- P: (714) 721-8838
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Lauren Ashley Shapiro, PsyD, cctp
Licensed Clinical-Forensic Psychologist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Professional Experience
May 2019-December 2023
Chapman House / TeenSavers
Consulting Licensed Psychologist & Clinical Supervisor
I was responsible for providing clinical supervision and consulting services as a licensed psychologist to the staff of Chapman House, a 42-bed adult mental health and substance abuse rehab facility, as well as TeenSavers, a 6-bed adolescent mental health and substance abuse rehab facility.
November 2018-March 2019
Hart Community Homes, Inc.
Clinical Director & Licensed Psychologist
I was responsible for preparing and submitting Hart Community Homes’ application for STRTP licensure and Medi-Cal certification from the California Department of Social Services, which included considerable restructuring of the program, policies, and procedures in place while also establishing an innovative mental health service program from the ground up. I was responsible for ensuring the program remained compliant with the new laws and regulations governing STRTPs. In addition to providing individual and group therapy to residents of both group homes and supervising the newest members of Hart Community Homes’ new multidisciplinary mental health services team, I also provided agency-wide staff training on trauma-informed care, cultural-competence with specialty populations, restraint-free punitive techniques, least-restrictive behavior management strategies, and best practices for building resiliency and independence in foster youth, etc. I was also responsible for conducting clinical intake assessments and 30- and 90-day evaluation reports for the residents of both group homes, updating the needs and services plan for all youth/NMD admitted for placement to HCH, and providing back-up clinical, mental health, and crisis intervention support for HCH direct care staff and program administrators.
March 2017-August 2018
Collaborative Psychology Group
Licensed Clinical-Forensic Psychologist
I provided cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to clients of Dr. Tanika Gayle & Clinical Associates (DBA: Collaborative Psychology Group). I specialized in working with teenagers and young adults who have histories of trauma, substance abuse, and gender and sexual identity concerns as well as individuals with open workers’ compensation cases (med-legal) and personal injury claims (psycho-legal) who have chronic pain/illness, neurocognitive impairments, and depression and anxiety.
January 2016-December 2016
Ibemed/HealthPointe Medical Clinics
Registered Post-Doctoral Psychological Assistant
I provided individuals, couples, and families at the intersection of the medical and legal fields with cognitive behavioral therapy to overcome medical problems, manage pain and chronic illness, process trauma, identify obstacles and barriers interfering with recovery progress, promote adherence and compliance with treatment plans. I also conducted neurocognitive batteries to formulate individualized cognitive rehabilitation programs for patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries and other neurological states under Dr. Levon Margolin. I oversaw the neurocognitive department and rehabilitation program, where I monitored compliance, tracked progress, established baselines, and determined premorbid functioning. I also conducted psychological testing to differentially diagnose, determined medical necessity, and objectively measured patients’ progress. In addition to test administration, I wrote psychological and neurocognitive assessments and edited initial evaluations, AOE/COE and MMI determinations, and post-treatment assessments for patients with private insurance, personal injury cases, and workers’ compensation claims.
August 2015-December 2015
Dr. Sheree Riley-Violon
Registered Post-Doctoral Psychological Assistant
I was an individual cognitive behavioral therapist to self-referred patients under the supervision of Dr. Sheree Riley-Violon. I offered psychological testing and evaluation services to clarify diagnoses and formulate treatment plans. I also consulted with prospective clients to assess their unique needs and treatment options. In addition, I conducted intakes and risk assessments, maintained clinical and progress notes, conferred with collaborating providers, and coordinated community referrals. Areas of specialty included trauma, substance abuse, LGBT concerns, forensic psychology topics, and psychological testing and evaluation.
August 2014-July 2015
County of Orange Health Care Agency - Juvenile Drug Court
Pre-Doctoral Psychology Intern
I was a Juvenile Drug Court therapist for court-ordered adolescents diagnosed with a co-occurring substance abuse disorder in an outpatient clinic, affiliate residential rehabilitation program, and three juvenile correctional facilities under the supervision of Dr. Rafael Canul. I conducted long-term individual cognitive-behavioral therapy in addition to providing gender-specific group therapy, substance abuse psychoeducation, and chemical dependency counseling using motivational interviewing. As a collaborating member of the multidisciplinary team, I submitted weekly progress reports, consulted on dual diagnosis and mental health issues, and made clinical recommendations to the court, judge, and probation department regarding placement, treatment, and sentencing. I also coordinated case management services amongst the collaborative providers of various community agencies, full-service partnership programs, and residential treatment facilities.
