About

Why Therapy?

Re-author your relationship possibilities through:
A client centered, strength based approach | Finding new ways of creating meaning, while understanding previous ways of coping | The desire for a better now and future
Not letting your past rule you anymore

 

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About Dr. Gita Seshadri

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), licensed to practice in the state of California. I am also a professor at a Couple and Family Therapy graduate program locally.

I obtained my master’s degree from Loma Linda University and decided to extend my training in research and clinical training by pursing my doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Loma Linda University. I have experience practicing in both Northern and Southern California.

My previous work encompasses a variety of clinical settings; school based clinics, community clinics, residential, outpatient counseling, and private practice. In addition I have been involved in therapeutic program development for mental health organizations, as well as other organizations. In a supervisory capacity, I provided clinical supervision as a mentor and as a clinical supervisor (for MFT students working on their clinical hours pre and post degree) in a variety of settings; I have also worked with people from different backgrounds and social locations within a variety of clinical situations (see “Services” page/tab).


Having grown up in California and living in different cities, it may appear that I have a primarily Californian experience. Being a multicultural Southeast Asian American, I understand what it is like to have to live in multiple cultural words simultaneously and having to move between them based on the current environment and context. I think this provides real life education in what it is like to experience multiple types of relationships across various contexts. I also have published research in some of these areas in addition to other topics relevant to the field of marriage and family therapy. In my spare time to relax, I like to watch movies, read, or do any type of exercise to get moving. That sometimes includes swimming, zumba, or kick box aerobics!


I am a member of the following organizations while also holding leadership positions.

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American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
A national organization that is supportive of the MFT profession and promotes activities within this realm. This organization also works with COAMFTE. I have attended their conferences and held positions within their AAMFT-CA board and elections counsel. I am a national board member for AAMFT with a term of 2023 to 2025.

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California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
A state based organization that is supportive of the MFT license and promotes activities within this realm.

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American Family Therapy Academy
A national organization that is supportive of research and scholarly work within family therapy and promotes activities within this realm.

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Teaching

Courses Taught:

These courses have been taught in programs where students are earning their degrees in Psychology, degrees in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, and/or degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Bachelors' Courses:

  • Introduction to Counseling

  • Social Science- Senior Capstone (Introduction to Research)

Masters' Courses (online or in person):

  • Law and Ethics

  • Foundations of Graduate Study For MFT

  • Diversity and the Family

  • Cultural Diversity, Gender, and Family Therapy

  • MFT Practicum

  • MFT Practicum Extension

  • Individuals and the Family Life Cycle

  • Research and Bibliographic Methods

  • Working with Interracial Couples in Therapy (self designed elective)

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples

  • Parent Child Relationships

  • Trauma and Crisis Intervention

  • CD and the Family

  • Psychopathology

Doctoral Courses:

  • Advanced Professional Practice (Doctoral level clinical supervision for doctoral students)

  • Advanced MFT Research Methods: Qualitative Research

  • Advanced Brief Therapy Models/Advanced Family Therapy 2 

  • Advanced Couples Therapy   

  • Advanced Intergenerational Therapy/Advanced Family Therapy 1

  • Advanced Practicum (for Doctoral Level MFT students only)

  • Co-teaching with professors in a Clinical Psychology program:

    • Cultural Diversity training

  • Systemic Sex Therapy

  • Treating Infidelity and Sexual Issues

  • Supervision in Marriage and Family Therapy

  • Internship supervision (all tracks)

    • Customized and specialized to students choice; customized tracks are in the following categories: research, teaching, specialized training within clinical hours, AAMFT clinical supervision of supervision, and/or program development/advocacy.

I have also presented at various conferences on a variety of topics within the field of mental health at various cities in California, states in the US, and countries internationally.

I also work with licensed professionals to help them obtain their AAMFT supervision credential.

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Publications

Espinoza, S., Davis, S., & Seshadri, G. (2024). Perceptions of the effect of parental deportation on adult intimate relationships. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12697

Seshadri, G., & Poulsen, S. (2023). The Therapeutic Dance of Bowenian Therapy and South Asian Families: Issues to Consider. In The Routledge International Handbook of Couple and Family Therapy (pp. 230-243). Routledge.

