Marcia Naomi Berger, LCSW, Schedule of Winter 2008 Workshops

The classes below will be held in the elegant Parlor Room at the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael. Register by calling 485-3333 or http://eplay.livelifelocally.com/ Early registration is strongly recommended. (R) means resident of San Rafael pricing. For more information call 415-491-4801.

Made in Heaven: Communication Coaching for Couples
Couples gain tools to conduct a weekly marriage meeting that promotes mutual appreciation, teamwork, romance, and smoother handling of issues. January 23 and January 30, 2008, 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. class meets twice, class # 9872. $80. per couple for San Rafael residents; $84 for nonresidents.

Marry With Confidence; A Class For Single Women
Includes perceived obstacles to marrying and how to overcome them, secrets for attracting a good man, practical tips for achieveing a fulfilling marriage. Case examples provided of formerly long term single women who are now happily married.
January 9, 2008, 6:30 - 9:30 P.M, class # 9874. $40 (R), $42 (N).

Happily Ever After -- For Married Women
Gain skills to keep your relationship thriving and to conduct weekly marriage meetings. February 12, 2008, 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Class number 9875. $35 (R), $37 (N).

Assertiveness Training For Women
Gaining and using skills to communicate in a clear and honest fashion usually improves relationships. Women often have been subliminally trained to hide their true feelings, wants, and needs, and try to get their way more indirectly. Assertiveness training helps resolve conflicts, reduce stress, and reverse depression. Applying these skills has been shown to have positive outcomes related to health, including learning to assert oneself in risky situations involving sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. and taking responsibility in general for one’s emotional and physical well-being.
March 19, 2008, 7:00 P.M - 8:30 P.M., $18 (R)

Psychotherapy -- What's It All About?
Spend an enjoyable hour and a half gaining answers to your questions about various types of psychotherapy (cognitive/behavioural, psychoanalytic, and other approaches), how to choose a therapist, how long it will take, what will it cost, and more.
March 26, 2008, 7:30P.M. - 9:00 P.M., $15 (R)

Instructor Marcia Naomi Berger, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in San Rafael specializing in individual and couples therapy, and skilled in cognitive/behavioral and psychoanalytic approaches. She is a former executive director of a family service agency and lecturer at University of California School of Medicine.

Her mission is to provide adults, couples, and families with tools for achieving more fulfilment and joy in their lives and relationships. Past participants say: "Came away with tools we will use forever. Great and practical!" "Helpul, noninvasive class." "Humorous leadership, light but direct and consturctive and to the point." "Very user-friendly style."

View Resume

RESUME

MARCIA NAOMI (FISCH) BERGER, LCSW
750 Las Gallinas Avenue. Suite 200
San Rafael, CA 94903-2346
Telephone 415.491.4801 E-mail mfbwrtr@lvha.net


SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Skilled in individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy. Conduct seminars and workshops. Experienced as clinical supervisor and as executive director of family service agency, and in inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, alcoholism/substance abuse. Published articles related to my work.

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

Psychotherapist and Consultant in Private Practice. Conduct psychotherapy with individuals and couples. Lead workshops and programs about communications skills, including how to conduct weekly Marriage Meetings. Sponsors of programs include San Rafael Community Services and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Marin. Also conducted classes for Apple Family Center and YMCA in Marin, Jewish Women’s Circle in San Francisco. (since 2002).

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

Executive Director, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay. Supervised clinical and administrative staff, served as liaison between agency and community, performed administrative functions of budget preparation, program and board development, and fund raising. (four years)

Senior Psychiatric Social Worker, San Francisco General Hospital-University of California Medical Center. Provided diagnostic, treatment, and discharge planning services to psychiatric inpatients on locked ward; chaired weekly meetings with staff
from outside agencies, supervised graduate social work students and coordinated their training program. (four years).

Lecturer, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco. Honorary appointment for training psychiatric residents and medical students. (honorary position for eighteen years)

Senior Psychiatric Social Worker, Alcoholism Evaluation and Treatment Center (subsequently renamed the Tom Smith Substance Abuse Treatment Center), Bureau of Alcoholism, San Francisco. Provided individual, family, group, and expressive arts therapy. Coordinated outpatient services department and internship program. (five years)

Senior Child Welfare Worker, Child Welfare Division of Department of Social Services, San Francisco. Supervised foster care placements, counseled parents of children in placement, wrote court reports. (four years).

