ADAM A. NEAL, M.A.
Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist #108784
(747)-333-6203 | adamnealtherapy@gmail.com
Objective: My goal is to provide holistic, strengths-based, experiential psychotherapy to clients of any background. I am especially drawn to working with trauma, sexual issues, spiritual/religious issues, and as an educator, teaching courses and providing lectures/workshops addressing such topics as mindfulness, trauma, secondary trauma, human sexuality, the expressive arts, and cultural diversity.
Education:
SOFIA UNIVERSITY (Palo Alto, CA)
Institute of Transpersonal Psychology
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Transpersonal Psychology (expected graduation, 2024)
• Master of Arts (MA), Counseling Psychology (degree conferred, 6/17/2018)
• Certificate in Creative Expression
MUHLENBERG COLLEGE (Allentown, PA)
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), English and Theatre (degree conferred, 5/20/2007)
• Magna cum laude graduate
• Member of an educational theatre ensemble providing Holocaust education to inner-city children throughout the Lehigh Valley through performances and talk-back discussions.
• Participated in a study abroad program for theatre through Goldsmith’s College, London, UK; earned 4.0 average.
Volunteering:
SFV-CAMFT (San Fernando Valley chapter of CAMFT), 2018-2019
Annual Pre-licensed Member Event, Woodland Hills, CA
Volunteered as support staff for the 2018 and 2019 events, under Shari Manculich, LMFT
AAMFT-CA 7th ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 2017 (San Diego, CA)
Volunteered for the duration of the conference, assisting with setup, participant check-in, communication with keynote speakers, seminar presenters, poster presenters, and overall hospitality. Contributed an original article to the AAMFT-CA newsletter about the experience.
BROOKLYN PROS, 2015 (Brooklyn, NY)
Volunteered through the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (JBFCS) as an assistant to the facilitating social worker for themed group therapy sessions, e.g. "Family Stressors."
Worked with program participants on activities such as reading, writing, and communication skills, and facilitated recreational activities such as improvisation and acting exercises, balloon twisting, juggling, and other modes of expression.
PFLAG, ROCKLAND COUNTY (Nyack, NY)
Marched in the NYC Pride Parade as a representative of Rockland County for multiple years.
Work Experience:
CLU COMMUNITY COUNSELING SERVICES (Westlake Village & Oxnard, CA)
Registered Associate MFT/PCC, Outreach Coordinator, & Educational Presenter
• Served through a grant from the American Red Cross to provide clinical mental health services, including intake assessments, individual psychotherapy, and conjoint psychotherapy for community members impacted by the Thomas & Woolsey wildfires.
• Conducted community outreach, including educational presentations and community workshops, to apprise the public and surrounding social service providers of California Lutheran University’s Community Counseling Services and support mental health awareness.
SOFIA UNIVERSITY, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (Palo Alto, CA)
Adjunct Faculty, MA in Counseling Psychology & MA in Transpersonal Psychology Department Chair Assistant, MA in Transpersonal Psychology (MATP)
Writing Tutor, Sofia Writing Center & Dissertation Office
• Instructed the following courses: Systems Theory & Application (in-person & online), Human Sexuality (in-person & online), and Transpersonal Theory & Literature (online).
• Developed and instructed the following course: Critical Thinking and Scholarly Writing
• Served the administration through a curriculum remapping & course renumbering project for the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program.
• Worked with the Master of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology department chair, Dr. Nancy Rowe, to update courses (e.g. Theories of Personality, Spiritual Development) through restructuring of syllabi, producing new course content, and implementing new course texts and materials.
• Tutored master’s and doctoral students in improving their writing skills, including proper implementation of APA style.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
Milestones (AB109) Program, Department of Mental Health (Panorama City, CA)
Mental Health Clinician / Case Manager
• Managed a caseload of 12-15 formerly incarcerated adult clients on probation, producing DMH clinical documentation through full intake assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning, and progress notes.
• Provided individual and group psychotherapy to program clients through Narrative Therapy, Experiential Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and the expressive arts.
PARTNERSHIPS TO UPLIFT COMMUNITIES (PUC; Los Angeles, CA)
Clinical MFT/PCC Trainee, Vista Charter Middle School
• Managed a caseload of 20-25 children (11-14 years old), utilizing DMH-formatted clinical documentation: diagnosis-based individualized treatment plans, psychosocial evaluations, and progress notes.
