Who we are - a brief introduction
Frances Verrinder and Michael Griffith are the principals in the practice. Abbie Endres, MFT and Marjorie Chaset, MFT have recently joined us as associate members of the practice. Frances currently employs Joshua Cross as a Marriage and Family Therapy intern, whom she supervises and trains. Michael employs Traci Ruble as an MFT intern in the Downtown office.
Having competent experienced interns in our practice allows us to offer a wider range of services and a sliding scale based on the client’s ability to pay.
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Frances’ professional background includes many years of training and experience in family systems, couples therapy, group process, Gestalt practice, hypnosis, trauma recovery, Expressive arts and somatic psychotherapy. She works with individual adults, children, teenagers, couples, families and groups. She is particularly interested in working with the unhappily single, stepfamilies, and parents and adult children. She is also an immigrant to the United States and works with foreign-born clients on the difficulties and rewards of changing cultures.She has a wide variety of experience both in agency and hospital settings and has been in private practice in San Francisco since 1982. She is an Associate Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies where she co-teaches couples therapy in the Expressive arts and Somatic Psychology Programs. She also teaches at the Esalen Institute. Frances has an MA degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch College (1977), and has been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 1977. She is in the Noe Valley office. Phone (415) 647 3262. Read Frances' full bio: download PDF to print |
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Michael sees a wide range of clients including individual adults, teenagers, couples and families. He also specializes in working with divorce, remarriage and stepfamilies. He is profoundly interested in what it means to be a man in the 21st century and specializes in psychotherapy with men. He also has a dental practice in San Francisco and specializes in dental anxiety, phobias and TMJ. He has a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (1986) and has been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 1991. He is an Assistant Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies where he co-teaches couples therapy with Frances. He also teaches at Esalen Institute. Michael is in the Downtown office. His phone number is (415) 546 6548. Read Michael's full bio: view online or download PDF |
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Abbie Endres, MA, MFT MFC #43308 Abbie Endres is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology. She trained at the Center for Somatic Psychotherapy, as well as serving preschoolers and adolescent boys through Learning Services of Northern California, and in community mental health settings. Her work is influenced by training in psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral methods, as well as various somatic modalities. Abbie enjoys working with adults, couples, teens, and groups to foster a deeper sense of self-awareness, intimacy, direction, compassion, and motivation. Abbie brings to her therapy work over fifteen years of professional experience in social service with people at all stages of life. Of particular impact were her experiences providing parenting and child development education, as well as spiritual direction work with youth. A decade of experience in a breadth of mind/body and ritual practices from both western and eastern traditions influences and supports her counseling. Abbie is at the Noe Valley office at (415) 364 3034. Read Abbie's full bio: view online or download PDF |
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Marjorie Chaset, MFT MFC #44243 Marjorie Chaset is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology (2003) with a concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She also holds an MBA from Simmons College Graduate School of Management (1982) and a BA from Boston University (1971). Her postgraduate work in the healing of trauma includes training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). For over 30 years, Marjorie has been a student of mind-body practices. She is certified as a Kripalu hatha yoga teacher and Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy practitioner. Marjorie's clinical focus is helping individuals manage current emotional and relational problems related to unresolved family experiences and the effects of trauma. She works with couples on improving communication skills and overcoming blocks to intimacy. As a group therapy facilitator, she encourages people to bring more authenticity, honesty and intimacy into their relationships. Marjorie is also at the Noe Valley office at (415) 364 3029. Marjorie also has an office in the Lake Merritt neighborhood of Oakland, where she can be reached at (415) 364 3029. Read Marjorie's full bio: view online or download PDF |
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Traci Ruble, MA, MFT Intern #48258 Traci Ruble is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology (2005) from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her 12 years of work in the personal growth field have given her practical tools for helping individuals and couples achieve their therapeutic goals. Traci incorporates traditional theories of psychotherapy with newer body-based theory and research into her work with adult individuals and couples. Her work is influenced by Gestalt, Hakomi, Bioenergetics, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Self Psychology, Transpersonal Psychology and Art Therapy. Much of her Masters level research work was on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and she is trained in using EMDR as part of her work with trauma. She has experience working with adults abused as children, trauma, anxiety and depression, women’s issues, sexual orientation, sexuality and spirituality. She also enjoys working with career and job-related issues, as she is still involved in her own corporate work in addition to her psychotherapy practice. Traci is located at the Downtown office and can be reached at (415) 520 5567Read Traci's full bio: view online or download PDF  |
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Joshua Cross, MA, Marriage and Family Therapy Intern #47702 Joshua is in the Noe Valley office. Phone (415) 364 3006 Read Joshua's full bio: view online or download PDF |
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Continuing education
As clinicians, we are committed to developing and honing our skills. We participate in Continual Education and training so that our work evolves as the field develops. By doing so, we are able to stay current with all the new developments in our field and integrate them into our practices.
Referrals
We have developed a wide range of excellent referral resources in the community. We provide referrals when necessary to psychiatrists for medication assessment, other therapists, acupuncturists, physicians, career counselors, mediators and attorneys.