Seshadri, Gita & Pereyra, Sergio & Quek, Karen & Chen, Hao-Min & Hsieh, Alex. (2023). Social Location, Power, and Disadvantage: Experiences of MFT Faculty. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy. 1-20. DOI: 10.1080/08952833.2023.2260058.

Dansby Olufowote, R., Seshadri, G, & Samman, S. K. (2022, August/Sept). Why your interracial/multinational couples might be dropping out of therapy: A self-of-the-therapist approach to increase retention and a discussion of related factors. Family Therapy Magazine

Gutierrez, D., Gonzalez, C., & Seshadri, G. (2022). We are the unicorns: Exploring experiences of Latina graduate women utilizing an intersectional Latino/a critical theory framework. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000595

Valdes, J. B., Kim, K.B., Hsieh, A.L., & Seshadri, G. (2021) Married Gay Asian-American men’s constructs of marriage, Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/19359705.2021.2008571

Negash, S., Roberson, P. N. E., Seshadri, G., & Ayres, K. (2021). Relational Factors and Sexual Health for Female College Students in Exclusive Heterosexual Relationships. Sexuality & Culture. doi:10.1007/s12119-021-09867-0

Seshadri G. (2021). Assumed Privilege and Role Confusion: A South Asian Woman’s Experiences of Social Location and Professional Roles. In: Quek K.MT., Hsieh A.L. (eds) Intersectionality in Family Therapy Leadership. AFTA SpringerBriefs in Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67977-4_6

Seshadri G. (2019). Homeostasis in Family Systems Theory. In: Lebow J., Chambers A., Breunlin D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8

Gorden A., Seshadri G. (2018). Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies, Leuven. In: Lebow J., Chambers A., Breunlin D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_634-1

Samman S.K., Seshadri G. (2018). AAMFT Approved Supervisor Training. In: Lebow J., Chambers A., Breunlin D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_655-1

Hsieh, A. L., & Seshadri, G. (2018). Promoting Diversity and Multicultural Training in Higher Education: Calling in Faculty. In B. Blummer, J. Kenton, & M. Wiatrowski (Eds.), Promoting Ethnic Diversity and Multiculturalism in Higher Education (pp. 112-131). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-4097-7.ch007

Wilson, K., Glebova, T., Davis, S., & Seshadri, G. (2017). Adolescent Mothers in Foster Care: Relational Ethics, Depressive Symptoms and Health Problems Through a Contextual Therapy Lens. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 39(3), 150-161. doi:10.1007/s10591-017-9417-y

Seshadri, G. (2017). David Kniskern. In Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_729-1

Seshadri, G. (2017). Shin-Ichi Nakamura. In Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_730-1

Seshadri, G. (2017). Melvin Wilson. In Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_854-1

Seshadri, G. (2017). Steven Wolin. In Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_855-1

Seshadri, G. (2016). Moving away from pathology: A review of the system of intermarriage. [Review of the book Intermarriage and Mixed Parenting, Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing: Crossover Love by Rashmi Singla]. Psyccritiques, 61(6), doi:10.1037/a0040122

Seshadri, G. (2014). How does your anger bubble up? An intervention for anger, grief, and relapse prevention. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 25(3), 271-274.

Seshadri, G & Knudson-Martin, C. (2013). How couples manage interracial and intercultural differences: What works? Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy, 39(1), 43-58 (early view, Feb 2012)

Cowdery, R., Scarborough, N., Lewis, M., Seshadri, G. (2009). “Pulling together: African American couples manage social inequalities.” In C. Knudson-Martin & A.R. Mahoney (Eds), Couples, Gender, and Power: Creating Change in Intimate Relationships, (215-234), New York, NY: Springer Publications

Cowdery, R.S., Scarborough, N., Knudson-Martin, C., Seshadri, G., Lewis, M.E., & Mahoney, A.R. (2009). Gendered power in cultural contexts: Part II. Middle-class African American heterosexual couples with young children. Family Process, 48, 25-40.