February 2014-January 2015
Institute of Advanced Studies Volunteer Program
Volunteer Therapist
I was a volunteer therapist assigned to Grandma’s House of Hope, a local transitional shelter, under the supervision of Dr. Burt Winer. I provided long-term individual cognitive-behavioral therapy to a caseload of 12 women, established a resident-to-community leader training program, and supported residents using best practices for stabilizing at-risk populations. I also ran weekly independent living skills and processing groups on anger management and conflict resolution, court and program compliance, cooperating with law enforcement, probation, and social services, and work readiness, career assessment, and job skills advancement. In addition, I trained support staff in psychoeducation seminars on reinforcing sobriety, chemical dependency and addictive behaviors, encouraging family reunification, supporting the chronically mentally ill, preventing homelessness, promoting treatment and medication adherence, crisis intervention, and emergency stabilization of incoming victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
May 2013-June 2014
County of Orange Health Care Agency - Continuing Care Placement Unit
Clinical-Forensic Psychology Practicum Intern II
I was an evaluator for the Continuing Care Placement Unit, where I conducted legally-mandated prospective adoption evaluations and court-ordered psychological assessments for foster care dependents under the supervision of Dr. George Tucker. I made recommendations to the court and Social Services regarding developmental delays, placement and adoption concerns, incompatibility issues, dysfunctional behaviors, trauma indicators, medical and mental health problems, and other red flags. I analyzed investigation reports, placement history, school transcripts, and treatment records. I also assessed and tested the dependent and interviewed collateral contacts to obtain corroborative personal accounts, observations, concerns, and opinions of the dependent and the prospective adoption. I also conducted psychological testing to assess intellectual abilities, developmental achievements, personality traits, and psychosocial functioning in response to inquiries from caretakers or treatment providers about placement failures, academic problems, interpersonal and social difficulties, emotional dysregulation, dysfunctional behaviors, mental health problems, medical complications, and other pressing concerns. I also provided intensive case management services, coordinated care, and participated in collaborative meetings to plan all facets of a minor’s placement needs with multidisciplinary agencies and treatment providers.
April 2012-May 2013
Orange Coast College
Clinical-Forensic Psychology Practicum Intern I
I provided short-term individual cognitive behavioral therapy to college students at the school’s Student Health Center under the supervision of Dr. Ken Fineman and Dr. Jack Wasserman. I performed psychological testing, in-depth intakes, and psychosocial assessments to clarify the client’s diagnosis, guide interventions, and improve treatment outcomes. I also conducted crisis intervention with distressed students and coordinated care with Health Center medical providers. In addition, I acted as the mental health department’s liaison with the Gay Straight Alliance and single-handedly developed and proposed ‘Safe at OCC,’ a new initiative to train campus staff and faculty about LGBT issues and concerns.
About Me
I received my Doctorate in Clinical-Forensic Psychology at Alliant International University’s California School of Forensic Studies in June 2015 and was formally granted licensure by the California Board of Psychology in March 2017. I completed my doctoral dissertation on Contemporary Attitudes Towards Psychopathy. I have been active in the mental health field since 2009 and primarily treat teens and young adults but have also worked extensively with adults and the older adult/geriatric population.
Most recently, I worked at the intersection of mental health, the legal/justice system (Forensic) and the medical field (Med-legal) to specialize in the complex world of psycholegal issues. As such, I have come to be known and respected for my comprehensive psychological and neurocognitive testing, evaluations and assessments; med-legal and psycho-legal consultation, evaluation, and treatment; and thorough forensic reports and legal consultation services.
