My undergraduate work includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Wellesley College and Master of Arts degree in Biological Sciences, also from Wellesley. I spent nine years teaching and learning as an Instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Wellesley where I was involved in teaching courses in Cell Physiology, Microbiology, Human Physiology and Anatomy. In 1987 I completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Boston University, and in 1989, moved across the country to begin a PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Southern California. In the course of my studies at USC I completed a year-long clerkship in the Psychological Assessment Clinic at the LAC + USC Psychiatric Hospital, and my internship was done the LA County+ USC Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic. My post-doctoral training included a 4-year appointment with the Department of Family Medicine at USC where I provided psychotherapeutic services to graduate and professional students in the Eric Cohen Student Health Center. I am now licensed to practice in California and Massachusetts.
My teaching background in psychology includes courses in Women’s Studies; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies; Psychological Assessment; and Human Sexuality at the University of LaVerne. In addition, I have been invited to talk about LGBT Adolescents at Children’s Friend and Family Services of Essex County (MA) and Psychotherapy with LGBT clients at Pepperdine University and the Fuller Theological Seminary (CA). I am interested in the intersections where ideas come together and enrich each other, such as the intersection of biological and psychological approaches to human problems, which is especially important in the current “Age of the Genome.” My approach to psychology and psychotherapy is eclectic with a focus on Relational-Cultural Therapy.
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Clinical) University of Southern California
Master of Arts in Psychology University of Southern California
Master of Arts in Biological Sciences Wellesley College
Bachelor of Science in Psychology Boston University
Bachelor of Arts in Art History Wellesley College
LICENSURE
Psychologist: California: PSY 17395 (April 2001)
Psychologist: Massachusetts: PY 7896-PR (October, 2001)
CURRENT POSITIONS
Private Practice (Pasadena, CA) April, 2001 – Present
Consulting Clinical Director, Assessment Program
Institute for Girls’ Development, Pasadena, CA
Illuminated Education
PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
On Connection and Disconnection: The Importance of Relationship in Growth, Health and Healing — Continuing Education presentation, Worcester, MA —
23 October 2014
Cooking Slowly: Where Is Psychology Practice Headed? And Do We Want to Go There? — Continuing Education Presentation in collaboration with Johanna Sagarin, PhD and
Jacquelyn N. Raftery-Helmer, PhD, Worcester, MA — 6 June 2014
When I Said I Wanted to Learn the Rorschach, They Said I was Crazy! — Presentation to the San Gabriel Valley CAMFT in collaboration with Ashley Taylor, PsyD and Marissa Lee, MFT of the Institute for Girls’ Development. — Pasadena, CA — 23 February 2013
Sacred Spaces: How Shamanic Cosmology Can Inform and Deepen Clinical Practice — Continuing Education presentation, Pasadena, CA — 22 February 2013
Mind and Body: How Did We Get Here? What Can We Do?
A 2.5 hour portion of a workshop entitled Mind-Body Approaches to Health and Healing: Research, Theory and Therapeutic Applications for Work with Adults, Children and Teens. Worcester, MA — In collaboration with Dr. Melissa Johnson of the Institute for Girls’ Development in Pasadena, CA — 17 May 2012
Imagining Ourselves Better: Using Guided Imagery for Health and Healing — Continuing Education presentation, Pasadena, CA — 25 March, 2011
Neuroscience for Psychotherapists: The Basics and How They Relate to Depression — Continuing Education presentation, Pasadena, CA — 15 January, 2010
Among Dragons and Angels: A Cancer Journey Through Words and Images. Melissa Johnson, PhD and Chris Cooper, PhD. Annual Meeting of the Association for Women in Psychology, San Diego, CA, March, 2008
Psychoanalysis and Sexual Orientation. Part of a course on psychoanalytic theory in the Doctoral Program in Psychology, University of La Verne. April, 2003
Continuing Education presentation, Pasadena, CA. Seminar at Children’s Friend and Family Services of Essex County, Salem, Massachusetts. October, 2001.
Psychotherapy with Lesbian Clients. Fuller Theological Seminary (Spring, 2001; Spring, 2003), University of LaVerne MFCC program (Summer, 1995; Fall, 1994), Pepperdine University (Winter, 1994).
Cooper, C.D. and Jarvik, L.F. I’ll Care for You, Don’t Care for Me. Paper presented by Dr. Jarvik to the Gerontological Society of America annual meeting, Washington, DC, November, 2000.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Psychological Association,
Massachusetts Psychological Association,
Glendale Area Mental Health Professionals Association,