Resume

MARCIA NAOMI BERGER, MSW, LCSW

1050 Northgate Drive, Suite 480

San Rafael, CA 94903

Telephone 415.491.4801      mnaomiberger(at)gmail(dot)com

http://www.marriagemeetings.com

EMPLOYMENT

Psychotherapist, Consultant, Speaker, Instructor.

Conduct psychotherapy in private practice, with individuals, couples, and families.

Instructor of current online continuing education class for psychologists, social workers, marriage and family counselors, and other professionals:  The Marriage Meeting Program: A Strength Based Approach for Successful Relationships.

Instructor for  National Association of Social Workers (NASW) online continuing education class: “The Marriage Meeting Program: A Strength-Based Approach for Successful 21st Century Relationships.”

Instructor for continuing education class for psychotherapists at University of California Berkeley Extension and Alliant International University, San Francisco.

Present public outreach programs: “The Marriage Meeting Program,” “Positive Communication Skills,” “Communications Coaching for Everyone,” and “Marry With Confidence.” Local sponsoring organizations include San Rafael Community Services, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Marin, Larkspur Library, Marin County Civic Center Library, Richmond Torah Center, and the YMCA. 2002 – current.

Presenter at CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) and NASW (National Association of Social Workers) conferences.

Presenter at retreats, workshops, seminars, and community events.

Guest on over seventy radio and television shows in many states in the USA.

Author/Columnist

Author of Internationally Published Books:

Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love: 30 Minutes a Week to the Relationship You’ve Always Wanted (New World Library, February 2014)

Marriage Minded: An A to Z Dating Guide for Lasting Love (She Writes Press, September, 2021)

Columnist for Examiner.com: As San Francisco Relationship-Communications Examiner, with tips for married and singles with ideas for more fulfilling relationships.

Columnist for Psych Central, Huffington Post, Therapy Today, Chabad.org, and others.

Publisher of online newsletter: Marriage Maven’s News and Views.

PROFESSIONAL/AGENCY  EXPERIENCE

Crisis Counselor at Marin Suicide Prevention and Community Counseling, a program of the Family Service Agency of Marin. Provided telephone counseling to callers in crisis, many of whom had psychiatric diagnoses,  information and referrals.  (1 year)

Planner/Evaluator, Marin County Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Department of Health and Human Services, San Rafael, California. Monitored agencies for compliance with state and county standards, evaluated proposals for funding, reviewed and negotiated contracts, provided technical assistance. December (1 year)

Executive Director, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay. Supervised staff, served as liaison between agency and community, performed administrative functions of budget preparation, program and board development, and fund raising. (4 years)

Senior Psychiatric Social Worker, San Francisco General Hospital-University of California Medical Center. Provided diagnostic, treatment, and discharge planning services to psychiatric inpatients on locked ward; chaired weekly meetings with staff from outside agencies, supervised graduate social work students and coordinated their training program. 1977- 1981. (4 years)

Lecturer, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco. Honorary appointment for training psychiatric residents and medical students. (14 years simultaneously along with other employment )

Senior Psychiatric Social Worker, Alcoholism Evaluation and Treatment Center (subsequently renamed the Tom Smith Substance Abuse Treatment Center), Bureau of Alcoholism, San Francisco.Provided individual, family, and group therapy. Coordinated outpatient services department and internship program. 1972 – 1977. (5 years)

Senior Child Welfare Worker, Child Welfare Division of Department of Social Services, San Francisco. Supervised foster care placements, counseled parents of children in placement, wrote court reports. (4 years)

EDUCATION

M.S.W. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Field placements provided training in psychotherapy at children’s outpatient psychiatric clinic, Wayne County Juvenile Court Clinic for Child Study during first year; at outpatient psychiatry department of Veterans Administration hospital during second year. Received National Institute of Mental Health grant.

B.A. Binghamton University (Harpur College), State University of New York, Binghamton, New York. English and General Literature. Sixteen credits towards degree earned at Harvard University.

Post-Graduate training at the Family Therapy Institute of Marin and the Tavistock training program in Berkeley, California,

MEMBERSHIPS

National Organization of Social Workers (NASW)

NASW  Specialty Practice Section: Private Practice

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Marin chapter

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals

California Writers Club, Marin Branch, Critique Group Coordinator

PUBLICATIONS

Articles about Marriage and Marriage Meetings in print publications:

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “The Marriage Meeting Program,” article in student textbook for The Art of Marriage class, Jewish Learning Institute (JLI). Brooklyn, New York, The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, 2012. JLI classes taught throughout U.S.A and in 19 other countries.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “The Marriage Meeting Tool,” NASW California News, a publication of the National Association of Social Workers, October, 2011.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “The Marriage Meeting Tool, Marin CAMFT Connections, a publication of the Marin County Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, April-June, 2011.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “The Marriage Meeting Program,” The Jewish Press, November 25, 2009.

