Amber Rukaj, M.A., MFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Education/Training
Education/Training
I am Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a graduate of the University of San Diego’s Marriage and Family Therapy program. I am psychotherapist with over 15 years experience providing direct services, clinical management and development to mental health programs. I have 14 years experience working in primary care clinics and collaborative care programs within OB/GYN and Pediatric clinics. I completed my post-graduate training at Rady’s Children’s Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry and at the University of California San Diego Department of Reproductive Medicine. While at UCSD Reproductive Medicine, I helped create and co-found the Maternal Mental Health Clinic (now called Women's Reproductive Mental Health Program) where therapists work alongside physicians, midwives, and nurses to provide a unique collaboration on the screening, assessment, and treatment of perinatal mood disorders afflicting women during pregnancy and postpartum. I have been involved for many years with the Postpartum Health Alliance and previously served in different capacities on their board including as a Past President.
Additional Certifications/Trainings
Additional Certifications/Trainings
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) Level 1 and 2 trained (www.emdria.com)
- Certified Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence counselor
- Certified John Gottman Educator trained to teach the Bringing Baby Home workshop (www.bbhonline.org)
- Postpartum Doula (trained by DONA International) http://www.dona.org/
- Trained in the Incredible Years Model (http://incredibleyears.com/) and Redirecting Children's Behavior (http://www.incaf.com/)
- Play therapy coursework towards certificate
- Medical Family Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
- AAMFT Approved Clinical Supervisor
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
- Infant Development Association (IDA)
- Postpartum Health Alliance (PHA)
- Postpartum Support International