Meet Dr. Ziska

Growing up in Brooklyn, NY and the SF Bay Area, my love of working with children and their parents started when I was a teen babysitter, peer helper, and camp counselor. From there my interest blossomed and I studied gender, media, art, psychology and education at UCLA. While there, I had the opportunity to work in various learning environments as a teacher, classroom aide, pull-out language interventionist, and research assistant. After undergrad I moved to Washington, DC to intern and then work at an arts-based charter school for children with special needs. I learned that it was critical to see children as part of their larger family system and community. I found that I thrived when working one-on-one or in small groups where I could make the most impact and attend to the complex emotional and behavioral needs faced by the children I worked with.

 

This led me to pursue my doctorate in clinical psychology at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA where I completed clinical practicum training at an elementary school, community medical clinic, college counseling center, and community mental health clinic and expanded my interest in working with adults. My predoctoral internship was at the UCSF Infant-Parent Program at San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco, CA working with parents and their children age 0-3. Through this training program I was certified in Infant Mental Health. My postdoctoral internship was through the Behavioral Emergency Response and Medical Unit Team at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland, CA where I worked to assess and stabilize children experiencing behavioral and psychiatric crisis as well as on the medical units with complex, medically fragile children, especially in hematology, oncology, the ICU and gastroenterology.

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While in graduate school I completed a formative program evaluation dissertation where I did a comprehensive needs assessment and developed an integrative mental health program at a gynecology and primary care clinic in San Francisco, CA. I had the opportunity to continue to develop and oversee this clinical program for six years, including a training program where I instructed and supported 12 doctoral students in clinical psychology from various graduate programs throughout the Bay Area. During this time I oversaw a HRSA/SAMHSA grant that supported further integration of mental health services with primary care and gynecological services and supervised a psychiatrist while coordinating care teams with my mental health trainees and medical providers at the clinic. At this time I also obtained my certification as a yoga teacher and taught community yoga classes at the clinic. Upon my departure, I assisted the clinic with securing a significant grant through HRSA to ensure the future of the program.

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After graduate school, I also worked as a consultant to assist in clinical and training program development as well as developing curriculum and training volunteers on a post-abortion support line. I also consulted clinicians improving their skills in treating young children. I continue to offer consultation services, click here to learn more.

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After a few years post-graduation in the SF Bay I was ready for a change so I moved to the remote Hamakua-Kohala coast of Hawaii Island to take a job at a community health clinic as part of the National Health Service Corp. I worked there for five years serving children, families, couples, and adults of all ages with a very wide range of challenges and needs. I developed and ran a training program at the two clinics on the island where I worked and supervised practicum students and postdocs in psychology and other counseling programs. I provided art therapy groups for children and their ohana and also provided grief and loss counseling both individually and through art therapy groups. This was deeply meaningful and satisfying work and I am grateful for the experience and the opportunity to continue to serve folks throughout Hawaii.

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In January of 2022, my family relocated to Western North Carolina to be close to our extended family and familial roots. We are grateful to call the Blue Ridge Mountains our home. I currently run a private practice and enjoy providing support to folks in North Carolina, California, and Hawaii with plans to expand to all PsyPact states. When I am not behind the screen supporting folks or working to improve agencies and organizations I work with, I try to be outside and with family as much as possible. I love mountain biking, hiking, and anything on water.

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Thanks for taking the time to learn more about me. I believe this can help us build a trusting therapeutic alliance that supports you. I look forward to having the opportunity to provide you with the support, care, and encouragement needed to move beyond obstacles you face and live a truly meaningful and rewarding life! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.