Hi, I’m Gladys!
I HELP Children, TEENS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO OVERCOME BIG CHALLENGES AND FIND MORE ENJOYMENT AND HARMONY IN THEIR LIVES.
I am a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in working with individuals experiencing overwhelming feelings and navigating a variety of life stressors. I enjoy working with children and teens who are struggling with symptoms related to depression, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma. Oftentimes, young people have turned to unhealthy coping patterns such as isolating themselves, excessive video game use, poor eating and sleeping habits, self-harm, substance abuse and other risky behaviors. I provide guidance and support to help them learn healthier ways to regulate their emotions, problem-solve, succeed in school, and cultivate better relationships with peers and loved ones. I also work with parents to expand their parenting skills and improve family relationships.
Gladys Medina, AMFT
DEEPENING CONNECTIONS AND BUILDING CONFIDENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
I help my clients of all ages to cope with life stresses by providing a safe space where they can express themselves and learn new skills to process difficult thoughts and feelings so that they can feel more comfortable in their own skin, improve their relationships, and find more satisfaction at school or work.
My Approach
I first take the time to understand you and your family — to really get to know you or your child's strengths, dreams, goals and challenges. I seek to understand what motivates you and how your family history and current environment have contributed to the issues you are wanting to resolve. We focus together on identifying the areas in need of skill-building and come up with a plan for how you can improve relationships and decrease any negative symptoms that have been interfering with your mental and emotional wellbeing. Over time, we work toward helping you feel less impacted by your big feelings, change unhelpful behaviors, and feel more confidence in your ability to handle it all, so you can lead the life you deserve.
Education and Training
I am a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (AMFT 105465). I earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brandman University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brandman University in Palm Desert. I have completed over 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience and will be completing my final licensing exam in 2023 to become an independently Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am currently under the clinical supervision of April Hanig, LMFT, the owner and Clinical Director at New Leaf.
Most recently, I worked at SafeHouse of the Desert, a crisis program for teens aged 12-18 where I co-facilitated domestic violence and at-risk youth groups, provided individual counseling, and worked closely with parents and social workers to help teens build healthier relationships, improve school performance, and secure a more stable living environment. I have also worked in an addiction treatment center with clients in varying stages of recovery for addictive behaviors including alcohol, drug abuse and gambling. Additionally, I have worked with older adult clients at the Joslyn Center, providing individual, group, and family therapy for clients with a variety of presenting issues.
Prior to my career as a therapist, I worked for 14 years in the special education department at Desert Sands Unified School District where I developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by children with learning differences and mental health problems in the school setting.