About Me

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in both California and Florida, and the owner of Beacon Human Services. 

I began my career in social work by first obtaining my Bachelor of Psychology degree in 1995. My goal was to eventually open my own private practice in mental health counseling, and I knew that I would need to go on to obtain a Master degree.  However, in the last semester of my BA program I took a course in Social Work wherein I learned that social workers can also obtain independent clinical licensure and open private practices – and that the social work perspective and approach more closely aligned with my own beliefs about how to be the most effective at helping others. Within the Master of Social Work (MSW) program my concentration was on adults, aging, and families with a focus on HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ issues. This MSW program required 2.5 years of study, 1,000 hours of supervised direct practice experience (completed at LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s Mental Health Department and Jewish Family Service: Partner’s Adult Day Health Care center), and completion of my original thesis project: Psychosocial Development and Age of Coming Out for Gay Men. 

After graduating, I was required to complete an additional 3,000 hours of supervised direct practice experience before qualifying to sit for independent licensing (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) exams. This experience was obtained at the second largest HIV/AIDS Service organization in the country (AIDS Project Los Angeles) by providing in-home case management for people with advanced HIV/AIDS, as well as individual/group counseling services to LGBTQ+ and/or HIV-positive individuals through their Mental Health department. After becoming eligible to sit for the LCSW exam, I continued working at APLA for an additional four years. I then gained experience in additional settings, including home health agencies (Medicare), adult day health care centers (MediCaid) working with Holocaust survivors and their families, health insurance medical case management programs (Medicare Advantage) for patients with chronic medical conditions, higher education institutions (as adjunct instructor), and private mental health practices. 

Today I am licensed to practice independently in both California and Florida.  I’m also a board-certified case manager (CCM) and have certifications in trauma work (Certified Clinical Trauma Professional – Level 1), Mindfulness (Certified Mindfulness-Informed Professional), and financial social work (Certified Financial Social Worker).  In addition to my drive to continuously learn and grow as a professional, I continue to consult with other licensed mental health professionals on a regular basis to ensure that I am providing the best service possible to the clients I work with. I am also a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Clinical Social Work Association where social workers across the country assist each other with difficult cases and have access to the continuing education requirements we need to stay current with the laws, ethics, and skills of our profession.

The services I provide are anchored in a bio-psychosocial approach using a person-in-environment perspective. This means that I’m interested in any health/medical conditions you have, treatments you’re receiving, your family relationships and upbringing, your social support network, your mental health, and strengths and challenges you have in coping with these facets of your life. I also work hard to develop a strong, supportive, and non-judgmental alliance with you and help you identify the source(s) of issues you’d like to address. With this focus on your right to self-determination and our therapeutic alliance (probably the best predictor of positive therapy outcomes), my goal is to help you acquire the  insights and techniques you need to live a more fulfilling life, and to do this in as little time in therapy as possible (I’ll check-in with you from time-to-time on this).

Please don’t hesitate to call me at (760) 203-3083 for a no-cost 15-20 minute discussion to determine whether we’re a good fit for each other.  If we agree to move forward after our call, I will then create your patient portal access through which you’ll receive access to important documents for you to sign, schedule appointments, and pay invoices for services.

Be well,

Terry