I completed my post-Doctoral Assistanceship at IBEMED/Healthpointe Medical Clinics, where I provided individual therapy to clients contending with workers compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits and oversaw Neuropsychological Evaluation and Cognitive Rehabilitation activities. I completed my Pre-Doctoral Internship for Orange County Collaborative Courts’ Juvenile Drug Program where I provided court-ordered individual and group therapy to adolescents with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health and legal issues. I also provided professional psychological consultations and recommendations regarding treatment to the Juvenile Justice Courts and Orange County Probation. As a volunteer therapist at a transitional shelter in Orange County, I provided individual and group therapy to adult women facing chronic homelessness, mental illness, and discrimination. I also completed internships as a mental health evaluator for Orange County foster youth, a therapist for Orange Coast College’s students, a hotline responder for IMAlive online crisis network, and a Program Coordinator for a Mentoring Children of Prisoners program. Thus, I am formally trained as a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist, Dialectical Behavior Therapist, and Motivational Interviewer as well as a trained Crisis Responder and Suicide Interventionist, having received ground-breaking immersive training in crisis intervention/suicidology with the QPR Institute and IMAlive Foundation prior to initiating my Doctoral studies.
I have extensive clinical/treatment experience with children, adolescents/teenagers, young adults/transitional-aged youth, adults and older/geriatric adults and I enjoy working with clients of all different ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual and romantic interests, gender identifications, personal preferences, and identity expressions in any treatment setting. I have trained in the provision of neuropsychological and cognitive rehabilitation training with patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, and other physical and psychiatric injuries. For years, I worked and continue to work at the intersection of mental health, the legal/justice system (Forensic) and the medical field (Med-legal) to specialize in the complex world of psycho-legal issues.
I am an outspoken advocate for nontraditional and alternative psychological practices in substance abuse treatment, internet addiction and technological dependence, adolescent behavioral problems, and teenage delinquency. I am also especially sensitive to the psychological treatment needs and concerns of sexual and gender minorities and strive to provide kink-aware and kink-informed psychotherapy. I focus on addressing and improving the underlying causes of symptoms rather than emphasizing diagnoses. Through my unique approach to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, I empower my clients and help them reach their individual, personal, and therapeutic goals.
Education
2018
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
International Association of Trauma Professionals
2015
Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical-Forensic Psychology
California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University
GPA: 3.95
2013
Master of Arts in Clinical-Forensic Psychology
California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University
GPA: 3.98
2011
Bachelor of Arts in Specialization Psychology
Concordia University of Montreal, QC
GPA: 3.54
2011
Bilateral International Exchange
California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, CA
GPA: 3.84
2010
Online Counseling and Suicide Intervention Specialist
QPR Institute of Spokane, WA
2008
Diplome d'Etudes Collegiales
Dawson College of Montreal, QC
R-Score: 32+
Other clinical Experience
April 2012-March 2017
Self-Employed
Tutor / Coach / Editor / Consultant
I tutor clinical, applied, and forensic psychology graduate students from Alliant International University and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I provide dissertation coaching and consultation to graduate students struggling to come up with a topic, complete the literature review, determine appropriate methods, conduct statistical analyses with collected data, interpret findings, and generate discussion points. I also provide coursework editing and assessment case consultation services.
I only take referrals from former professors and supervisors.
August 2010-August 2012
IMAlive.org
Online Counseling and Suicide Intervention Specialist
I was a founding responder of the online crisis hotline. Using the QPR Institute’s proprietary method, I provided crisis intervention to individuals in crisis who logged into the chat, identified their presenting concerns, persuaded clients to stay safe through the creation of a safety plan, elicited a commitment to safety, referred them to appropriate resources in their communities, and maintained documentation.
August 2011-July 2012
America On Track
Volunteer Assistant Program Coordinator / Intern
I was an assistant supervisor of the Kids On Track program and coordinated the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program. The Kids on Track program provided at-risk and behaviorally-challenged students with a structured afterschool program. I ensured the safety of the students while supervising academic tutoring, overseeing physical fitness lessons, and assisting in the preparation of character development and leadership training units. The Mentoring Children of Prisoners program was designed to provide hope, guidance, and services to children who have one or both parents incarcerated in a correctional facility. I screened potential mentors, interviewed mentees, and provided case management services to mentors, mentees, parents, guardians, social workers, school officials, and other agencies.
Therapeutic Skills
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
publications
Shapiro, Lauren Ashley (2014) Contemporary Attitudes Towards Psychopathy: Current Attitudes Towards, Understandings of, and Misconceptions about Psychopathy amongst Forensic Psychologists, Clinical Psychologists and Laypersons (Doctoral dissertation). Retrievable from ProQuest LLC (ID: 3614366).