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Jim Sparks, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist PSY15376
419 Kearney St.
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 433-7477
jim@jimsparksphd.com
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EDUCATION
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Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology: California School of
Professional Psychology, Alameda, CA: 1995
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B.A. in Psychology: University of Washington,
Seattle, WA: 1990
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B.A. in English: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI: 1984
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CLINICAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
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Private Practice
Palo Alto and El Cerrito, CA 1997-Present
Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a particular interest in
post-modern approaches to psychotherapy. Practiced in Palo Alto until
August 2001. Currently practicing in El Cerrito, CA.
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Adjunct Clinical Faculty
California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco,
CA : Sept.
2001-Present
I teach a course on Family Therapy, and a course on Clinical
Supervision. I also provide supervision to graduate students
through the school's
Psychological Services Center in Oakland, CA.
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Teaching Faculty
Association of Family Therapists of Northern California Postgraduate
Family Therapy Training Program, Berkeley, CA.
Oct. 2004-Present
I am one of the founding members of this innovative training program
designed to enhance the skills of therapists in working working with
families and communities through adopting a collaborative approach
influenced by a socio-cultural perspective.
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Adjunct Clinical Faculty
Argosy University, Point Richmond, CA. 2003-Present
I've taught courses on clinical supervision, family therapy, and
conducted Argosy's "Intensive" program which involves providing
supervision of "live" therapy sessions using reflecting teams.
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Clinical Instructor
Family Institute of Pinole, Pinole, CA Oct. 2004-2005
I provided training in Narrative Therapy and supervision of "live"
therapy sessions using reflecting teams.
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Founding Member
Mental Research Institute (MRI) OllinQi Center for the Exploration of
Alternatives, Changes and Solutions: 1999-2001
Co-organizer of 2000 conference, Stories of Hope: Responding to
Violence Through a Multicultural Lens, featuring Olga Silverstein.
Also conducted individual supervision and offered training in
Narrative Therapy.
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Director of Training
Mental Research Institute (MRI), Palo Alto, CA: 1998-1999
Expanded the training offerings at MRI to make them more relevant and
to provide alternative theoretical perspectives in addition to MRI
Brief Therapy. Developed 10 new workshops on topics such as
cross-cultural perspectives on psychotherapy, clinical approaches to
violence, and social constructionist work with school children and
teachers.
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Residency Director
Mental Research Institute (MRI): 1997-1998
Improved the quality of the MRI Residency program, which provides
training experiences for residents ranging from one week to two
months. Enlisted more teachers, carefully monitored residents’
satisfaction with training, and introduced more varied curricula,
including training in Narrative Therapy. I offered presentations to
residents about social constructionist ideas and the narrative
metaphor, which continued into 2001.
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Editor
MRI Clinical Bulletin: 1997-1999
Developed on-line bulletin highlighting the clinical and research
pursuits of staff at MRI.
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PRESENTATIONS
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“The Secret Lives of Happy Couples.” Class
presentation at Argosy University, Point Richmond, CA, February 2002.
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“Externalizing vs. Internalizing conversations: Road
Maps for Narrative Therapy.” Presentation with Pablo Castro at the
Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, July 2001.
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“An Introduction to Post-modern Ideas and the
Narrative Metaphor.” Presentation with Isobel Scher inaugurating a
six-month training series at the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto,
CA, January, 2001.
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“Cultural Discourse and Narrative Therapy.”
Presentation with Pamela Montgomery and Pablo Castro at the Mental
Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, July 2000.
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“An Introduction to Narrative Therapy.” Presentation
at the University of San Francisco, Cupertino campus, December, 1998.
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“Narrative, Culture and Problems: Ways to Construct
Problems Clinically Taking into Account Larger Socio-political
Contexts.” Presentation at the American Family Therapy Academy
Pre-Conference in San Francisco, June, 1996.
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RESEARCH
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Lead Investigator
Happy Couples Project: 1999-present
Initiated study of "happy couples" consisting of interviewing couples
about the history of their relationship, and the meanings, practices
and attributions that support happy relationships. The study also
deconstructs ideas about love and marriage that interfere with the
creation of a happy relationship.
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Research Associate
Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA: 1998-2001
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Ph.D. Recipient
California School of Professional Psychology, Alameda, CA: 1995
Completed dissertation on 76 couples that examined congruence between
sex role attitudes and the actual division of labor at home, and how
it relates to marital adjustment.
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PUBLICATIONS
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Sparks, J. (1997). Voices of experience: Inviting
former clients to rejoin the therapy process as consultants. Journal
of Systemic Therapies, 16(4), 367-375.
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Sparks, J. (1995). Role incongruence and marital
adjustment late in the transition to parenthood. Dissertation
Abstracts International, 56(11B), 6422.
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