My name is Sonya C. Serna and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that provides individual, couples and family therapy in a private practice setting located in Stockton, CA. I have over 15 years of experience working with high-risk adults, children/adolescents and families in the social service and mental health field. During my internship, I have received extensive training as a school-based Clinician in working with children and families who are impacted by severe trauma, abuse, domestic violence, grief/loss, and anxiety/depression.
In addition to interning for a local non-profit counseling center that offers counseling services to primarily victims of crime clientele, this is where I feel that I had the opportunity to gain knowledge and develop a better understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders in my work with women who were victims of rape/sexual assault, spousal abuse and who suffered from childhood trauma. When providing treatment to clients, I prefer to use an eclectic therapeutic approach, because I feel that every client is unique and not every client’s situation is the same! So, by using a variety of theoretical orientations such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR & Trauma-Focused therapies in treatment may be more effective in meeting the needs of the client.
In terms of my educational background, I have a BA degree in Child Development from San Jose State University, which was received in 2000. In 2007, I received an M.A. degree in Clinical Psychology-MFT from Notre Dame de Namur University. In 2013, I obtained my state license from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Additional Training/Certifications: On December 12, 2021, I received my Certificate of Completion for EMDRIA-Approved Basic Training
in EMDR Therapy from the EMDR Education and Training Center. On February 1, 2024, I became EMDR Certified with EMDRIA.
Personal Statement:
Life has ups and downs! When we experience life challenges, there may be those times when we feel stuck, alone & don’t know how to cope with it! It’s understandable that when making the decision to seek professional help for our personal issues it may seem scary or unfamiliar territory to some, but it can be beneficial and effective when an individual is open and ready to take that first step towards self-care! Hopefully, the information that I have shared with you about my experience and background is helpful to you. If the type of therapy services that I provide appear to meet your needs, please feel free to contact me about scheduling an appointment. Thank you!