Weiland, Vicki, ed., The 2009 San Francisco Writer’s Conference Anthology: Building Bridges from Writers to Readers, an anthology. Berger, Marcia Naomi, LCSW, “How to Get the Marriage You’ve Always Wanted.”  Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Fisch, “The Truth About Housewives,” Horizons (Winter 1998).  Subsequently reprinted in the San Rafael/Terra Linda News Pointer (August 16-23, 2000).

Berger, Marcia Fisch, “Marriage Meetings.” The Jewish Homemaker,  Volume 29, Number 4 (June, 1998).

Fisch, Marcia, LCSW, “Homeostasis: A Key Concept in Working With Alcoholic Families,” Family Therapy, The Journal of the Family Therapy Institute of Marin, Volume III, No.2 (1976).

Articles on Suite 101.com

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Length of Marriage is No Reason to Stop Growing; Long Term Married Couples Can Spice Up Relationship,” January 30, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Meetings Level Playing Field for Men; How to Encourage a Reluctant Husband to Conduct a Marriage Meeting,” January 18, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Maven Says Use “I” Statements; Congruent Communication Builds Trust and Intimacy in Relationships,” January 3, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Maven Recommends Self-Talk; Spouses’ Internal Communication Affects Marital Relationship,” Jan 3, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Maven’s Tips for Resolving Conflicts; For a Good Marital Relationship, Handle Differences Positively, December 30, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Self-Care Essentials for a Good Marriage; Practice Self-nurture for Happy, Healthy Marital Relationship,” December 16, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi,  “Marriage Maven’s Dating Tips for Spouses; Dates For Just the Two of Them Bring Romance to Married Couples,” December 2, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi,  “Appreciation is the Key to a Happy Marriage; Marriage Maven Says: For More Loving Relationship, Express Gratitude,” November 28, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi,  “Marriage Maven’s Chores Tips For Couples; Teamwork by Spouses in Managing Chores Fosters Intimacy, Romance,” November 23, 2009

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Meetings Improve Marital Relationships,” November 13, 2009.

Articles on Examiner.com (partial list)

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Good Marriage Supports Growth, Vitality of Both Partners,” July 16, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Maven Spills on Forgiveness, How to Forgive, When Not to forget” June 29, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi,” “Practical Kaballah Tip for a Beautiful Marriage,” June 10, 2010

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Preview the Marriage Meeting Program Book,” May 7, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Skilled Couples Therapist Can Help Improve Marriage Relationships by Seeing Partner individually,” March 27, 2010

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “For a Successful Writers Critique Group, When Conflict Occurs Use Congruent Communication skills,” February 26, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “2010 San Francisco Writers Conference Session Offers Tips for Creating successful critique groups, February 15, 2010

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Critique Groups Help Writers Hone Skills and Gain Camaraderie with Like-minded Souls,” February 5, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Successful Critique Groups Support Writers with Compassionate, Constructive Feedback,” February 4, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Too Busy to Save a Marriage? Couples’ Relationships Thrive with Marriage Meetings,” January 10, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Maven Tells Single Women: Qualify Prospective Mate and Marry With Confidence,” December 27, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Conquering the Blues During Season to be Jolly–Causes and Cures for December depression,” December 14, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Maven Tells Singles Where to Find Perfect Mate,” December 14, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Maven Tells Singles: Find and Marry Soul Mate by Focusing on Self-care First,” December 5, 2009.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “From Single to Married: Ten Steps to Find Soul Mate and Live Happily Ever After,” November 18, 2009.

Articles on Chabad.org

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “How to Disagree,” April 23, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “How to Actively Listen to Your Spouse,” February 25, 2010.

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Marriage Meetings,” January 21, 2010.

Other articles in print publications

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “A Perfect Fit,” N’shei Chabad Newsletter, Volume. XXXVIII (December, 2001).

Berger, Marcia Naomi, “Half in Heaven,” N’shei Chabad Newsletter (a literary journal), Volume XXXVIII (April, 2001).

Berger, Marcia Fisch, “Three Words,” Jewish Homemaker, Volume 31, Number 1 (September, 1999).

Berger, Marcia Fisch, “Overcoming the Yetzer Hara” (evil inclination), Jewish Spectator, Volume 64, Number.1 (Summer, 1999).

Berger, Marcia Fisch, “Baby Steps,” Horizons, Number 18 (Fall, 1998).