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About NCCEFTThe NCCEFT began as a project initiated by a group of San Francisco Bay Area EFT therapists who had been meeting for several years for clinical consultation and the study of EFT. In an effort to continue building and expanding the EFT community in Northern California, this group launched the first EFT Community meeting on May 3, 2007. The Community has evolved as a membership organization where all can initiate and participate with others in implementing the NCCEFT mission. Quarterly meetings promote the mission by:
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NCCEFT Board of Directors
To see their biographies, click on the directors name.
Chair |
Open Chair Elect |
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CFO/Treasurer |
Open Technology Coordinator |
Membership Coordinator |
Program Committee: Speaker Liaison |
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Program Committee/Hospitality |
|  Program Committee:Hospitality Coordinator |
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Biographies
Pronouns: He/His/Him Jamie Bachman, LCSW, Certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor, Certified AEDP Therapist, has been in clinical practice for more than 20 years, and has provided clinical supervision for 18 years. He serves individuals, couples and families through his private practice, currently online. He facilitates EFT supervision groups, and has taught a number of EFT courses, including co-teaching with Sarah Ackerman the course Beyond Core Skills for therapists who have completed Core Skills and wish to deepen their practice. |
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers I am an Oakland, California native, and Licensed as a Social Worker in California and Oregon. I obtained my master’s in social work from California State University, East Bay. I have been awarded the opportunity to work with some of the most culturally diverse people in the Bay Area. I am a Social Justice Warrior with a deep passion for helping disenfranchised and underserved populations. I started a small private practice, MOCHA Therapy Group with a friend and business partner. I am newbie to EFT, completing Externship in 2021 and currently enrolled in Core Skills. I have a 24-year-old son who is finding his way, as a Black man in America and a 5-year old fur baby named, Shirley. When I am not working, you can catch me at the dog park, with family, or in Napa enjoying some of the finest wines Northern California has to offer. |
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Kelly, Licensed Marriage, and Family Therapist (she, her, hers) is the owner and founder of Onyx Trauma Healing Center, in a small group private practice in Hanford, California, the Executive Director of ExpreseArte Cultural Wellness Collective and adjunct faculty at Fresno Pacific University. She spent the first twenty-five years of her career in public service, first in child welfare, 15 years in probation and parole, subsequently ending her career as Deputy Director of Kings County Behavioral Health. In March 2020, during the pandemic, Kelly transitioned into full-time private practice. Kelly is passionate about the physical and emotional benefits of mindful movement and creates opportunities for her clients to use their bodies to heal, grow and transform their chaos into clarity, confidence, and peace. Kelly’s practice approach is attachment-based, trauma-focused, and rooted in decolonizing mental health and wellness practices with a social justice framework. Kelly began studying and practicing EFT during her Externship with Dr. Silvina Irwin, studied EFIT with Laurie Brubacher and EFT consultation with Dr. Yamonte Cooper. Kelly is currently in Core Skills with Dr. Paul Guillory. She is learning so much from Core Skills including how to work with Black couples. In addition to EFT, Kelly is also trained in Brainspotting, Flash and is a certified yoga instructor. Kelly is the mother of 4 adult children and when she is not working, she loves to camp and travel throughout the United States in her RV. She is really excited to have an opportunity to serve the board and to become a more active member of the NCCEFT community. |
Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Raquel Garcia is a LMFT from Spain, living in SF for almost 30 years She started her journey in EFT in 2017, and became certified in earlier in 2022. She has a private practice in SF, where she sees individuals, couples and families. She integrates somatic, attachment based and transpersonal practices in her work. Spirituality, nature, connection, creativity, are some of the aspects of this human experiences she holds as sacred. |
Pronouns:She/They As a bay-area native, daughter to immigrants, and former technical recruiter, she lived and breathed the pressure of "success," and witnessed the impact on herself, her peers, and the relationships they built. She uses her first hand experience of this world to bridge the technical with the relational and create deeper, more intimate connections for her couples and families. Kimberly identifies as a Relational Therapist and specializes in working with families with intergenerational trauma and sex therapy. She grounds herself in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and integrates a gender affirming, inclusive, and trauma informed lens in all of her work. Outside of the office, you may spot Kimberly practicing her tennis serves, learning new habits of sustainability, or unsuccessfully whittling down the stack of books on her bedside table. You can learn more about Kimberly at Freedom Through Love. |
Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist and Certified Emotionally Focused Supervisor Pronouns: she/her/hers Margaret is a certified EFT therapist and supervisor in training who has been working in the field of mental health since 1979. Margaret began volunteering as the NCCEFT Hospitality Coordinator in 2013, holding that position for 3 years. She has been volunteering as the Speaker Liaison for the past 7 years, and resonates with being part of a close-knit community of like-minded and wonderful EFT clinicians. (If only more NCCEFT members knew how rewarding it can be to take on a volunteer role with the Board!) Margaret’s specialty is working with couples and families, and she has a passion for trauma-informed care and social justice. Understanding systemic oppression comes up often in her work and she is committed to dismantling racism and all other -isms in her practice and in her |
