Mission
It is my intention to offer grief-related therapy of the highest quality, in a culturally sensitive and sacred space. In my practice, I use an integrative approach, emphasizing interventions that scientific studies and clinical expertise have demonstrated are most effective for grief integration. One particularly effective and evidence based treatment is Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT).
I am one of only two CGT therapists in the Philadelphia area; and one of three in the state of Pennsylvania . I am also one of only two CGT therapists registered in the state of Florida as an out-of-state telehealth provider.
About Dr. Sonya
I have a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University and have been licensed as a psychologist since 1991. After many years of working in a variety of clinical settings and teaching part-time at various universities and colleges, I transitioned to working as a full-time psychology professor at Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). During my 18-year tenure at CCP, I taught Developmental Psychology-emphasizing Death, Dying, and Bereavement-every semester.
While teaching full-time, I was frequently hired as a developmental reviewer of psychology textbooks and authored ancillary materials for psychology textbooks published by Pearson Higher Education, Macmillan/Worth, McGraw-Hill and Wiley. Over the years, I loved being immersed in academia and never thought I would return to clinical work.
But after many profound life changes, including the unexpected death of my mother, my journey led me back to clinical practice, specifically to help individuals transform their own experiences of grief and loss.
Since returning to clinical practice, I have obtained advanced training in Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT) from the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University’s School of Social Work. Several research studies have shown CGT to be more effective than interpersonal and other forms of psychotherapy. In my clinical practice I have found CGT to be a transformative form of psychotherapy, often in less than 20 sessions.
Currently, I am an associate of the Center for Complicated Grief which allows for ongoing training, case consultation, and working collaboratively on projects designed to enhance the dissemination of information about complicated grief and CGT to providers, sufferers, and the general public.
In addition, I am the founder and CEO of CEMPSYCH, LLC, a company which offers continuing education in multicultural psychology to licensed mental health professionals. CEMPSYCH, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CEMPSYCH, LLC maintains responsibility for all programming and content.