Lafaya Dosty-Stallworth
M.A., MFT
- In mental health profession since 1993
- Licensed marriage and family therapist (California license MFT47221)
- Certified Healthy Families America home visitor
- Trained in Denver II developmental assessment
- Experience with both adults and children with developmental disabilities
- Extensive training and experience with families living in high stress environments
- Trainer for parents with challenging parenting situations, 2003-2005
My career began in the mental health field, and I have always felt that being in the helping professions was my calling. I began my career as a counselor for developmentally disabled adult males in 1993. From there I moved into working with severely emotionally disturbed children in 1995. A few years later I entered into the Sacramento Children's Home CHEC (Creating Healthy Environments for Children) program where I gained extensive knowledge and experience treating parent/child attachment concerns in high stress environments.
Shortly after graduating from CSU Sacramento with my bachelor's degree in psychology, I was asked to join the Sutter Medical Center team as a training coordinator for the Women and Children's Early Years Program. In the Early Years Program I wrote, coordinated, and facilitated trainings written to assist home visitors in their work with parents in high-stress situations and environments. Also, while on the Sutter team I returned to my first love, field work with families. During my time at Sutter, I worked on my master's degree in counseling psychology.
Following graduation from the National University master's program in 2001, I continued working with families in high-stress environments and added to my job description individual, couple, and group counseling.
Following the birth of my daughter in 2004, I decided to make staying at home and raising my children my Number One priority. So I became a full-time mom but continued to facilitate monthly trainings for foster care agency parents. The primary area of focus of these trainings was parenting challenging children.
In 2006, I could not resist the wonderful opportunity to work with children and parents at Fair Oaks Therapeuticum as a part-time therapist I feel that here I get the best of both worlds and have the energy and availability to do an excellent job at work and home. A true blessing for a working mother.
On an even more personal note, I have a wonderful husband of 13 years whose unwavering support has allowed me to juggle work and family. Together we care for our three children, ages 14, 4, and 2. I love sports and am very active in basketball, both coaching and playing. My favorite thing to do is watch my children play, laugh, and smile. And I love chocolate, especially in cake form.
Last modified on 01.13.10
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