Brian Lukas, PhD: Executive Director and Clinical Supervisor
Brian Lukas, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice, who has been providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents and adults for 35 years. In 1997, Dr. Lukas became the executive director of the Child Therapy Institute, after having served as the clinical director. Previously, Dr. Lukas worked in a variety of community mental health settings, including child guidance clinics, hospitals, schools. For ten years he served as the mental health specialist for Contra Costa County Head Start.
Dr. Lukas has received advanced training in Sandplay, and is a graduate of the Supervision Study program of the Psychotherapy Institute of Berkeley. Dr. Lukas has taught Child Therapy and related topics at the California Institute of Integral Studies, West Coast Children’s Center, the Community Institute of Psychotherapy, the Family Service Agency of Marin and the Apple Family Center.
Kathy Buys, MFT: Assistant Director and Clinical Supervisor
In addition to 15 years as a licensed marriage and family therapist, Kathy is a global educator, professional musician, and advanced certified shamanic practitioner. She interweaves teaching, experiential process with the arts, and wisdom from ancient Ireland to facilitate an adult’s authentic connection with the true self in individual, group, and retreat settings. This facilitates the person’s ability to heal from depression and childhood abuse and to more consciously create his or her most desired life. Kathy has worked with children and adults in both outpatient clinic, inpatient psychiatric, day treatment and private practice settings and has an office in Antioch and Albany.
Read MoreNancy Jacobs, LCSW: Clinical Director and Supervisor
Nancy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults in outpatient clinic, private practice and school based settings. She uses a variety of approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, sand play, expressive arts and mindfulness in order to meet each patient’s unique needs. As an accredited Triple P Provider, Nancy works with parents to improve their communication and relationship skills with their children.
Read MoreGary Buck, PhD, Psych. Assistant
Gary is a graduate of our training program and the founder of our Petaluma site. He also sees clients in San Rafael. Gary uses sand play, art , and play therapies as well as mindfulness in his work with children. In addition, he teaches mindfulness in elementary school classrooms. Gary also works with parents to improve their parenting skills as an accredited provider of the Positive Parenting Program (triple P). In his individual work with adults who are interested in spiritually-informed or contemplative therapy, Gary draws on over 35 years of mindfulness practice. In this work, he utilizes mindful inquiry, sand play, and the expressive arts as transformative therapeutic modalities.
Website: Garybuck.net
Read MoreAneissa Rosas-Sanchez, MSW, LCSW Intern
Aneissa provides bilingual psychotherapy in English and Spanish and is in her second year at the Child Therapy Institute. She specializes in working with children and families that have suffered from trauma, loss, or transition. During her experience with the American Red Cross in New York, she worked with children and families affected by 9/11. She also has experience in school-based mental health as well as hospital and clinic settings. Aneissa has a special interest in working with people of various cultures and experiences and understands that each person/family is unique.
Espanõl
Aneissa proporciona psicoterapia bilingüe en íngles y español y es una trabajadora social en su segundo año en el Institituto de Terapia de Niños. Se especializa en trabajar con niños y familias que han sufrido de un trauma, pérdida, o transición. Durante su experiencia con La Cruz Roja de Nueva York, Aneissa trabajó con niños y familias quien habían sido afectados por el 11 de septiembre. También, ella ha trabajado en El Departamento de Psiquiatría de Niños y Adolescentes del Hospital Presbiteriano de NY dónde ella proporcionó servicios con El Programa Escolar de Salud Mental. Aneissa tiene un interés especial de trabajar con personas de various culturas y experiencias, y ella entiende que cada persona/familia es extraordinaria.
Read MoreAninha E. Livingstone, MA, Psychological Assistant
Aninha is currently completing her doctoral work at Meridien University, where she specialized in expressive arts therapy. She has worked in the healing arts for over twenty years integrating somatic and shamanic approaches to healing. She has also worked with children ages K – 6 as a bilingual, migrant aid. Aninha provides therapy that integrates Spanish and English.
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