Curriculum Vitae

Private Practice: Donna M Chapman Psychotherapy – September 2015
My primary population is the LGBT community, specifically with Transgender people and their families. I help children, adolescents and adults begin and sustain transition successfully and support the vision they have of who they are and how they wish to be in the world. My rich life experience (fancy language for I’m older and partnered with a transgender woman) allows me to truly align with partners and families that have members who are transgender and to be an ally with transgender individuals as they transition. I also work with individuals, couples and families who have challenges in substance abuse, anxiety, depression, borderline personality issues and relationship problems.

I have training in: EMDR, DBT, DBT-PE, and Jungian Sand Play and maintain consultation and supervision relationships with other professionals in these fields.

I provide services to a variety of populations: LGBT and straight, Vets, Active Duty Military, Transgender men and women, families and couples with a member who is Transgender. I am Kink and Polyamorous friendly. I am an intensively trained DBT therapist with 4 years of skills training experience. I meet my clients where they are, and help them create and participate effectively in a life worth living. I am influenced by attachment concepts from Emotionally Focused Therapy, EFT, and practical life skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT.

Currently my practice offers two adult DBT Skills Training Groups. Focused Therapy, EFT, and practical life skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT. 

Currently my practice offers two adult DBT Skills Training Groups.

Contractor Collaboration: Darlene Tando Therapy – October 2015
Collaboration for family support for those with transgender children and adolescents.

Collaboration: TransFamily Support Services, Kathie Moehlig – January 2018
Collaboration for family support for those with transgender children and adolescents.

Personal Evolution Psychotherapy, November 2011-September 2015
My primary population is the LGBT community, specifically with Transgender people and their families. I help children, adolescents and adults begin and sustain transition successfully and support the vision they have of who they are and how they wish to be in the world. My rich life experience (fancy language for I’m older and partnered with a transgender woman) allows me to truly align with partners and families that have members who are transgender and to be an ally with transgender individuals as they transition. I also work with individuals, couples and families who have challenges in substance abuse, anxiety, depression, borderline personality issues and relationship problems.

Dream Tending Certificate 1, in progress, started in Feb 2023
Dream Tending Master Class – Unlock the Hidden Power of Your Dreams.

EMDR Consultant in Training, initiated March 2021, supervised by Alicia Avila, LCSW 

Internal Family Systems Training, 1 day training September 2020

The Body Keeps the Score, 2-Day training, Bessel van der Kolk, MD January 2020

DBT Mindfulness and Meditation Retreat, Cedar Koons, completed October 4-7 2019

EMDR Certified Practitioner completed June 2019

Discussions on Gender Affirmation Surgery and Beyond, WPATH training May 29-June 2 2019

Scaling Up EMDR training June, 2019 with Dr. Nacho Jerero

7/2018: became participant in Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD) Forum, a consortium of like minded therapists to support varied relationship presentations: kink, polyamorous, LGBTQ+

DBT-PE DBT for Prolonged Exposure Trauma Treatment, 4-Day Training, June 2018, taught by Dr. Melanie Harned, PhD, Cork Ireland

Somatic Experiencing, March 2.3, 2018, taught by Dr. Peter Levine, PhD

New Frontiers in Trauma Treatment, February 13/14, 2017, taught by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, PhD

ISITDBT, International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of DBT, Dec 20, 2017, taught by Various

EMDR Tool Box: AIP Methods to Treating Adult Clients with Complex PTSD and Dissociate Personality Structure, November 3-4, 2017, taught by Dr. Jim Knipe, PhD

Shhh…It’s Confidential: Confidentiality of Mental Health Under California and HIPPA Laws, October 20, 2017, taught by CAMFT Attorney David Jensen, JD

Where Pele Reigns, Jungian Sand Play Intensive, Hilo HI, July, 2017, taught by Dr. Lorainne Freedle, PhD

Gender Odyssey Conference, Professional and Family, August, 2017, taught by Various

New Frontiers in Trauma Treatment, February 13/14, 2017, taught by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, PhD

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, Basic Training, completed May/September 2016, taught by Kurt Rouanzoin

Jungian Sand Play Intensive Training, completed May 2016, taught by Gita Morena, LMFT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy 10-Day Intensive Training, March/June 2015, taught by Dr. Charles Swenson, MD

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy Training, EFFT – November 2014, taught by Lisa Palmer Olsen, PsyD and staff

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Advanced Training, DBT Strategies in Action: Changing Behavior, Accepting Reality & Resolving Conflict – September 2014, taught by Dr. Charles Swenson, MD

Advanced Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT Skills Training – November 2012

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT Skills Training – June 2012, taught by Josh Smith, LMSW, BCD

Emotionally Focused Therapy, EFT Core Skills Training – Completed 2014, taught Dr. Mark Kaupp, PsyD and staff, year long course

Emotionally Focused Therapy, EFT, Externship, taught by Sue Johnson, Ed, 4 day course, completed January 2011

Second Chance – Practicum Site – June 2010 – November 2011
A “client centered” facility providing housing, social, mental health, employment services, and job readiness training to anyone in need. In addition, the primary population served are ex-offenders both male and female seeking to rebuild their lives after some period of incarceration in prison or jail.

