Rebecca J.

Diercks, MA
bjdiercks@gmail.com
Cell: (651) 380-8599
EDUCATION
September 2011Present

Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA

Clinical Psychology Student Doctor of Psychology, PsyD (APA Accredited)
Dissertation: Improving Child Abuse Reporting Practices in the Medical Setting
Chair: Samuel Girguis, PsyD
Expected Graduation: August 2017

September 2011June 2013

Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology

January 2009May 2010

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, CA

Doctor of Clinical Forensic Psychology PsyD Program

August 2006

University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Minor - Criminology

Graduated Cum Laude

SUPERVISED CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Feb. 2015 Present
Psyc. Assistant
Universal Psychological Services, Inc. Newport Beach, CA
Intake evaluation for veteran patients
Intake evaluation for patients in workers comp. system
Psychological assessments with bio-psycho-social, personality, cognitive,
neurological screeners, and projective tools
Report writing
Supervisor: Norma Yacoub, PsyD
Aug. 2014- Present

Practicum III
Sovereign Health Group, San Clemente, CA

Dual Diagnosis, Behavioral Health, and Assessment experience

BioPsychoSocial Intake assessment and information gathering with

diagnostic write-up for Utilization Review department and insurance

Facilitate separate adult male and female psychoeducation, symptom

management, and process groups

Administer cognitive, executive functioning, and personality

assessments, complete with integrated report and feedback to client and
therapist to assist in guiding diagnostic clarifications and treatment planning
Supervisors: Heike Kholooci, PsyD, Patrick Aleknavicius, PsyD

Aug. 2013-Aug. 2014

Practicum II
Los Angeles Christian Health Centers, Los Angeles, CA
Provide mental health services in a community medical facility in the Skid
Row and Pico Aliso locations of LACHC
Work collaboratively with Medical, Social Work and Front Desk Staff

1 Rebecca J. Diercks, MA

Provide individual, couples, child, and family therapy

Weekly didactic trainings on clinical, psychology, social work, and
pharmaceutical topics
Weekly group and individual supervision focusing on case
conceptualization
Primarily CBT approach with ability to incorporate other orientations
Use of assessment tools GAD-7, PHQ-9, WHODAS, and others as needed
to monitor progress and symptomology
Primary diagnoses of Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Bipolar, Relational
Problems and some psychotic symptoms
Short-term and long-term therapy
Completed one full assessment battery and integrated report
Supervisor: Wayne T. Aoki, PhD
July 2012

Summer Practicum
Chosen Children of Promise, Nairobi, Kenya
Provided clinical training skills to the teachers and social workers
Provided therapy to children, adults and caregivers
Provided group training sessions on life skills
Coping skills, resilience, trauma, sex education, relationships, body, mind,
and spiritual health, among other topics were raised and discussed in our
individual and group sessions
Provided assistance and consultation on individual cases
Supervisor: Charles Chege, PhD

Sep. 2012-July 2013

Practicum I
Community Counseling Center, Azusa, CA
St. Dorothy School, Glendora, CA
Participant in school-based counseling program
Provide short-term and some longer term therapy with K-8 grade youth in
private school setting to referred students
Administer weekly outcome rating measurements
Participate in multi-disciplinary work with many personnel on campus (i.e.
principal, teachers, teaching assistants)
Administer and score baseline and post-treatment symptoms assessment
Provide trainings to facilitate developing skills in the classrooms
Consult with parents for additional information and provide suggestions for
parental intervention and future treatment
Supervisor: Dave Brokaw, PhD and Sheryn Scott, PhD
Azusa Pacific University (APU) Community Counseling Center
Provide individual therapy to undergraduate APU students and adults in the
community counseling setting
Administer weekly outcome measure assessments
Collaborate on cases with administrative staff, supervisors, and colleagues
Supervisor: Dave Brokaw, PhD and Sheryn Scott, PhD
RELEVANT SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE
2 Rebecca J. Diercks, MA

Sep. 2014 present

Supervision Class Experience

Provide weekly 1:1 supervision to 1st and 2nd year PsyD students
Develop practice in supervisor role
Demonstrate and build clinical and professional development
Supervisor: Sheryn Scott, PhD

Oct. 2011 June 2012 Pre-Practicum Clinical Experience, Counselor in Training

Utilize beginning therapy skills with a volunteer undergraduate client
Provide individual therapy 50 minutes/week
Administered weekly outcome and session rating scales
Supervisor: Sheryn Scott, PhD
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Oct. 2007-Jan. 2009
Golden Living- Hillcrest of Wayzata Nursing Home, Wayzata, MN
Recreational Coordinator
Performed one-on-one recreation assessments on newly admitted patients to
evaluate their recreational interests, needs and capabilities.
Led activity groups of music, trivia, games, devotions, crafts, exercise, etc.
Provided individual care to those unable to attend activities or at risk of
isolation possibly due to treatments, injury or depression.
Created recreational treatment plans identifying needs, interests and plans to
meet these needs or individual variations.
Sep. 2006-Oct 2007

OPTIONS Residential, Inc., Burnsville, MN

Resource/Primary Counselor
Assisted adult males in a group home setting with a traumatic brain injury
diagnosis, along with other diagnoses of bipolar, diabetes, schizophrenia,
explosive behaviors, etc. in regaining their independent living skills and
teaching social and financial skills
Trained in crisis intervention, de-escalation and restraint techniques
Organized activity calendars and budgeting plans with the clients
Provided transportation of the clients to appointments and outings in the
handicap van
Administered medications to clients
As Primary Counselor led employee trainings and supervision

