STAFF

Arianne Advocate, MA

Arianne Advocate grew up locally and received her Masters degree in psychology from the University of San Francisco. She has first level EMDR training and she is trained in hypnosis. Her therapeutic approach tends to look at individuals from a holistic perspective and she integrates many different orientations to work with each individual. She has a high level of training with children and adolescents. She works with individual adults, families and couples as well. She incorporates sand tray and art therapy as tools for expression of feelings. She currently co-facilitates an anger management group at RRC. Her other specialties include eating disorder issues and sexual abuse trauma. She has extensive knowledge in working with the developmentally disabled population and children with special needs. She can be reached at 874-9946.

 


Ralph Ames, Ph.D.

Ralph is a Psychologist, trained in clinical hypnosis. His areas of specialization are anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, and dissociation. 


Carl Combs, Ph.D

A married father of one, licensed as a therapist since 1976, with thirty years of river flow experience : I am a Marriage, Child and Family Therapist (MFCC#7604).

I have training and certifications in a number of techniques including hypnosis and Eye Movement Desensitization Response . I have studied with and trained with some of the best marriage therapists.

I am , among other things, an experienced and compassionate counselor. I work with couples, singles, and families. The majority of my clients are victims of some single or multi factor trauma. People who are stuck in life and ready for change. Stress related diseases and their evolution are a continuing interest.  As are eating disorders.

I received my Masters Degree in Humanistic Psychology from Sonoma State in 1975, Hypnosis Certification in 1984, and my Doctorate in General Studies from Piadia University in San Francisco in 1985. My area of concentration was Psychophysiologicial Disorders. I trained in Energy Transformation with Brugh Joy M.D., In 1978.

If you are looking to improve your relationships, the quality of your life, help your children, or reduce the impact of unwanted emotions or memories :I can help.



Richard Giovannoli, Ph.D.

Richard recently retired from 30 years as a public school teacher and principal. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Saybrook in 2003, and is currently a psych assistant. His dissertation was on the narrative underpinnings of cognitive behavioral therapy, and his goal in therapy is to accompany clients on a journey to reconstruct their personal stories in light of new insights into their past and present worlds.



Denise Horner, MA

Denise is a local person, graduating from Guerneville School, El Molino, and Sonoma State.  She did her graduate work at the University of San Francisco, in Counseling. She has a special interest in working with children and families.  She is trained in hypnosis and EMDR.


Penelope Langdon, Psy.D

Penelope is trained as a depth therapist, although she uses other orientations if it seems appropriate. Her main foucs when working with clients is to help recognize patterns of thinking or behavior that may be getting in the way of living a more authentic and fulfilling life. She works with clients of all ages; She is particularly intereste din women's issues, adolescents, PTSD, dream work and helping clients develop and inner life. She uses clinical hypnosis, art and sandtray along with traditional talk therapy in her practice.




Tony Madrid, Ph.D.

Tony is the director of Russian River Counselors. He has been a psychologist in Sonoma County for 30 years, starting as a child psychology for Sonoma County Mental Health. He was the director of The Erickson Institute in Santa Rosa. He directed the Inpatient Program at Pocket Ranch Institute in Geyserville, which was an alternative program to traditional hospitalization. He has been on the faculty of The University of San Francisco for 25 years. He was a Member of California's Board of Psychology. He is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation.  His area of research is maternal-infant bonding and childhood asthma, for which he received the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Hilgard Award for scientific excellence in writing on pediatric/adolescent use of hypnosis.





David Murphy, Ph.D.

Dave is a medical psychologist at Palm Drive and Memorial Hospitals. He used to be a teacher and worked at the Sierra Youth Center when he was working on his PhD. He uses hypnosis and meditation techniques to help people deal with chronic illnesses, stress, anxiety and depression.  He has lived in Sebastopol for 30 years.




Holly Prichard, M.A., MFT

Holly has been working in the field of Transpersonal Psychology for four years. Trained at Pocket Ranch Institute, she has experience working with dissociative disorders (DID, DDNOS), trauma-based issues, sexual abuse issues, PTSD, depression, and adjustment disorders. She is trained in various modalities including hypnosis, feeling-based emotive work, guided imager, and cognitive therapy. 


AJ Rylaarsdam, M.F.T.

A.J. earned her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA in 2000.   She is trained in hypnosis and has advanced training in EMDR. Along side traditional talk therapy, she utilizes these healing modalities as well as the creative art therapies such as sand tray, visual arts and drama therapy.  She works with children, adolescents and adults.  She has special interest in helping clients with PTSD, dissociative disorders, managing anxiety and sorting through life transitions.    


 

 

Susan Skolek, Psy.D.

Susan is Psychologist, specializing in work with substance abuse and domestic violence. She also works as a Psychologist at the Russian River Health Center, in Guerneville.  She is trained in hypnosis and EMDR.

 

Mike Walker, M.A.

Michael Walker is a MFT Intern.  Mike grew up in southern California and attended St. John’s Seminary College in Camarillo where he studied philosophy, and religion.  He received his MA degree in Counseling from the University of San Francisco.  He is trained in hypnosis and the first level of EMDR.  His primary theoretical approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  He coordinates the Russian River Counselors IPV Batterer’s Program. He has several years of experience working with children and adolescents as a teacher and as a residential counselor.  He works with individuals, adults, families, couples, and groups. Areas of specialty include LGBTQQ issues, Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual and Physical Abuse Trauma, PTSD, Mood/Anxiety Disorders, and Thought Disorders. 


 

Bud Veliquette, M.F.T.

 

Bud has been licensed as an MFT since January 2001.  He attended the Graduate School for Professional Psychology at JFK University, and he did his internships with HIV case management programs.  Prior to becoming licensed, he worked for many years for the California Department of Rehabilitation.  He attended the Hypnotherapy Training Institute in 2001, and he is an ACHE certified clinical hypnotherapist.  He has experience in working with smoking  cessation and weight management. 

Areas of interest include gay and lesbian issues, depression, anxiety, life transition, and Employee Assistance Programs.  

Private Practice voicemail is 707-246-2679.




Helen E. Wilbur, Ph.D.

Dr. Helen Wilbur received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Professional School of Psychology (San Francisco) in 1986. Her pre- and post-doctoral studies focused in the area of Medical Psychology, including cognitive-behavioral and Ericksonian hypnotic techniques. Dr. Wilbur was also the first professional to provide hypnosis for anesthesia during surgery in Sonoma County.

Dr. Wilbur has continued her work in Medical Psychology within her private practice. She works closely with local physicians and surgeons. Her specialties include chronic pain management, pre-surgical counseling, and lifestyle adjustments to physical diagnoses. Dr. Wilbur is also highly experienced in treating conditions that are most often first seen by family physicians; including insomnia, anxiety including panic attacks, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dr. Wilbur can be reached for an appointment at (707) 865-1200 or (707) 865-3156. 


Maureen Wolfe, RN

    Maureen Wolfe, a nurse midwife,  is the Executive Director of the Association of Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health.  She is the Quality Assurance Director of the clinic. 

 

Salima Zimmerman, PsyD

Salima is trained as a depth psychologist and works as a psychological assistant for RRC. She brings many years experience working with the psychological, health, and spiritual needs of clients. She strives to help people with emotional and physical difficulties come home to their most authentic and joyful selves through collaborative, compassionate, and direct interaction and healing. Salima is well versed in Expressive Arts, EMDR, Hypnosis, Personal Growth, Meditation and Relaxation work, and being a support for those with chronic illness. Her dissertation focused on the use of Expressive Arts, Ritual, Spiritual Practices and EMDR in Trauma Recovery.