Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #13970
Education and Licensure: Judi received a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Southern California in 1979 and was licensed as a Marriage Family Therapist in 1980. She interned then worked as a social worker at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles on one of the first child abuse treatment programs in the country specializing in parent education and family therapy. In 1994, she broadened her focus to include community and organizational development, strategic planning, and individual coaching. She became a master trainer for the Institute of Cultural Affairs specializing in Group Facilitation Methods.
Background: Her clinical career includes management and leadership positions at Children’s Institute International, San Diego County Mental Health, Casa de Amparo, the President’s Family Justice Center initiative, and The International Family Justice Center Alliance. In 1996, she launched Adams & Adams Consulting and Training, Inc and provided the strategic planning for development of 35 domestic violence intervention programs, across the country and around the globe, including Bahrain, and Amman Jordan. She stopped traveling in 2012 and returned to her first passion, individual and family therapy.
Prior to joining the Aloha team in December 2020, Judi worked as a medical social worker at Sharp Mesa Vista psychiatric hospital, and as a marriage family therapist at Sharp McDonald Center’s substance abuse treatment program.
Specialties: Married to a USMC artillery officer (retired), she relates to the challenges facing military life: deployment and homecoming, changes in duty stations, combat related stress, and retirement. Judi has worked with survivors of child abuse and domestic violence. Judi combines Mindfulness, ACT, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing with the basic principles of depth psychology and life coaching strategies.
Affiliations: Medical staff member at Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital. Contracting psychologist for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) San Diego. He is an active member of the California Psychological Association and San Diego Psychological Association. He makes rounds at various skilled nursing and assisted living facilities throughout San Diego.
Community: Judi serves on the board of directors of the Operation for HOPE Foundation. Judi resides in Bullhead City Arizona, Deer Lodge, Montana and San Diego, California with her husband, Captain Carl Adams, USMC (retired).
Philosophy: “Life is the gift we’ve been given to make the most of; to learn and grow and develop; to spread our wings and see what we are made of. And if along the way, we find like-minded people who will share our journey, we are blessed.”