PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND FACILITATORS:
Kayte Heslet, M.S. (IMF 57747), lead facilitator of the Summer Workshop Programs, has been working with girls in the Institute's Summer Program since 2006. She loves helping girls discover their own strengths and explore their identities, as well as finding their own ways of authentic self-expression. Kayte is known for her vibrant energy, fun spirit, and great passion for empowering girls in elementary, middle, and high school alike. In addition to her work in the summer program, Kayte facilitates several Institute therapy groups which build skills for: social competency and positive interpersonal relationships; dealing with feelings; and utilizing helpful tools for transitions and difficulties girls face in their lives. Kayte is a popular workshop presenter for schools, Girl Scout troops, and other community organizations. Some of her favorite workshop topics are girls' friendships and conflict resolution, cyberbullying and online safety, and healthy body image and self-esteem. Kayte enjoys working with girls and families from a wide range of backgrounds, and is dedicated to making lower-fee therapy services accessible to families in our community.
Vicki Chiang, Psy.D. (PSY21136) brings enthusiasm, passion and dedication to The Institute for Girls' Development. As the Director of the Institute's Center for Education, she heads up the Leadership Intern Program. In her community work, Dr. Chiang helps girls, teens and young women learn healthy and adaptive coping skills, and develop positive and nurturing relationships. Since 1999 Dr. Chiang has been a volunteer at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and has worked as a camp counselor and director of volunteer staff. Dr. Chiang utilizes arts and crafts, the great outdoors, games and team building initiatives to cultivate not just fun but powerful learning experiences for children and teens. In her clinical work, Dr. Chiang helps children, teens and families develop self confidence, empowerment and healthy self expression through individual, group and family therapy with services provided in English and/or Mandarin. Dr. Chiang especially values the work she does with parents--empowering them with relational and attachment resources for positive parenting. Dr. Chiang has expertise in working with immigrant families and is passionate about fostering skills to help immigrant families face the challenges of negotiating acculturation, bicultural identities and cross-generation communication. Dr. Chiang received her doctorate in psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology - Alliant International University.
Joy Malek, M.S. (MFC 47098) Joy is the Clinical Director of the Institute's Group Therapy Programs. Since 1998 she has worked in the counseling field, empowering individuals, families, and groups to utilize their personal strengths to grow through difficult periods and flourish. Amidst the many pressures that girls and young women face, Joy helps them find and develop their own internal voice of wisdom. Her approach includes mindfulness techniques designed to develop attunement to one's own body, mind, and emotions. In group work, she promotes a supportive community to enable girls and women to explore self-acceptance, healthy decision-making, relational skills and self-expression through dialogue and art.
Robin Starkey Harpster, M.A. (MFC 41937) Our Summer Program Coordinator, Robin brings her amazing creativity, warmth, organizational skills, and knowledge of girls' development to the Summer Workshop Programs. Robin has been working with children, adolescents, and their families since 1996. Her inspiration to work with girls first led her to a position at Girls Incorporated of Greater Santa Barbara. For over 5 years, Robin has shared her experience and passion with the Institute for Girls' Development where she provides individual and family therapy with children, teens and adults. Along with working with children and teens, she has a special interest in helping new mothers navigate the challenges of embodied motherhood, Robin enjoys helping girls develop friendship skills & empowering relationships; discover their unique gifts and skills; and find their own path of self-discovery.
Monica Valdivia, M.A. (MFC 41352) Monica has been working with children, adolescents, young adults and their families since 1999. Monica started her work in family counseling agencies where she discovered her passion for empowering girls and young women. She brings that passion to the Institute for Girls' Development where she provides individual and family therapy for children, teens, young adults, couples, and families. Her workshops in schools focus on helping girls develop healthy relationships as they navigate their way through their social and cultural worlds. Monica enjoys helping girls reconnect to their inner self. Bilingual in Spanish & English, Monica is committed to helping girls honor their cultural backgrounds and diversity.
Melissa Johnson, Ph.D., CEO and Founder of the Institute, Psychologist (PSY 13102). Dr. Johnson works on the individual, interpersonal, and community levels to support girls. She is an expert on girls' development. Through the Institute, Dr. Johnson has developed an exciting concept in the Summer Workshop Programs. The curriculum draws from the cutting edge research and theory on girls with an emphasis on promoting self-discovery, embodied living, hardiness skills, and empowerment in a growth-fostering and relationship-oriented environment. Dr. Johnson is former Chair of the Masters Programs in Counseling at the University of La Verne and has served as an adjunct faculty member at both the University of La Verne and the University of Southern California. Dr. Johnson is a popular public speaker, combining her passion for girls' issues with her experience as a clinician, educator and university professor. She is frequently invited to speak to parents, educators, community program providers, girls and others on a range of topics. Dr. Johnson is a welcomed speaker at regional and national professional meetings. Her peer-reviewed publications have appeared in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology and Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.
LEADERSHIP INTERNS:
Linda Duong received her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned a master's degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pepperdine University. Since 2007, Linda has worked with girls and young women as a Program Facilitator with the Institute's Center for Education. Linda has also been actively involved in the Institute's summer program for the past 2 years. She looks forward to bringing her enthusiasm and knowledge to the program again this year!
Cammy McFatridge graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in English and earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Cammy is currently a Leadership Intern at the Institute, where she has been able to combine her graphic design skills with her enthusiasm for the field of psychology. Cammy says, "I love helping girls become more confident and self-assured."
Marie Reyes graduated from John Brown University with a B.A. in Psychology and received an M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary. She has worked with children and adolescents as a therapist at Fuller Psychological and Family Services. Marie says, "I'm excited about helping girls discover new things about themselves."
Eva Rizzo is completing her B.A. in Psychology at California State University, Los Angeles. She has volunteered as a tutor and reading group leader in the public school setting. She has also volunteered at the Program for Torture Victims. Eva says, "I am really excited about empowering young women and helping them get to know themselves."
Roxana Zarrabi received her B.A. in Psychology at UC Irvine and went on to earn her master's degree in Psychology at Pepperdine. Roxana has worked with children and adolescents as a Neurophysical Trainer at the Drake Institute. Roxana says, "I'm really looking forward to helping the girls build their self-esteem."
Copyright © 2010 by the Institute For Girls' Development, A Psychological Corporation.
