MS Counseling Psychology Alumni Award Winners

2020

Alexa Brand, MS, AMFT

Alexa Brand, MS, AMFT (she/her) is an Associate Therapist who specializes in inclusive, affirming practices that embrace self-compassion and authentic identity. Presently, Alexa works as a therapist and LGBTQ+ Program Coordinator for a survivor-focused nonprofit organization, Coalition for Family Harmony. Additionally, Alexa was recently hired as Adjunct Faculty for CLU's MS in Counseling Psychology (MFT) program. Alexa has extensive experience working with trauma survivors, LGBTQ+ community members, adolescents, and diverse communities. Alexa is a cisgender, bisexual female who loves mindfulness, intersectional feminism, authentic expression, and body positivity. 

2019

Ellyn Goldstein, MS, LMFT, MBA

Ellyn received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Cal Lutheran in 2000.  She previously earned a Bachelors from UC Berkeley in Anthropology and an MBA from UCLA.  Ellyn had a 15-year career in financial services before returning to school to become a therapist.  After earning her masters from CLU, she completed an internship at Cal Lutheran, working with undergraduates at the Student Health and Counseling Center.  Ellyn has been a clinical supervisor at CLU Community Counseling Services since 2011.  She earned the designation of AAMFT approved supervisor and the Supervisor of the Year award in 2018.  She is a Senior Adjunct Lecturer and created the curriculum for the specialization course in the theory and treatment of psychological trauma, a series of classes she has taught for 5 years. Ellyn maintains a private practice in Westlake Village and has volunteered for over 10-years on the Board of Directors for the Ventura County Chapter of CAMFT.  She is a 25-year resident of Thousand Oaks, along with her husband, adult son, and cat Kimbo.  Ellyn likes to read, cook, do yoga, go to movies, travel, and enjoy her home.  She and her husband are planning a move to the Central Coast of California this summer.  Although she is sad to have to give up supervising, she looks forward to continuing to teach the psychology of trauma to GSoP students this coming academic year.

2018

Geoffrey Buckley, Ph.D, M.Div., M.S.,LMFT

Dr. Geoff Buckley is a graduate of the MFT program at CLU and has been a licensed marriage and family therapist since 1985. He and his wife, also a therapist, have a private practice in Newbury Park. Geoff sees a wide variety of clients dealing with individual and relationship problems. He has experience supervising interns and trainees, has led numerous workshops, seminars, and therapy groups, and with his wife Kathleen, hold day-long workshops for couples. Geoff has been an adjunct professor in psychology and counseling at Pepperdine and CSUN since 2001 and at CLU since 2009. Geoff and his wife have authored a workbook for teaching communication to couples and he is currently completing a textbook in couple counseling for students.

2017

Miffa Moorhead, MS

Miffa Moorhead, MS graduated from the MFT program in August 2012 and moved to Geneva Switzerland to intern for the World Health Organization. Returning to California, she worked as a psychosocial rehabilitation therapist and a school based therapist before beginning her current position at the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health.  As an alum, her work is notable for her international experience working with populations in impoverished communities in India, children with special needs in China, and with a multicultural research team at the World Health Organization in Switzerland.

2016

Jenna Knauss, MS

Jenna Knauss graduated from the California Lutheran University Graduate program in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2010. While in the program, she served as Program Administrator for the Verizon Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Program and was Assistant Program Manager at a private practice in Westlake Village. Both of these experiences solidified a strong desire to teach and eventually take on leadership roles in the field. After graduating, Jenna worked as an Adjunct Professor in Northern Arizona and as a Senior Staff Clinician at the University of Northern Colorado. She has recently accepted a position at a community mental health care agency in Massachusetts and is planning on beginning a two-year post graduate training program in infant mental health. Jenna has had multiple professional presentations, including an international conference on the topic of Violence. Jenna maintains a strong passion for service and leadership in the mental health field.  She is convinced that it is not title, location, or who you know that leads to success as a clinician or academic. Rather, it is confidence and a passion for lifelong learning, service toward others and care of oneself and family that leads to a fulfilling career. She states that she “is eternally grateful to Cal Lutheran and the phenomenal mentors that were foundational in her professional journey.”