Laura Buskirk MFT Trainee

Phone: (408) 689 8104 ext. 12

Laura is a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southwest Baptist University and is currently studying Counseling with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Laura has over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults in inpatient and outpatient settings within the mental health and substance abuse fields. She has an interest in scapegoating and trauma both of which have been an ongoing focus in her work.

Courtney Cooke MFT Trainee

Phone: (408) 689 8104 ext. 10
Courtney Cooke is an MFT Trainee, completing her Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University in Spring 2018. Courtney has always had an interest in mental health, and has been working with diverse populations for nearly 10 years. Some of these include her meaningful experiences as a mental health counselor at a homeless shelter and within a transitional housing unit, in addition to the experience she gained as a counselor for adolescents with eating disorders.

Courtney views her clients from a holistic perspective, encouraging growth and fostering resilience through strengths-based interventions. Courtney has an interest in the LGBTQ+ and adolescent populations, and has an interest in research as well. Courtney is currently working on her own research project regarding implicit biases and is considering applying for doctoral programs in Clinical Psychology after gaining licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

Daniel Davis Consulting Supervisor

I create an environment where clients experience significance, empowerment, and acceptance. I collaborate with clients to identify solutions to their current crises. I enable clients to recognize their ability to consciously develop their unique potential.

Since 1994, I have used EMDR to assist clients in resolving interpersonal problems related to trauma. Since 1996, I have done play therapy, art therapy and sandtray therapy with children. I’ve studied Jungian dream analysis since 1986.

From 1995 to 2001, working with the publisher of the MBTI, I assisted psychiatrists, psychologists, and corporate trainers worldwide with career development and organizational development issues. I’ve facilitated team building and leadership development with religious organizations, educational institutions, and major corporations such as Wells Fargo Bank and Hewlett-Packard.

From 2007 to 2009, I served on the Board of Directors of the Guild for Psychological Studies.  I have been serving on the Board of Directors for Four Springs Retreat Center since 2012.  Since 2013, I have been a Consulting Supervisor with Peace It Together, a non-profit dedication to a peaceful community.

Rob Dreyfous MFT Trainee

Phone: (408) 689 8104 ext. 8
Rob is a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee earning his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from California State University East Bay in Spring 2018. Rob holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University, awarded in Spring 2013. Rob excelled during his decade-long career working in educational settings before spending the last 2 years supporting youth in foster care and juvenile probation systems. As a native of Silicon Valley, Rob is excited to combine cultural relativity, knowledge of evidence-based practices and diverse professional experiences to give back to his community.

Rob intends to make a career out of treating adolescents who experience depression and abuse. He has dreams of earning a doctorate and making changes in social policy to best serve the underprivileged youth, who make up the foster care and juvenile probation systems. There will be no greater accomplishment than to see a client make choices to better their life; or perhaps more appropriately, peace it together.

Travis Gray Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee

Phone: (408) 689 8104 ext. 7

I am Mr. Travis Gray. I was born and raised near Omaha, NE. I am fluent in American Sign Language. I am passionate about making a difference in the world through the positive transformation of others. I moved to Bay Area, CA to realize my dreams of empowering human beings by becoming a student of psychology. I am currently in the Master’s degree of Counseling Psychology program held under the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University.

Deborah Hennessee Marriage and Family Therapist/Professional Clinical Counselor Trainee

Phone: (408) 689 8104 ext. 3

Deborah Hennessee is an MFT/PCC Trainee in her last year of graduate school in her Master’s program in Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University. She has additionally completed a Master’s degree in Experimental and Research Psychology from San Jose State University. Her thesis topic concerned life stress, problem-focused coping, and positive affect. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Communication Studies, from San Jose State University. Deborah is a lifetime member of several academic organizations and honors societies, including Psi Chi and Phi Kappa Phi.

Deborah’s clinical areas of focus include life stress, life transitions, traumatic stress, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, problem-focused coping, positive reappraisals, positive affect, and resilience. She has over 7 years of experience serving as a crisis counselor in the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Department. Deborah is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals so that there may be a cumulative effect, proceeding to families and the community.

Jill Howard Maher MFT Consulting Supervisor

Phone: (408) 689 8104
Jill has been working with children, adults and families effected by trauma and domestic violence for twelve years. She began at crisis shelter as a domestic violence counselor and sexual assault response team advocate. Her current work as a program director includes overseeing batterer’s intervention, parenting, child abuse prevention and victim services programming as well as supporting clients in therapy. She has been providing clinical group and individual supervision for over two and half years for trainees and interns.

Jill is a Commissioner on the DV Council, Chairwoman for the BIC committee, and member of the Court Systems committee.

Adam Moreno Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee

Phone: (408) 689 8104 ext. 6
Adam Moreno is a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee. He graduated from San Jose State with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice. Since 2001, he has worked in the community with a passion to help others realize their strengths and potential to succeed. He has worked with the Transitional Age Youth, families, veterans and the homeless population. He has been on the committee for the Gilroy gang task force and City of San Jose project homeless connect.

He is in his final year of graduate school at JFK University studying Holistic Counseling Psychology, MFT track, and will be graduating in the summer of 2016. At Peace-It-Together, Adam can continue to help youth realize their strengths and potentials that can lead a successful and productive life. He is bilingual, which makes him a great addition to an already strong and supportive team.

Polline Villalobo Teen Dating Violence Prevention Outreach Coordinator

Volunteers

Kristin Smith Outreach Presenter

My name is Kristin Smith and I am truly grateful and proud to hold the position of Outreach Coordinator for Peace-It-Together. Since April of 2013 I have been devoted to educating the youth in our community on teen dating violence via the classroom and youth organizations. I have worked hard to reflect the compassion,
professionalism and goals that our organization is recognized for as well as aim for the growth of our outreach program.

I completed my undergraduate degree with honors at San Jose State where I majored in Psychology. I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to foster youth at Child Advocates of Silicon Valley and enjoy doing activities with my foster youth and for the organization in my spare time. I am a mother of 2 daughters with whom a lot of my time is committed in raising them healthy, happy and educated.

I have overcome a past full of adversity which is where my deep passion for psychology derives from. Dating violence is a very relevant part of my past and I am dedicated to spreading awareness on such a widespread issue occurring in our society today. I strive to support human services with the objective to provide a better quality of life for individuals and families throughout the community. I believe learning is a lifelong process and hope to continue my education to obtain my graduate degree soon.

Teen Dating Violence Prevention Outreach Team:

Neda Abootorabi Teen Dating Violence Prevention Presenter

It is a true honor to be able to work with Peace-It-Together. I graduated from Santa Clara University with my B.S. in biology with a minor in public health science. Although my educational career placed me on a very scientific and technical path, I have always enjoyed counseling others– whether it’s about how a particular organ system functions in the body, or how important it is to establish a positive self-image. With that said, my interest lies beyond interactions at the cellular and molecular level; I am also interested in human-to-human interactions, relationships, and what makes us who we are from a global perspective.

This organization’s mission lies very close to my heart, and as a prior stubborn teenager who was very resistant to accepting guidance in life, my now older-and-wiser self is eager to provide direction and advice to teens as a community outreach presenter at Peace-It-Together. I enjoy open discussion and creating bonds with those I educate about the important topic of teen dating violence, and I hope the material I cover with them will have a strong impact on the difficult choices they face in their relationships with both themselves and others. Together we can reach the goal of intervention and prevention of emotional, physical, sexual, and digital abuse.