Staff

Aishwarya Subramanian, AMFT

Aishwarya Subramanian is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and expressive arts therapist at the Child Therapy Institute in Antioch. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies. Having worked as a therapist and advocate for youth and families in community-based, school-based, and outpatient counseling settings, she holds a collaborative, strengths-based, trauma-informed, social justice framework and holistic body-mind-spirit wellness approach in her psychotherapy work. As an interdisciplinary artist and therapist, Aishwarya believes in the healing and transformative power of creative play and expressive arts modalities, and she strives to join clients as they explore and navigate their internal worlds and imaginations.

Jennifer Larsh, AMFT

Jennifer Larsh is an MFT Trainee at the Child Therapy Institute, providing services at Berkeley Art Magnet Elementary School and the CTI  outpatient office in San Pablo to children. She identifies as a White-skinned Mixed Race Afrikan American, cis-gender woman who works with an integrated therapeutic arts model and has a special interest in Drama Therapy and the developing modality of Culinary Arts therapy. Jennifer emphasizes Afrocentric, Womanist, Liberation, Abolitionist, Strengths-based, and Relational Cultural ideals and goals. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience working with Youth Programming, Educational Enrichment, and Leadership Development through the YMCA of the East Bay.

Alyssa Paris, AMFT

No matter our history or wounds, I believe in our ability to return to wholeness through accessing the body’s innate wisdom and natural self-healing abilities. My clinical practice is trauma-informed, attachment-oriented and rooted in mind-body-spirit unity. I seek to offer clients the safe ground of radical inclusivity, unconditional positive regard, curiosity and compassion, a place in which to explore, discover, play, grieve, welcome, empower and transform. Integrating Eastern, Western and Earth-based modalities, my work is designed to be holistic and integrative, supporting clients to connect with their most authentic selves.

Madelyn Bullard, AMFT

Hi, my name is Madelyn. I’m an Associate MFT who offers relational, somatic therapy, and am thrilled to be expanding my practice to work with children through the Child Therapy Institute. I earned my Master’s degree at the California Institute for Integral Studies’ Somatic Psychology Program, and before that, earned my Bachelor’s in the Netherlands in dance & performance. Being a lifelong lover of somatics, movement improvisation, and knowing first-hand the healing power of dance as sacred expression & performance as ritual, these tools enter the therapeutic space, whether in play with children or individual adult counseling. I also draw from a long history of engaging with mindfulness in order to ground the body in the potency of the present moment.

Ciara Forshee, AMFT

Ciara Forshee attended California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, California to complete her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Community Mental Health. Ciara Graduated in 2022 and is now an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist. Ciara attributes her diverse cultural background and life experiences to being who she is professionally; dedicated to supporting marginalized communities and their mental health.  Presently, Ciara lives in Oakland, California with her daughter, husband, and cat. Ciara enjoys traveling, connecting with family and friends, comedy, being outdoors, trying new recipes and restaurants, and live music. 

Previously, Ciara worked with marginalized youth one on one as a tutor and assisted families navigating county benefit programs.  She spent 6 years volunteering at a Needle Exchange after becoming very interested in harm reduction while completing her undergraduate studies.  While volunteering at the needle exchange Ciara was struck by the need for genuine, caring providers and noticed what connecting with individuals, in need, can do. For 4 years prior to graduate school Ciara worked as an advocate, case manager and crisis worker for youth who are being sexually exploited & trafficked, involved with foster and justice systems.  Her goal is to continue to support marginalized youth, adults and communities through advocacy, therapy, and social justice activism. 

Jennifer (“Jenny”) Randt, S.E.P., LMFT #125941

pronouns: she/her/hers, identifies as a white bodied, cis-gender female
Jenny joined the Child Therapy Institute in 2019 after working with preschoolers at Head Start in
Richmond, CA. She approaches each case through a combination of child-centered play therapy,
attachment / relational repair, and a unique blend of somatically informed trauma perspectives.
This somatic lens treats mind and body as one (whereas the client’s psyche has traditionally been
viewed separate from the medical condition of the body).
Jenny is a Somatic Experiencing practitioner and assists trainings locally several times per year
in Northern California. She is also certified as a Somatic Resilience and Regulation practitioner
which is a specialized approach to working with developmental trauma through a combination of
co-regulation, ultra-fine attunement, and touch work (when appropriate).
In 2020 Jenny began both studying and practicing “Somatic Abolitionism” developed by Resmaa
Menakem (https://www.resmaa.com/movement) and integrates this work both professionally and
personally.
Jenny splits her time between the Child Therapy Institute in San Pablo, CA and her private
practice in Berkeley, CA, where she sees clients of all ages. Outside of work she enjoys time at
home with her dog and cat, sleepovers with her niece and nephews, hikes in nature, and
opportunities to play and make art with others.