About Us
Meet Our Amazing Team at Orange County Couples Counseling
About Kathleen Wenger
Kathleen Wenger,
M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
I have had over 20 years of clinical/counseling experience with couples, individuals and families. A focus and passion of mine has been my work with couples who want to recapture the trust, love, respect and compassion that they once felt. In a world that can divide us, I work with couples to focus on the positive attributes in their relationship and to explore forgiveness for the mistakes that are made along their relational journey. I also enjoy working with mothers and daughters, adoption issues, individuals struggling with depression or anxiety. I welcome you to my practice.
Certifications/Awards/Memberships/Publications
- President The National Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi Pepperdine Chapter)
- Straus Institute of Family Mediation Certificate
- Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Certificate
- Orange County Adoption Clinical Training Certificate
- Clinical Supervisor Training-AAMFT
- Clinical Supervisor Training-CAMFT
- Chair/Co-chair MFT Consortium of Orange County
- Founding Member AAMFT Educators Steering Committee
- Founding Member MFT Educators Collaborative
Counseling Experience:
- 20 years at Pepperdine University as Manager M.A. Clinical Training of Marriage and Family Therapists
- Pepperdine University-Adjunct Faculty
- Co-founder of marriagefriendlytherapists.com
- Private Practice - Couples/Marriage Counseling
- Facilitator of Laguna Beach Senior Support Group
Meet our Therapists
Associate: Irene Alvarez de Schwartz, M.A., AMFT, APCC
Call or text Irene (949) 385-3689 or visit her website at www.Ireneadescounseling.com
I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who believes in the human potential to heal from trauma, develop psychological resilience from adversity, and find inner strength to purposely move forward in life.
My focus is to empower individuals, couples, and families experiencing depression, anxiety, communication difficulties, extramarital affairs, addictions and co-dependency or facing vulnerable life transitions. I achieve this by providing a non-judgmental, compassionate stance, and a safe space where you feel comfortable to share your hurt, concerns, and vulnerability, and work towards your personal or marital goals.
Additionally, I have well-rounded life experience collaborating with families with neurodivergent family members and a deep passion for empowering couples challenged by the unique constrains of raising neurodivergent children.
I am a native Spanish speaker, have lived in different countries as well as many regions in the United States, and feel comfortable working with people from different cultures. I will accompany you on every step of your journey.
My goal is to help you deepen your self- and other- awareness, get in touch with your inner strength, develop resilience from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life.
I am available in Laguna Beach, Irvine and via Telehealth.
Supervised by Kathleen Wenger, M.A., LMFT #38183, LPCC #1450.
Associate: Christy Hill, M.A. - AMFT, APCC
Call Christy (949) 281-6763
I believe that people are remarkably resilient and have an innate capacity for self-healing. Psychotherapy can be a rewarding experience that generates self-awareness, healing, and personal growth. The therapy I offer helps alleviate painful experiences like depression, anxiety, loneliness and relationship conflict. I value my relationship and bond with my clients and know that our therapeutic alliance is the cornerstone of transformation. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, I work with people to help them find the inner strength and resources necessary to confront the inevitable challenges life brings. I enjoy meeting my clients in person. I am open to doing our sessions while walking at the beach. I want you to enjoy your experience with me as a therapist. I want you to feel comfortable sharing your story.
Grab a cup of coffee and come see me! I am available in Laguna Beach, Irvine and via Telehealth. Supervised by Kathleen Wenger, M.A., LMFT #38183, LPCC #1450
Associate: Olivia Callister, M.A. - AMFT
Call Olivia (949) 371-5061
Olivia is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment that fosters self-efficacy and self-awareness. She specializes in assisting individuals facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, grief, and memory loss. Her aim is to empower you to navigate difficult emotions and situations, facilitating a path towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Olivia Callister is a Laguna Beach local. She graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communications. Olivia graduated from Pepperdine University with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. On campus, she was involved in Psi Chi Honor Society, an international honor society in psychology. Olivia completed her clinical hours for her degree by working with individuals with dementia. Her therapeutic specialties involve anxiety, depression, grief, memory loss and end of life care. In her free time, she loves the outdoors and exploring Laguna hiking spots. She also enjoys going to the Sawdust Festival and the Pageant of the Masters.
Olivia is available in person at the Laguna Beach location and via Telehealth. Supervised by Kathleen Wenger, M.A., LMFT #38183, LPCC #1450
Associate: Natasha Gaffaney, M.A. - AMFT
Call Natasha (949) 423-6380
Natasha has a strong passion for people, exploring purpose, inspiring hope, and empowering change. She provides psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups under supervision.
Natasha Gaffney has been a director in numerous healthcare industry positions. She is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She recently graduated from Pepperdine University with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology. In her career, Natasha has been in charge of teams of nurses, developed and led clinical care programs, and supported the growth of multiple healthcare programs.
Natasha is available in person at the Laguna Beach location and via Telehealth. Supervised by Kathleen Wenger, M.A., LMFT #38183, LPCC #1450
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