growth.  High school is an exciting and important stage of life for students.  I love their enthusiasm, energy and openness, and I consider it a privilege to work with them during this time!