Crisis Counselor, Suicide Prevention and Community Counseling, a program of the Family Service Agency of Marin. Provided telephone counseling to callers in crisis, information and referrals. (one year)

Planner/Evaluator, Marin County Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Department of Health and Human Services, San Rafael, California. Monitored agencies for compliance with state and county standards, evaluated proposals for funding, reviewed and negotiated contracts, provided technical assistance. (one year)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, employed by National Medical Registry, based in San Clemente, California, at California Medical Facility in Vacaville. Conducted routine and emergency assessments, wrote treatment plans, made referrals. (short-term temporary position)


EDUCATION

M.S.W. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Field placements provided training in psychotherapy at children’s outpatient psychiatric clinic during first year and at outpatient psychiatry department of Veterans Administration hospital during second year. Received National Institute of Mental Health grant.

B.A. Harpur College, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York. English and General Literature. Sixteen credits towards this degree earned at Harvard University.


PUBLICATIONS (Partial List)

“Homeostasis, A Key Concept in Alcoholic Family Systems,” presented at National conference on Alcohol and Drug Problems, published in Family Therapy journal.

“Marriage Meetings,” in Jewish Homemaker. A self-help article about how to improve communication and strengthen marriages with weekly meetings conducted by the couple.

“Three Words,” in Jewish Homemaker magazine. This article is about a parent’s response when a child says: “I hate you.”

FAQs about my Psychotherapy Practice

Marcia Naomi Berger, LCSW
750 Las Gallinas Avenue, Suite 200
San Rafael, California 94903
415-491-4801

Frequently Asked Questions About My Psychotherapy Practice

1. How can psychotherapy help me?

Through psychotherapy, you can move from a mode of survival to one of growth, joy, meaning, and more satisfying connections with others. Whether you are single or married, experiencing relationship or other difficulties at home or at work, for example, depression, anxiety, addiction, or have a child with behavioral problems, I can assist you in identifying core issues, setting goals, and accomplishing them.

2. Can you help me to make my spouse/child, or some other person change?

If you are the one who is experiencing stress, you will benefit from learning ways to help yourself feel better, regardless of how the other person behaves. Once you commit to therapy for yourself, you can expect to experience more fulfilling relationships.

3. Why can’t I use therapy just to vent about present and past difficulties?

Some venting may help you to connect with your feelings. Using the psychotherapy time solely to air frustrations, however, perpetuates a sense of hopelessness. I can help you to formulate and implement goals for yourself, and reverse this syndrome.

4. What happens in a therapy session with you?

I encourage clients to set the agenda. I listen attentively and assist as needed. My interventions are designed to be congruent with helping you to achieve your goals.

5. How long does it take?

I would need to evaluate your particular area of concern. Some situational stresses are resolved within a few sessions. A longer term of therapy is generally needed to produce a lasting resolution for more longstanding, entrenched difficulties.

6. What school of psychotherapy do you practice?

My training at the University of Michigan School of Social Work emphasized both psychoanalytic and cognitive/behavioral approaches. In subsequent employment as a clinical social worker, I developed expertise in couples and family therapy, group therapy, gestalt therapy, art therapy, play therapy for children, and psychodrama. Each individual is unique. My treatment plan for you will be tailored to my assessment of the particular aspects your situation.

7. Why can’t I just handle my problems on my own?

It is healthy to seek psychotherapy for recurring problems that you have not been able to resolve on your own. A skilled psychotherapist can help you move beyond self-defeating patterns and into a more fulfilling life.

Flash!! Marriage Meetings Book Begun

For several years I have been conducting workshops for couples that teach them to have a weekly meeting on their own that promotes appreciation, teamwork, romance, and smoother resolution of conflicts. People report later that the meetings do what they are designed to do.

It takes courage and humility for people to come to these classes, so I congratulate all who attend. Once they are there they enjoy the process and the environment and learning along with other couples.

Many couples can benefit from gaining the skills yet are not quite ready to do so with others present can benefit from reading about how to conduct the meetings and about the communication skills that make for success.