Pronouns: He/His/Him Jacob's practice is a mix of both couples and individuals. As an older therapist, he has a special interest in working with older adults and older couples. He believes that the therapeutic needs of older adults are often minimized, and there is a societal view that by the time you’re a senior, you should either “have it worked out” or “it’s too late to change”. Jacob believes that when we reach our late fifties, we begin to experience intense change as an individual and as a couple. Our identity and place in the world shift, and this requires us to build a new sense of self and a new sense of purpose in our relationships. Jacob really enjoys helping clients navigate this change process. He's had two distinct careers in his life. In his late 20’s he got an MBA from UCLA and had a successful career working as a Marketing Consultant in Silicon Valley. When he reached his early 60’s he realized that he was ready for a change. So seven years ago, when he turned 64, he enrolled in the Wright Institute’s Evening/Weekend MFT program to earn his MA in Counseling Psychology. |
Laura works with individuals and couples using an attachment based and emotion focused approach. She has experience with a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, and grief. She believes that the most important source of resilience comes from within ourselves and from our close relationships. She creates a compassionate and collaborative environment to support her clients as they work to strengthen their internal sense of self and heal attachments with those who love and support them. In addition to Emotionally Focused Therapy, Laura has training in attachment focused EMDR, Internal Family Systems and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Before joining Asch Therapy Group, she worked as a clinical supervisor, therapist, and program developer in underserved communities in San Francisco. She strives to provide a culturally responsive therapeutic space that honors, culture, race, sexual identity, orientation and all abilities. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her partner and friends and exploring the beauty of the Bay Area. Before Laura was a therapist, she was a certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach and Yoga Instructor. |
Amber Simmons was born and raised in Oakland, California. In 2006, she relocated to Fresno to attend California State University, Fresno, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in 2011, along with a certificate in Serving At-Risk Youth. Mrs. Simmons felt a strong calling to further her education, particularly in the realm of art therapy. This passion led her to the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where she graduated in 2015 with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology, concentrating in Expressive Art Therapy. Amber has dedicated herself to community work, employing art as a therapeutic tool to address trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief. She is a trained Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), helping individuals navigate various life stages to achieve their goals and dreams. Amber has also received advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). |
A licensed marriage and family therapist based in Oakland, California, with a private practice in nearby Berkeley. She was born and raised on the East Coast (Brooklyn, New York and Jersey City, New Jersey), to Guatemalan immigrants and practices therapy and life in both English and Spanish. Stephanie is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Brainspotting, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment, Somatic Attachment Therapy and EMDR. She uses these methods to adopt a holistic approach to therapy, integrating brain and body to create a more comprehensive healing experience. Stephanie has a profound passion for helping individuals journey towards self-love, a process she believes is integral to establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. Stephanie is also a proud mama to an almost 3 year old. |
Johnny Simmons is a seasoned mental health clinician with over a decade of experience in providing therapy. For the past five years, he has owned and operated a thriving private practice, specializing in trauma, anxiety, and depression. Johnny received his Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from CSU Fresno, where he developed a strong foundation in understanding and treating relational dynamics within the context of mental health. Johnny is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), modalities he integrates into his practice to help individuals and couples heal and strengthen their relationships and address trauma-related issues. His expertise in EFT reflects his commitment to evidence-based practices and his dedication to achieving positive outcomes for his clients. In addition to his clinical work, Johnny is passionate about mental health advocacy and community education. He actively participates in workshops and speaking engagements to promote awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues. Outside of his professional endeavors, Johnny finds joy in gardening, fishing, and hunting, activities that allow him to recharge and connect with nature. His commitment to his clients' well-being, combined with his personal interests and dedication to advancing the field of mental health, highlights his leadership in therapeutic care and advocacy. |
Pronouns: he/him/his Advanced Trained Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist Robert specializes in working with men and couples virtually from his two offices in the Bay Area. He helps his clients to better understand their emotional world and practice communicating themselves to those they love. He began his training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples in 2018 and submitted his application for EFCT Certification in December 2023. He completed specialized training to address attachment injuries with Drs. Jim Furrow and Lisa Palmer-Olson. Prior to private practice, Robert worked with a variety of clients in community mental health settings as well as couples at The San Francisco Marriage and Couples Center. Prior to transitioning to life as a therapist, he worked for two decades in the non-profit sector running workforce education programs and supporting organizational growth using technology. When he is not seeing clients on Zoom, he enjoys hiking, cycling and searching for the best bowl of ramen in the Bay. |
In association with the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy | NCCEFT is a professional association of therapists practicing Emotionally Focused Therapy in Northern California. Serving communities of the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, San Jose, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, and beyond; we have members throughout California and throughout the United States. |
