Professional C.V.
Dive into my professional story! Navigate through my C.V. page to uncover a journey of skills, achievements, and expertise. Elevate your understanding of my career excellence.
Education
| 2017 | International Institute of Clinical Sexology | Ph.D. Clinical Sexology | Specializing in Transgender Care, Kink, and Alternative Sexual and Relationship Expression |
| 2008 | Argosy University | M.A. Mental Health Counseling | Magna Cum Laude |
| 2004 | Argosy University | B.A. Psychology | Magna Cum Laude |
| 2000 | East West College of Natural Medicine | M.S. Oriental Medicine | Magna Cum Laude |
| 2000 | East West College of Natural Medicine | B.S. Professional Health Science | Magna Cum Laude |
| 1997 | Florida State College Manatee/ Sarasota | A.A. Chemistry | Magna Cum Laude |
| 1997 | Sarasota School of Natural Healing Arts | Certification in Massage Therapy |
Internships
| 2015-2016 | Sex Therapy Training Institute | Clinical Supervision |
| 2007-2010 | Northside Mental Health Center | Internship Pre graduate and Postgraduate |
| 1998-2000 | East West College of Natural Medicine | Clinical Internship Oriental Medicine and Clinical Herbology |
| 1998-1999 | University of Florida | Molecular Lab Technician/ Research Assistant |
| 1996-1998 | Benchmark Labs | Water Chemistry Internship |
Certifications
| 2016 | Board Certified Clinical Sexologist and Sex Therapist |
| 2016 | Transgender Care Specialist |
| 2010 | Collaborative Divorce Professional |
| 2010 | Supreme Court Certified Family Court Mediation |
| 2005 | Career Education Corp. Educational Compliance Officer |
| 2003 | Birth Doula |
Professional Licenses
| Licensed Mental Health Counselor | Florida License MH10304 | 2010-Current |
| Doctor of Oriental Medicine/ Acupuncture Physician | Florida License AP 1453 | 2000-2023 Retired |
| Licensed Massage Therapist | Florida License MA25339 | 1997-2009 Retired |
Professional Experience
- Private Practice Oriental Medicine: Specializing in Holistic Psychiatry and Holistic Sexual Medicine
- Private Practice Mental Health Counseling: Specializing in Trauma, Relationships, and Sex Therapy
- Clinical Supervisor
- Family Court Mediator and Collaborative Divorce Professional
- Teacher
- Professional Speaker
- Lab Technician
- Birth Doula
- Program Director
- Board Member
- Consultant
- Radio and Television Personality
Publications
Books
Working with Kinky Clients
With the advent of the Internet, those who participate in alternative forms of relationship, gender, and sexual expression have come together as a community and have created a new sexual minority subculture. The clinical needs of this community are different than the traditional mental health client and it is important for all mental health clinicians and healthcare providers to be familiar with the standard of care that may be different in the varied populations that make up this community.
This document is the accompanying manual for a pilot Kink Aware Therapy Certification educational program, and it offers a fundamental working knowledge and important clinical considerations and interventions in the treatment of this population based upon one clinician’s experiences, the current research, and community literature. This companion text also reinforces the growing need for an educational program for mental health and medical providers and further clinical research with this population.
My Personal Handbook
When life throws you curve balls, sometimes we lose our direction. My Personal Handbook is designed to bring you back to basics and reexamine who you are from a basic needs and value level.
My Personal Handbook: My Break-Up Book
The Break-Up Book is designed to help you to examine and have closure about the ending of a partnership. It will prompt you to look at both your role and theirs in the related challenges. These activities are developed to help you identify the relationship skills you need to enrich and the red flags you want to avoid in future partnerships.
My Personal Handbook is a foundation workbook designed to help you outline and establish a clear and concise foundation of who you are, your values, and what gives you meaning. This foundation will help you to establish boundaries in relationships, set life goals and provide you with a place to start from any time you feel lost in life.
The Silent Man
The notion of male as victims of domestic violence is an implausible concept for those in our modern culture. Battered Man Syndrome does exist and male victims of domestic violence have been ignored in both research and resources. This book exposes the truth behind the hidden epidemic of men as victims of domestic violence.
Dangerous Liaisons
With the advent of the Internet has permeated every inch of our daily lives. Our social customs and every part of our very infrastructure have adapted to adopting connection through the information highway. This is especially evident in our new dating rituals and expectations.
Everyday thousands of people who have adopted the 21st-century dating style and are finding connection via the Internet. Are you among them? Easier access to connection also means easier access to potential victims for emotional predators. This book introduces you to some of the characteristics to look for to spot these dangerous partners before they prey on your heart.
