Becoming a therapist was a career change for me, one of the many life decisions I have had to make. I was born in Canada to Brazilian parents, moved to São Paulo, Brazil at age 5 where I attended a British School and have been bilingual my entire life. I got my undergraduate degree in Journalism, yet worked in hospitality for several years. I married very young and immigrated to the United States in the late 90's with two young children. A divorce followed my move, and I raised my children as a single parent and working mother for most of their childhood. In my late thirties I changed careers and became a licensed marriage & family therapist. I have personal experience with acculturation, married life, single parent life, dating as a single parent, remarriage, blended family, empty nest syndrome, life after divorce, grief & loss, midlife, aging parents.
After obtaining my Masters in Counseling Psychology, I worked with foster children and at risk youth and their families at non-profit agencies in San Diego. I quickly realized that so many clinicians were struggling in their work with children because they were relying mostly on the power of talk therapy, which typically does not work well with children under 12, their brains are just not developed for that kind of cognitive therapy yet. That is when I did my research and came across Play Therapy. As I learned more about neuroscience, brain & trauma, I realized that play and expressive art therapies are very important therapeutic tools not only for children but for teens and adults to process their traumas and to bring unconscious material to the surface for processing in a non intrusive way.
After obtaining my Masters in Counseling Psychology, I worked with foster children and at risk youth and their families at non-profit agencies in San Diego. I quickly realized that so many clinicians were struggling in their work with children because they were relying mostly on the power of talk therapy, which typically does not work well with children under 12, their brains are just not developed for that kind of cognitive therapy yet. That is when I did my research and came across Play Therapy. As I learned more about neuroscience, brain & trauma, I realized that play and expressive art therapies are very important therapeutic tools not only for children but for teens and adults to process their traumas and to bring unconscious material to the surface for processing in a non intrusive way.
Having experience working with children and understanding what causes them hurt and pain has led me to be more sensitive when working with adults looking to better understand and empower their inner child. Many of our adult negative behaviors and choices stem from unresolved and often unconscious childhood issues that once brought to awareness can facilitate positive changes in the present.
At this stage of my career I have shifted from working with children to working predominantly with teens and adults.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), Registered Sandplay Practitioner (RSP), SoulCollage® Facilitator & Past President of the California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT). I keep up to date by often attending conferences & workshops and have had training in different therapeutic modalities such as: Play Therapy, Sandplay Therapy, Depth Psychology, Expressive Arts Therapies, IFS, CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, EMDR. I utilize a Psychodynamic and Attachment framework to better understand childhood history and I offer a holistic, integrative approach to therapy, always taking into consideration the physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual needs of each client. After having been the primary caregiver for my mother through her battle with cancer, I now enjoy supporting cancer patients, survivors or their caregivers and have completed a Psychosocial Oncology Certificate Course through APOS.
I am extremely passionate about my work and believe that my personal & professional life experiences paired with my continued education have allowed me to become a very empathetic, supportive and genuine therapist.
I look forward to working alongside you as you take a step towards living a happier, healthier, balanced lifestyle!
"We’re only as needy as our unmet needs."
— John Bowlby
At this stage of my career I have shifted from working with children to working predominantly with teens and adults.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), Registered Sandplay Practitioner (RSP), SoulCollage® Facilitator & Past President of the California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT). I keep up to date by often attending conferences & workshops and have had training in different therapeutic modalities such as: Play Therapy, Sandplay Therapy, Depth Psychology, Expressive Arts Therapies, IFS, CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, EMDR. I utilize a Psychodynamic and Attachment framework to better understand childhood history and I offer a holistic, integrative approach to therapy, always taking into consideration the physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual needs of each client. After having been the primary caregiver for my mother through her battle with cancer, I now enjoy supporting cancer patients, survivors or their caregivers and have completed a Psychosocial Oncology Certificate Course through APOS.
I am extremely passionate about my work and believe that my personal & professional life experiences paired with my continued education have allowed me to become a very empathetic, supportive and genuine therapist.
I look forward to working alongside you as you take a step towards living a happier, healthier, balanced lifestyle!
"We’re only as needy as our unmet needs."
— John Bowlby
MY CATS: CHECO & LECLERC
On a personal note, I love being in nature, beach, travelling, reading, hiking, camping, gardening, yoga, creating my personal SoulCollage® Cards, watching Formula 1 and I am a proud parent of two adult children and two cats.
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Education
B.A. Communication Studies Major in Journalism Universidade São Judas Tadeu São Paulo - SP - Brazil M.A. Counseling Psychology National University San Diego, CA - USA Post Graduate Certification in Play Therapy UCSD Extension San Diego, CA - USA Post Graduate Certification in Sandplay Therapy UCSD Extension & STA Trainings San Diego, CA - USA Recognitions
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Professional AffiliationShirla de Magalhães
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist BBS - Board of Behavioral Science - CA - LMFT License # 82947 RPT-S - Registered Play Therapist Supervisor #S2226 RSP - Registered Sandplay Practitioner Associations
Accomplishments
Workshops Presented:
Trainings Attended: (attached PDF) 
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