ABOUT REINA

Reina is a highly trained and creative psychotherapist. In addition to her work with young adults, families and couples in private practice, she recently consulted at The Freedom Institute, an outpatient addiction treatment facility. Reina provided couples and family therapy in addition to conducting calls coordinating large teams of providers to best support Freedom Clients. Prior to her current work in private practice, Reina was the Family and Program Director at Serenity New York, where she developed a framework for working with Families, and expanded the Women’s Program to focus on  wellness and community. Before Serenity, she was the intake coordinator at Hazelden Betty Ford, in the young adult intensive outpatient (IOP), where she enrolled young adults in treatment. Additionally, Reina lead and developed the curriculum for an education support group for Hazelden families and parents.  Earlier in her career, Reina was the lead women's therapist for the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles. She worked one on one with individuals returning from Iraq and Afghanistan struggling with substance abuse, depression and PTSD. 

Reina has extensive history working in a pediatric neuroscience lab at The NYU Child Study Center focused on ADHD and learning disabilities where she conducted and scored IQ tests along with facilitated fMRI exams. Reina also has experience as a study coordinator in a child psychiatry lab at Columbia University focused on trauma.

In 2016 Reina taught a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills course at the Dalton School on the Upper East Side to sophomores and seniors. In addition, she conducted in- home aftercare support through Homeward Bound. In this work she guided parents and families around the country, who were welcoming home an adolescent returning from wilderness or treatment program.

Education: Reina graduated from Pepperdine University Cum Laude with a Masters in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Reina has specific training from Ackerman Institute of the Family in Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples along with Ackerman training and education in general Family Therapy. Reina is  trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and has completed  training through the Marsha Linehan Behavioral Tech institute. Reina is a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor. 

Organizations/ Speaking : Reina has presented at Columbia University in the Addiction Rounds on the medical campus on Relationships and Addiction. Reina has presented at WAAT (Women's Association for Addiction Treatment) on attachment and substance use and she is an active member of the New York Chapter. : Reina is a member of American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professional Foundation. Reina is an active member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotion Focused Therapy. Reina was featured on a podcast where she discussed the relationship between loneliness and addiction, the link to the podcast is below, her interview begins at 21:30.

https://www.thelonelyhour.com/episodes/#/addiction-addict-lonely-gerardo-gonzalez/

Reina's approach to treatment is directive, energetic and warm. She helps families, couples and millennials engage in a life that feels grounded, hopeful and more joyful.