Hello! I am glad you found me! I look forward to meeting with you in person.
Clients often describe my therapeutic approach as practical and direct. The majority of my clients are individuals seeking direction and relief from difficult life situations. Although insight and cognitive awareness is often a part of the treatment process, the true focus of my approach is behavioral change. I practice a directive, inter-active style of therapy. Once we have gotten comfortable with each other, I often give "homework" to receptive clients.
My work as Co-Director of the Center for Creative Living includes relationship counseling. This is challenging and very rewarding work. I have been using Dr. Daniel Wile's Collaborative Model for many years to help couples connect and communicate more effectively. Compassionate listening, conflict resolution and effective negotiation skills are taught as part of the process toward intimacy. Increased self-awareness, healthy self esteem, and the use of appropriate boundary setting is usually another part of the work couples do in building a more loving relationship.
As a parent of two adult children, and a school teacher/counselor for over thirty years, I also work with many families on parenting issues. Children and adolescents struggling with low self-esteem, lack of motivation, ADD, school and social issues are often seen in my office since I have specialized in working with this population. I am the author of numerous articles on parenting. I have been a teacher of parenting classes and workshops since 1985. Last year I started the BEST PARENTING PRACTICESnewsletter. This is a FREE service, and you can have this email-newsletter sent to you regularly.
Many of my clients find relief in a few short sessions, while others benefit from deeper levels of change. For the later group, I have found that EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and inner-child work is often the most successful approach. This works especially well with clients who have experienced abuse or other trauma.
As an adjunct to individual therapy, many groups, classes and presentations are offered at the Center, including the following: Men's Groups, Women's Groups, Parenting Groups, Codependency Recovery Groups, as well as Step-family and Single Parenting Groups.
Please call directly at (925) 855-1745, or contact me by email by clicking HERE, for information about these and other offerings.
V I T A
1966 : Graduated from UCLA
1967-1970: Was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand. Worked at colleges and universities in Ayudhaya, Bangkok, Chiangmai, Mahasarakam, Songkla, and Yala.
1971: Earned first post-graduate degree - M.A. in International Relations from San Francisco State University.
1971: Hired as an elementary school teacher in Pleasanton.
1971-1987: Worked for the Murray School District and the Pleasanton Unified School District as a teacher (including teaching 4th, 5th,6th, 7th and 8th grades) and as the Director of the Murray Environmental Education School. Completed specialized graduate program in Educational Counseling at Cal-State University at Hayward.
1974-1975 : Took a one-year sabbatical leave to travel around the globe studying family systems in Asia and Europe.
1986: Earned a another post-graduate degree - M.A. in Integrative Psychology - from Rosebridge Graduate School.
1987-2002: Worked as a school counselor. Began teaching weekly parenting classes, as well as seeing about 140 children each week in small group-therapy sessions. Earned Pupil Personnel Services Credential and an Administrative Credential during this time.
1987-1991: Worked ( 3000 hours +) as Marriage Family Therapist intern at Danville Psychology Associates. Received training from Dr. Lee Johnson-Kaufman in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Brief Therapy training at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto.
1992: Earned a license from the state of California as a Marriage Family Therapist (#MFC30798). Began private practice. Received training from EMDR founder, Dr. Francine Shapiro, and became a Level 2 EMDR practioner.
1994-present: Co-director of the Center for Creative Living in Danville. Has completed advanced training/education in treating a variety of issues, including: anger management, early childhood trauma, and communications. Hired as a PARENTING SPECIALIST and staff trainer by the Amador Adult Education Program. Cliff and Liz were honored with the CCAE 2009 AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING.
2007-present: Teaches court mandated CO-PARENTING classes in Pleasanton to help separated and/or divorced parents work together for the best interest of the children.
2008-present: RELATIONSHIP SPECIALIST. In June of 2009 Cliff completed a ten month advanced training for licensed professionals at the Couples Institute in Menlo Park. Cliff and Liz often work in tandem, seeing couples "as a couple" in therapy, as well as regularly teaching couples communication workshops at the Center.
Cliff enjoying the San Francisco Bay.
"To travel well, is better than to arrive." - Allan Watts ________
Being mindful is really about choosing to "wake-up" to the world as it is.
With this in mind, I would like to encourage everyone to watch the environmental documentary entitled CRUDE AWAKENING.
I would also encourage you to visit the wonderful websites that are listed below.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy,sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and
then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Cliff Crain has been a clinical member in both the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists & the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists since 1994.
Center for Creative Living
199 East Linda Mesa, Suite 4 Danville, California 94526 Phone: (925) 855-1745 Fax: (925) 829-9426 email: 4creativeliving@sbcglobal.net
______________________________________________ Serving Alamo, Concord, Dublin, Danville, Lafayette, Pleasanton, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Walnut Creek
