PUC Schools / Programs / PUC Clinical Services / Clinical Counseling Team

Prior to joining PUC's Clinical Counseling Program, Elizabeth Hartman worked primarily with non-profit organizations providing individual, family, and group psychotherapy in residential, day-treatment, and non-public school settings. She is a specialist in the field of adolescent psychology and sees individuals and families in her private practice office in Calabasas. Elizabeth holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University-Los Angeles and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her psychoanalytically focused training at the prestigious Maple Counseling Center and the Psychoanalytic Center of California. She is recognized by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor and provides education and supervision for the MFT Trainees and Interns participating in the PUC Clinical Counseling Program. Elizabeth is the Coordinator of Clinical Counseling for PUC's San Fernando Valley school sites and also provides direct psychotherapy services to PUC students and families in need.

Kathryn Howard was the first permanent school counselor to work for PUC SCHOOLS. She was Co-Founder of PUC's Clinical Counseling Program which successfully provides school-based family counseling at each of the network's schools. While co-founding and co-running the Program, Kathryn also helped develop and implement orientations and ongoing professional development for counselors; and coordinated vital Pupil Personnel Services and Child Welfare and Attendance programs; as well as managing her own client caseload. She also contributed to the development of an academic counseling initiative for all PUC students based on the American School Counseling Association's National School Counseling Standards. Prior to joining PUC, Kathryn was Program Director for the West Valley Special Education Center, creating and implementing a variety of successful, first-ever initiatives for children with developmental and physical disabilities. As Campus Manager for Project Grad, she created and implemented programs that provided academic and community support; expanded parental involvement; and ensured home visits. Kathryn graduated with special honors from Cal State Los Angeles with a Masters in School-Based Family Counseling. She is also a member of the Oxford Symposium on School-Based Family Counseling, an international symposium focusing on research and development of mental health services in schools around the world.

Christine Sartiaguda is co-founder of the Clinical Counseling Program at PUC Schools. This program serves as a clinical training site for graduate students obtaining a degree in clinical counseling, marital and family therapy, art therapy and/or school counseling. The Clinical Counseling Program provides full mental health services to all PUC students and families. Christine is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist and Registered Art Therapist who clinically supervises Marital and Family Therapy Trainees/Interns as well as Art Therapy Interns. She brings over 12 years of clinical experience, having obtained a B.A. in Psychology, followed by her M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy specializing in Art Therapy, both degrees from Loyola Marymount University. Prior to coming to PUC, Christine was Director of Training, Program Director of a Day Program, Senior Therapist and Group Home Therapist at G.L.A.S.S. In addition to having worked in residential care, Christine has worked at hospitals, out-patient clinics, schools and has been a guest speaker at various clinical conferences. Christine has also been a part of academia while being invited to speak at Loyola Marymount University and CSUN as well as being an associate professor at Phillips Graduate Institute. As Director of Clinical Services, Christine oversees the Clinical Counseling Program and all other clinical services within PUC as well as provides individual and group supervision to the clinical counseling trainees/interns.

Melissa Sprinstead graduated from the University of Southern California with a BA in Psychology and worked in an elementary school as a teacher assistant. After a few years of teaching she went back to USC and received her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. Upon completing graduate school and working at CALS High School for her fieldwork/internship she joined the PUC team as a coordinator in the clinical counseling program. She works with the LA based schools where she conducts individual, group and family therapy and provides mental health services to the students and their families.

Brandy Vidales is a native of Southern California and was raised in the San Fernando Valley. Of Mexican American decent, she received her BA in Sociology from California State University LA and her MS in Counseling as well as a credential in School Psychology from the California State University Northridge. Before joining PUC she worked at a mental health agency for five years as a Case Manager and then a Trainee/Intern Therapist. At the same time she worked as a Intern School Psychologist for Burbank Unified School District for a year and half and later with Los Angeles Unified School District for one year.