Staff

Selma Fields, Staff Therapist

Selma is licensed in the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She has received advanced training in the areas of adoption and grief, and is certified in Crisis Intervention and Stress Management. She is a Clinical Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and her areas of specialty include couples issues and life transitions. Selma is a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Carmichael and values the faith experience of all people.

Debra Tripp, Executive Director

Debra is licensed in the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist and has received special training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Her specialties include domestic violence and anger issues, the treatment of emotional trauma, and the exploration of how our personalities affect our relationships. Debra sees therapy as a growth process in which individuals move to new levels of development through repairing emotional and spiritual damage from the past. She is a Clinical Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and is skilled treating sexual addiction and gender issues. Debra is a member of a Presbyterian (U.S.A) church, values diversity in one’s “view of life”, and is enjoys integrating biblical issues with therapy.

Debbie Berke, LMFT

Debbie is licensed in the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Debbie utilizes Person-centered and Solution-focused therapy as well as integrating other interventions to best fit the client. Debbie has experience working with children, individual adults, couples and families on a variety of issues. Debbie particularly enjoys working with those who are dealing with depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety issues. Debbie is a member of Carmichael Presbyterian Church and integrates faith with therapy as appropriate.

Dave Dillman, LMFT

Dave is licensed in the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 1986. As a former pastor he deeply respects and values the need to integrate psychotherapeutic counseling with Biblical teachings. Dave sees his counseling approach similar to the Biblical pattern of the Holy Spirit, to be “one who comes along side” to walk with you through challenging times. He has learned that many Biblical teachings have practical applications to illustrate important life principals. The main approach he takes with his clients is “Grace Therapy” which provides, empowers and enables us to get through whatever challenge we encounter. His specialties are working with couples, individuals, and blended families with life transitional challenges.

Dave also teaches at Chapman University in Roseville, California and mentors other counselors who are in their training to become clinical counselors.

Lynn Gilbertson, Spiritual Director

Lynn received training in Spiritual Direction at the Spiritual Direction Institute and has also studied Clinical Pastoral Education through the Sutter Health System. She previously served as Associate Director of Maryhouse Mustard Seed School (Loaves and Fishes), is a trained Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and is currently Chaplain at the Sutter Roseville Medical Center. Lynn believes God has a plan for each of us and would covet the opportunity to assist you in your personal journey of faith. She attends St. John’s Lutheran church in Sacramento.

Julie Strahl, Staff Therapist

Julie is licensed with the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Julie comes to her second profession of counseling as a “Student of Human Development” after having worked with children in a variety of settings for over thirty years. Facilitating individuals, couples and families on their path toward self awareness, actualization, healing and growth is what Julie considers the shared gift of the therapeutic relationship. Julie uses a person centered, family systems approach, as well as techniques from Gestalt and Cognitive Behavoiral Therapy to help individuals and families dealing with trauma, grief, transitions, depression and anxiety.

Loraine Lussier, Therapist

Lori is licensed with the state of California as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has many years experience working with children, individuals, couples and families, utilizing cognitive, behavioral and psychodynamic approaches. She is comfortable working with issues of anxiety, phobia, anger, grief, and depression with individual adults. Lori is skilled in treating panic, ACA and Co-dependency, bereavement, depression, sexual and history of sexual abuse. She is versed in communications skills training.

Carlene Mauch, Intern

Carlene is a registered Marriage Family Therapist Intern by the State of California. A graduate of California State University at Sacramento, Carlene received a Masters’ Degree through the Psychology Department with an emphasis in counseling. She has been married for over 30 years and has two sons. Carlene has a deep passion to assist individuals and families in developing and sustaining healthy and realistic relationships. Carlene endeavors to enable individuals to grow in all aspects of their lives and to assist them in becoming the person they were created to be. She has worked with clients who face a variety of issues including sexual abuse, post traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, loss, grief, and transition, as well as providing pre-marital counseling.

Jason Swain, Staff Therapist

Jason Swain has been licensed as a Clinical Social Worker by the State of California since July 5, 2005. His area of expertise lies in the field of Substance Use Disorders, where he has worked in multiple settings over the past decade. In addition, he has been in private practice since April of 2004, providing therapy for a number of individuals, families, and groups with various disorders, psychosocial stresses and spiritual struggles. He also supervises post-graduate interns of the Samaritan Counseling Center.

John Schumacher, Intern

John is a registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern by the state of California. He has a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and has worked with adults, families, couples and children. John takes an integrated approach to the therapeutic process, tailoring his interventions to best fit the client. He strives to help people reach their potential by assisting them in making sense of their life stories and by focusing on their strengths. He is particularly interested in anxiety, grief and life transitions issues and in working with couples and children.