• Utilized Narrative Therapy, CBT, Mindfulness-Based CBT, TF-CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Expressive Arts Therapy to attend to clients’ individual needs and work with presenting behavior, relational challenges, and trauma.
OPEN PATH PSYCHOTHERAPY COLLECTIVE (OPPC; Telecommute)
Independent Consultant
• Consulted for OPPC, a non-profit organization of over 5,000 mental health providers around the United States, who agree to provide low-cost sessions to low-income clients.
• Formulated succinct language for communication and marketing purposes to reflect their social justice mission, while assisting in the launch of their new network, Being Seen.
ABSOLUTE PARTY ENTERTAINMENT (NYC & LA Metro Areas)
Owner/Event Performer
• Managed and provided variety entertainment for myriad public and private events, and worked with people of all ages and walks of life, including those with chronic illnesses, special needs, developmental challenges, and physical other-abledness.
• Performed a variety of entertainment (e.g. clowning, balloon twisting, face painting, stilt-walking, emceeing, DJ/karaoke, circus acts, etc.) for private, corporate, and public events.
• Worked with clients such as the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation, Feld Entertainment, Gymboree, OshKosh, Quinny, and local libraries and schools.
PSYCHOLOGY TOMORROW MAGAZINE (New York, NY)
Associate Editor/Contributing Writer
• Worked under editor-in-chief Stanley Siegel, noted psychotherapist and author, managing, selecting, and editing article submissions from contributors of various backgrounds, ranging from psychotherapists to physicians, scholars to visual and performance artists.
• Generated original pieces exploring conventional and unconventional practices of psychology for a mainstream audience.
• Managed the Alternative Therapists Directory, a network of forward-thinking psychological practitioners around the world, whose forms of licensure included LCSW, LMFT, LPC, LMHC, LCAT, PsyD, PhD, MD, and others.
INKSPLASH, LLC (New York, NY)
Independent Educational Writer
• Utilized diverse background knowledge, sharp research skills, and adherence to requirements to produce informative and entertaining grade-specific (8-12) reading comprehension passages of both fiction and non-fiction, to be included in standardized testing of various subjects: Literature, history, culture, current events, and science.
KAPLAN TEST PREP & ADMISSIONS (New York, NY)
Educational Advisor, Sales
• Assisted parents and students in understanding the format and internal structure of high school and/or university admissions tests (i.e., PSAT, SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, NYSHS, and HSPT). Aided in selecting an appropriate classroom or tutoring product to prepare for the test(s), taking into account both the family’s financial situation and the student’s academic needs.
• Ranked #1 in Kaplan Premier Tutoring sales for the NY Pre-college division, October 2009.
Publications:
• Neal, A. A. (2019, November/December). Help as a hindrance. Connections: San Fernando Valley CAMFT.
• Neal, A. A. (2019, July/August). Delving into desire: Discrepancy or disorder. The Therapist, 31(4), 12-16.
Recent Presentations:
• Neal, A. A. (2019, November). Mental health first aid. Presentation for the Ventura County Office of Education, Special Populations Conference, Camarillo, CA.
• Neal, A. A. (2019, November). Mindfulness and mental health. Presentation for Ventura County Unified School District, Ventura, CA.
• Neal, A. A. (2019, October). Sexual trauma and the long-term effects. Presentation for the Coalition for Family Harmony, Oxnard, CA.
• Neal, A. A. (2019, September). Mindfulness and mental health. Presentation for Jewish Family Services, Ventura, CA.
• Neal, A. A. (2019, September). Secondary trauma and self-care. Presentation for Jewish Family Services, Ventura, CA.
• Domasin, C., & Neal, A. A. (2019, September). Secondary trauma and self-care. Presentation for the Malibu Boys & Girls Club, Malibu, CA.
• Domasin, C., & Neal, A. A. (2019, August). Mental health first aid. Presentation for the Ventura County Long-term Recovery Group, Camarillo, CA.
• Domasin, C., & Neal, A. A. (2019, July). Mindfulness and mental health. Presentation for 2-1-1 Ventura/Interface, Camarillo, CA.
• Domasin, C., & Neal, A. A. (2019, July). Secondary trauma and self-care. Presentation for 2-1-1 Ventura/Interface, Camarillo, CA.
Special Skills & Interests:
*Higher education *Transpersonal counseling *Expressive arts therapy *Conversant in Spanish *Experienced academic editor *Experienced dramatic improviser