No More Shame
With the constant bombardment of sexuality from popular media and the Internet, it is especially important to establish open communication with our children so that we are able to dispel myths and promote healthy views about sexuality. This book is your simple guide to developing an environment of openness and sex positive discussion.
Research Publications
Polston, J.E., Reif, P., Foley, M. (1999). Host Range of tomato yellow leaf curl virus, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Bradenton Research Report, 1999, cover title.
Documentaries
This documentary explores the phenomenon of Kink phobia. Kink Phobia is a person or group of people that express verbal and physical hatred and/or abuse against the kinky community. It also includes the neglect and judgement from legal, nfp, and medical professionals. Kink phobia shares the horror of this quiet epidemic and offers solutions for advocacy.
Presentations and Lectures
| 2020 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Intimate Partner Violence in Special Populations |
| 2020 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Introduction to The Harmony-Arion Relationship Tools Program (HART) |
| 2020 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | The Ethics of Working with Alternative Relationship Styles in Counseling: The Dangers of Pathologizing Healthy Dynamics |
| 2019 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Intimate Partner Violence in Special Populations |
| 2019 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Rituals, Protocols, and Contracts: What vanilla couples can learn from kinky relationships. |
| 2018 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Intimate Partner Violence in Special Populations |
| 2018 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Rituals, Protocols, and Contracts: What vanilla couples can learn from kinky relationships.” |
| 2018 | Florida Power Exchange | Storming Normandy: The Strategic HiveMind Planning Meeting |
| 2018 | SeConf Chicago | The Psychology of Wonder Woman: Five Important Lessons on Leadership from an Amazon Warrior |
| 2017 | Are You Safe Purple Party Keynote Speaker | 13 reasons why to talk to your kids about intimate partner violence. |
| 2017 | Selenium Conference Berlin | The Care and Feeding of Open-Source Developers |
| 2017 | Florida Power Exchange | Love Mapping for Metamours |
| 2017 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Working with Kinky Clients |
| 2017 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Webinar Series | Working with Kinky Clients |
| 2016 | Are You Safe Purple Party Keynote | Intimate Partner Violence in Special Populations |
| 2015 | Florida Power Exchange | Public Collars |
| 2014 | Florida Power Exchange | Helping Your Partner Mend a Broken Heart |
| 2014 | Florida Power Exchange | Erotic Talk |
| 2014 | Florida Power Exchange | Tower of Power |
| 2014 | Florida Power Exchange | How to Spot a Dangerous Lover |
| 2013 | Florida Power Exchange Keynote Speaker | Tower of Power |
| 2013 | Florida Power Exchange | Consent Counts: The Law and Kink |
| 2013 | Southern Polyamory Gathering | Polyamory and Communication |
| 2013 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Introduction to Kink for the Mental Health Professional |
| 2013 | Fetishcon | Polyamory and the Safe Relationship Apartment Building |
| 2012 | Florida Counseling Association Annual Convention | Collaborative Divorce and the Roll of the Mental Health Professional |
| 2012 | Fetishcon | East Beats West |
| 2012 | Florida Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference | Introduction to Collaborative Divorce |
| 2011 | Southern Polyamory Gathering | Communication and the Poly Family |
| 2011 | Argosy University 7th Annual Traumatology Symposium | The Use of Collaborative Divorce in the Prevention of PTSD Symptoms in Marital Dispute |
| 2011 | Swingfest National Swinging Convention | Swinging vs Polyamory |
| 2009 | Argosy University 5th Annual Traumatology Symposium | Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Treatment of Trauma |
Awards and Recognitions
| 2023 | Ten Moir Gallery | Honorable Mention Beyond Earth: Exploring the Cosmos |
| 2020 | Global Health and Pharma (GPH) Award | Best Holistic Mental Health & Wellness Platform (USA) |
| 2020 | Global Health and Pharma (GPH) Award | Most Dedicated Traumatologist & Clinical Sexologist (Florida) |
| 2014 | Are You Safe | Board Recognition |
| 2012 | Tampa Bay Business Journal | Nominated for Businesswoman of the Year |
| 2010 | Florida Counsel for Community Mental Health | Nominated for Direct Service Provider of the Year |
| 2010 | Northside Mental Health Center | Employee of the Month June |
| 2005 | Sanford Brown Institute | Program Director’s Award |
| 2004 | Keiser College System | Winner of Keiser College Teaching Effectiveness Award |