Alliant Couple and Family Clinic, San Diego, CA (2011-Present) Secondary practicum site allowing me to bring my own clients, collect additional remaining relational hours and to continue EFT core skills training.

My goal is to participate in educating the cis population about transgender people, their partners and their families and to work to bring transgender out of the DSM/ICD as a mental illness and simply a state of being. I believe that transgender clients can and will advocate for themselves, know what they need and who they are, and their autonomy deserves respect. Particular emphasis is on service to broad and diverse populations, including transgender people and their families, LGBTQQI, military people and their families and those with substance abuse issues. I am interested in how concepts of attachment, engagement, mindfulness, nihility and non-attachment could be utilized in a therapeutic setting.

I came home to San Diego specifically to pursue extended education, MA/MFT. I received my License in November of 2014 and am now active in a private practice that permits me to serve people throughout the lifespan as well as the transgender population with specific focus on advocacy for families that include transgender partners and children along with the populations mentioned above. My passion is to tend these relationships and advocate for the family as a whole. My undergraduate minor, Religious Studies/Eastern Thought, allows me to authentically align with clients from a variety of spiritual perspectives. My specific focus with Transgender people and families is the process of “becoming” – of actualizing the potential within.

My long-term goal is to expand the MFT field’s view of what a family is to include families that contain transgender partners and children by means of publishing articles and engaging in research to prove the efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy as a treatment methodology with this population.

In November of 2011 I completed practicum at Second Chance San Diego – a very successful job readiness program that provides mental health services for live to its graduates. The primary population of this program are ex-offenders of drug related or violent crime. For this population I have utilized EFT with all of the relational clients that I have had the privilege to work with and have conducted individual therapy through attachment lenses. I utilize interventions from CBCT, CBFT, DBT, EFFT and Narrative theories. Reference letters will be provided on request.

2/2021: Became a corporation: Donna M Chapman Marriage and Family Therapy Inc.

7/2018: became participant in Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity (GSRD) Forum, a consortium of like minded therapists to support varied relationship presentations: kink, polyamorous, LGBTQ+ 

PhD, Depth Psychology with emphasis on PsychoTherapy,  Pacifica Graduate Institute – completed November 9, 2021

Dissertation title: An Exploration of the Lived Experience of CIS women with Transgender Partners.

My dissertation is free for anyone who would like to read it. Download here.

Published/Dissertation topic: Chapman, D. M., & Caldwell, B. E. Attachment injury resolution in couples when one partner is trans-identified. Journal of Systemic Therapies, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2012, pp. 36–53

Certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy – in progress, Listed on ICEEFT website as EFT competent. 2014

Conducted Hold Me Tight workshop with emphasis on same sex and transgender couples. 2014

Understanding TransGender Families: Insight for Educators, Therapists, Students and the Community

Published Article: Attachment Injury Resolution in Couples When One Partner is Trans-identified. Download it here.

•  A panel discussion event held at Alliant International University on April 29, 2011
•  Primary designer of event and also panel participant
•  Next event in planning stages target: 2012

World Professional Association for TransGender Health (WPATH), Professional member

American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) – Clinical member

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) – Professional member

International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) – Professional member

National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) – Member

American Psychological Association, San Diego Chapter, LGBT Committee – Member

Certified to conduct “Seeking Safety” Evidence Based Practice group therapy program for trauma and/or substance abuse

Certified to conduct “Hold Me Tight” relationship workshops utilizing EFT

Conducted “Meaning of Life” group therapy for substance abuse adapted for mindfulness/meditation, Nov. 2010

PhD was bestowed by Pacifica graduate Institute. Dr. of philosophy in-depth psychology with emphasis on psychotherapy.
– completed November 9, 2021

Dissertation title: An Exploration of the Lived Experience of CIS women with Transgender Partners. 

My dissertation is free for anyone who would like to read it. Download here.

Master of Arts, Marital and Family Therapy – Alliant International University – May 2011
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy/Eastern Thought-Minor Religions Studies/Eastern Thought 
– California State University, Northridge 2007