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
June 2014
Research Assistant: Integrative Scoring System for God Representation Figure Drawings.
Participated as one of six trained raters in the initial inter-rater reliability trial to verify the
reliability and validity of a scoring system to be used in research assessing God representation,
which is a construct that includes God concepts, God images, God attachment, and Self-image.
Training included attending a session to explain development of the measure, all domains and
subdomains, scoring criteria, and intended uses of the measure. Completed ratings for 165
drawings.
October 2012 - Present
Dissertation: Improving Child Abuse Reporting in the Medical Setting
3 Rebecca J. Diercks, MA

(Clinical Application)

A visual clinical tool in the form of a QR code for medical professionals to refer to when they
suspect child abuse or neglect. This tool provides rapid access to and simplifies questions to ask
to assess for and identify abuse and neglect. The steps and materials mandated reporters must
follow when making an abuse report are clearly identified, including forms and phone numbers,
and organized by select counties in California, along with answers to frequently asked questions
during the child abuse assessment and reporting process.
Proposal Approved: June 24, 2014
Expected Defense: Spring 2015.
Chair: Samuel Girguis, PsyD; Committee: Kathy Putman, PsyD; Jackie Parke, PsyD

2006 - Undergraduate Capstone Project at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI

A Correlation Between Number of Years Living in a Single Parent Household and Age of First
Sexual Intercourse
2005 University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI, Rat Lab Research Assistant
Professor: Jewett, PhD
Assisted in weight loss research in the rat laboratory
Tested rats on their changes in food satiation with the amount of the tested drug they were given
PRESENTATIONS
July 2012 Presenter, Kenyan Church
Taught a seminar to 60-70 parents and guardians on the importance of a healthy body, mind, and
soul
Spoke of how the body, mind and soul are connected and relate to each other
Provided information and training on bodily hygiene
POSTER PRESENTATION
Egan, L., Clary, J., Diercks, R., Robinson, J., & Graham-Howard, M. (2013, August). Treatment
implications for dually-adjudicated youth based on characteristic differences. Poster was displayed at the
121st annual convention of the American Psychological Association (APA). Honolulu, Hawaii.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Spring 2013
Teaching Assistant Clinical Practicum Course
Sought therapy volunteers by advertising and describing the clinical
psychology program
Graded first year cohort papers on mindfulness, conceptualization, and
beginning therapy experiences
April 2012-Sep. 2013

Childrens Law Center of Los Angeles, Education Rights Holder

Advocate on behalf of the child to ensure accommodations are made in the
best educational interest of the child in the school setting
Attend the Individual Education Plan meetings to assist in educational goalsetting and implementation of the plans
Work with lawyers, social workers, therapists, teachers, guardians, etc. to
ensure the childs educational needs are being advocated for

Sep. 2009-May 2010

Los Angeles City Attorneys Office, Los Angeles, CA

Participated at citation clinics in Los Angeles County completing intake
assessments with homeless, mentally ill, and financially dependent adults

4 Rebecca J. Diercks, MA


Jan. 2004-July 2004

Assisted in connecting participants with relevant medical, mental health,

legal, or hospitality services

The Bolton Refuge House, Eau Claire, WI

Volunteer at a women and childrens shelter
Assisted in developing training materials and resources for the victims
housed there and other clerical tasks
Answered phones

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Dec. 2014 Present
Orange County Psychological Association - Graduate Student Member
Sep. 2011 Present
American Psychological Association Graduate Student Member
PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS
May 16, 2014
Screening, Brief Intervention, & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training
James A. Peck, PsyD UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
SBIRT- a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to early
intervention and treatment services for people with substance abuse
disorders, and those at risk of developing these disorders
November 19, 2013

Voices Conference Presenter: Chante DeLoach, PsyD

Evolutions in Trauma Treatment: Emerging Relational and Ecospiritual
Pathways to Health and Healing

October 13, 2012

Child Play Therapy Seminar (6 hours) Presenter: Susan Reedy, MFT

Interactive seminar led by a licensed psychologist who specializes in play
therapy
Learned communication and interaction skills such as sand tray, sculpting,
and drawing interventions

June 16, 2012

Child Abuse Seminar (8 hours) Presenter: Marjorie Graham-Howard, PsyD

Familiarity with the mandated reporting process
Therapeutic intervention skills and treatment options

June 10, 2012

Trauma-focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (10 hours)

Online training on trauma interventions for therapy with children

March 2012

Voices Conference
The Art of Play Therapy Presented by Dr. Gary Landreth

October 2011

A Rogues Gallery
MMPIs of Famous Criminals and Test Indicators of Dangerousness
Presented by MMPI expert Dr. Alex Caldwell

December 2009

Hostage Negotiation Seminar

Participated in a 2-day intensive Hostage Negotiation Training
Discussed interventions to facilitate hostage situations most safely
SWAT and hostage negotiators shared experiences

5 Rebecca J. Diercks, MA

Played the roles of the lead operator, assistant, media liaison, and note takers
during a live negotiation experience
Led by Officer Gregory H. Sancier, PhD & Officer Geoff Sumner

References:
Wayne T. Aoki, PhD Licensed Psychologist Los Angeles Christian Health Centers
waoki@lachc.com
David Brokaw, PhD Licensed Psychologist APU Faculty
dbrokaw@apu.edu
Samuel Girguis, PsyD Licensed Psychologist,
PsyD Program Director at Azusa Pacific University
sgirguis@apu.edu

6 Rebecca J. Diercks, MA