Taffy Clarke Pelton, MA LPC

OREGON C5572 & CALIF MFC33224[inactive]

Work Experience

February 2004–Current

Licensed Professional Counselor, Independent Practitioner in private practice, Ashland, OR

Work with families, couples, and individuals, specializing in clients with life challenges and chronic illness. Also have expertise in treating anger, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, sexual abuse, and issues relating to midlife transition. Clientele are mostly young to late middle-aged, high-functioning adults who are primarily focused on adjustment, mood, anxiety, and some personality disorders. They come from all over Southern Oregon, including Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Jacksonville, Grants Pass, and Medford, Oregon. In her counseling and coaching, Taffy applies Mindfulness Body Centered Psychotherapy (Hakomi), EMDR, Life Coaching techniques, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gestalt, Trancework, Talk Therapy, and Bowen Family Systems Therapy. Focus is solution-oriented and on expansion of client’s strengths.

January 2002–December 2007

Certified Mindful Coach and Trainer, Ashland, OR

Work with clients seeking major life transitions utilizing life coaching techniques. Focus is on assessment of the client’s current situation, creating strategies for overcoming obstacles to change, and providing accountability for action plan. As a Mindful Coach also on contract with Medifit Corporate Services as Wellness Coach for international Fortune 10 company.

October 2002–Current

Instructor, Ashland Institute of Massage, Ashland, OR

Teach the psychiatric disorders portion of Pathology course for students working toward Massage Therapy license.

April 1996–December 2001

Licensed Marriage, Family, Child Therapist, Supervisor. Independent Practitioner, and Supervisor (Taffy Clarke Pelton and Associates), Center for Inner Work Associate, San Diego, CA

Worked with families, couples, and individuals in private practice utilizing aforementioned approaches. Supervised two interns.

September 1994–September 1995

Group Counselor, Family Stress Center, Chula Vista, CA

Led therapy groups for perpetrators of sexual offenses through Parents United.

September 1993–April 1996

Intern, Private Practice, Supervised by Julie Georgeski, San Diego, CA

Continued with clients from prior internship. Worked with families, couples, and individuals, specializing in sexual abuse and clients with life challenges and chronic illness.

July 1992–August 1993

Intern, Private Practice, Supervised by Beverly Peterson, MA, MFCC, Cardiff by the Sea, CA

Generated own practice through offering men’s, women’s, and mixed groups, focusing on gender and relationship issues. Also gained clients through the creation and presentations of seminar Mind of the Body as well as classes/lectures on breast cancer prevention.

June 1991–June 1992

Victims of Crime Counselor, Family Stress Center, Chula Vista, CA

Therapy with sexual abuse victims (children, ages 5–15) and their families who qualified for state assistance. Utilized Bowen Family Systems to treat this diverse socioeconomic and ethnic-rich population. Taught basic parenting and interpersonal skills. Also led mixed and women’s group in Parents United.

June 1988–June 1991

Counselor, Hospital Santa Monica, Baja, Mexico

Intensive therapy with cancer patients and others suffering from chronic degenerative diseases. Frequent crisis intervention with terminally ill patients and their families. Developed and led weekly therapy and psycho-educational groups focused on stress management and attitudinal healing.

Training/Education

• MA, Counseling Psychology, National University, San Diego, CA, 1991
• BA Social Science, California State University, San Bernardino, CA, 1975
• Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (California), April 1996
• Completion of 3-Year Training Hakomi (Body Centered Psychotherapy), 1997
• 4-Week Intensive Gestalt Training, Miriam and Erving Polster, 1998
• Completion of EMDR Second Level Training, January 2000
• Training in Clinical Hypnosis in Psychotherapy: Solution Oriented (July 2000) and Applying Clinical Hypnosis in Psychotherapy (September, 2000), Michael Yapko
• Completed 6-day intensive Ericksonian Hypnosis training, July, 2000, Stephen Gilligan, PhD
• Bowen Family Systems Consultation Group, Carolyn Jacobs, 2000
• Ongoing supervision/consultation group with Michael Yapko, PhD (Brief & CBT)
• Red Cross Sponsored Critical Incident Stress Management Training, August 2001
• Mindful Coaching Training and Certification, Billie Frances, December 2001
• Licensed Professional Counselor (Oregon), February 2004
• Completion of Train the Trainer Program, Guiding Mindful Change, 2006
• Completion of Lay Chaplain Certification, Community of Hope, 2006
• Completion of Hospice Training, March 2007
• Completion of 1-year training Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with Pat Ogden, 2011

Publications and Other Creative Works

• How to Prevent Breast Cancer: A Lifestyle Guide to the Prevention and Recurrence of Breast Cancer, Ross Pelton, RPh, PhD, CCN; Taffy Clarke Pelton, MA, LMFT, LPC; and Vinton C. Vint, MD, Simon & Schuster, 1995
• Mind Food & Smart Pills, Ross Pelton, RPh, PhD and Taffy Clarke Pelton, MA, LMFT, LPC, Doubleday, 1989
• “Beyond Prozac: Natural Treatments for Depression and Anxiety,” Ross Pelton, RPh, PhD and Taffy Clarke Pelton, MA, LMFT, LPC, Natural Pharmacy (3 Parts: April–June 1997)
• “Psychosocial Predictors of Breast Cancer,” Taffy Clarke Pelton, San Diego Therapist, Pts. I & II, Nov.–Dec. 1995.
• “The Right Touch,” by Ross Pelton, RPh, PhD, CCN; Taffy Clarke Pelton, MA, LMFT, LPC; and Vinton C. Vint, MD, Longevity, April 1996
• “Conversations with Miriam and Erving Polster,” Taffy Clarke Pelton, San Diego Therapist, Pts. II & II, Oct.–Nov. 1998
• Developed and presented seminar Mind of the Body, 1993
• Developed and presented seminar Healthy Longevity, 1998
• “Body Centered Psychotherapy Skills for Counseling Chronically Ill Clients,” CEU Credit Class, Oct. 1998
• “The Immune Power Personality” Taffy Clarke Pelton, San Diego Therapist, September 2001
• Organized and coproduced Psychiatric Medications: The Way Forward, a collaboration between Continuing Medical Education and Mental Health Resources Network, Medford, OR, March 2012
• Adjunct Professor, Southern Oregon University, teaching class Psychiatric Medicines for Master’s in Counseling Program, Spring 2013

Special Competencies

• Active Member, Toastmaster, Achieved level ATM (Advanced Toastmaster)
• Certified Yoga Instructor, White Lotus Foundation, 1998
• Lifestyle and Wellness Coach
• Professional Activities and Organizations
• Member, California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT) and San Diego CAMFT
• Former Vice President, MHREN (Mental Health Resource and Education Network); publish quarterly newsletter, organize seminars
• Former Board Member of San Diego CAMFT, Director of Advertising
• Red Cross Mental Health Volunteer
• Former Program Director, AAUW
• Hospice Volunteer