Curriculum Vitae

Lida N. Vala, MA, LMFT (License #85639)

      125 East Sunnyoaks Ave, Suite 115, Campbell, CA 95008 | (408) 430-7530 | lida.vala@gmail.com

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EDUCATION

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      JFK University, San Jose, CA

     MA in Counseling Psychology
     2010

 

      Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA

      BS in Electrical Engineering with Minor in Ethnic Studies
     2001
 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
 

      Lida Vala, LMFT, Campbell, CA

      MFT in Private Practice
     [2015] – [present]

      Provide individual, couples, and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. 
      Provide assessments for transgender clients for purposes of compiling a “letter of
      readiness for medical treatment.” Facilitate support groups for transgender teens. 
 

      Corbett Group Homes, Inc., San Jose, CA

      Clinician
     [2011] – [present]

      Provide individual therapy to foster youth placed at Corbett Group Homes. Provide

      comprehensive mental health assessments to such youth. Provide mental health

      consultation to Managers and Residential Counselors. Train Managers and Residential

      Counselors on working with the mental health needs of youth. Serve on committees

      dedicated to Program Quality Improvement. Plan and implement model to ensure agency

      services become trauma-informed.
 

      Michele Caban, LMFT, Campbell, CA

      MFT Intern in Private Practice
     [2012] – [2015]

      Provided individual, couples, and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults.

      Provided assessments for trans clients for purposes of compiling a “letter of readiness

      for medical treatment.”
 

      JFK Community Counseling Center, Campbell, CA

      MFT in Private Practice
     [2008] – [2012]

      Provided individual, couples, and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults in

      both clinic and school settings. Provided evaluations for appropriateness of clients to be

      served by interns and trainees at the counseling center.
 

      Uplift Family Services (Formerly EMQ Families First), Los Gatos, CA

      Milieu Activity Therapist
     [2001] – [2012]

      Provided mental health rehabilitation services for severely emotionally disturbed children.

      Documented children’s progress via Mental Health Notes. Facilitated Day Treatment

      Group activities for children. Provided crisis interventions for children within the milieu.
 

PRESENTATIONS & TRAININGS
 

     “LGBTQ Community: Obstacles Faced & Tools for Providers”

      Co-Presenter, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health    
      2017
 

     “Trans-Health Essentials”

      Presenter, West Valley’s Title IV-E    
      2017
 

      “Apple Pride Event”

      Presenter, Apple, Inc.    

      2017

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      “Trans-Health Essentials”

      Presenter, Santa Clara University    

      2015-2017

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      “Trans-Health Essentials”

       Presenter, Foothill Community Health Center    

       2016

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       “Trans-Health Essentials for Residential Care”

       Presenter, Unity Care Group    

       2016

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       “Trans-Health Essentials”

       Presenter, West Valley’s Title IV-E Training    

       2016

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       Additional Talks/Q&A/Sharing Personal Narrative include:    
       2015-2017
 

• Outlet’s “Trans Talk” in Palo Alto    

• Presented on Trans Panel at Stanford University

• Presented on Intimate Partner Violence at San Jose State University

• Presented at Apple Wellness Center for Medical Staff

• Presented at Santa Clara Trans Families Support Group

• Co-Presented at Fremont Union High School District

• Presented on 3 LGBTQ panels via PFLAG Speaker’s Bureau in school and church settings

• Presented on Trans Panel at Mountain View High School

• Co-Presented at JFK Community Counseling Center

• Presented at PFLAG Support Group
   

COLLABORATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs

• Gender Identity Awareness Network Consultation group (GIAN)

• Santa Cruz Trans Consultation Group (SC Trans)

• UCSF’s Children &Adolescent’s Gender Clinic Consultation Group (Mind-the-Gap)

• Outlet Program of Adolescent Counseling Services (Redwood City)

• LGBTQ Youth Space of Family & Children Services (San Jose)
   

LANGUAGES

• English – primary language

• Farsi – native language/conversational at best
   

MEMBERSHIPS

• California Association of Marriage Family Therapists (CAMFT)

• World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)

• PFLAG Speaker’s Bureau
   

PERSONAL INTERESTS

• Hip Hop Culture (lyricist & emcee)

• Afro-Brazilian Martial Art of Capoeira

• Playing Basketball, Dancing,  and other Athletics

• Poetry and Spoken Word

• Drawing & Graphic Design

• Films and Documentaries

• Screenwriting

• Nature, Science, Philosophy and Spirituality