Miriam Galindo Tumblr Blog

Dr. Miriam Galindo is dually licensed as a psychologist and social worker with over 21 years experience in the field. She shares a private practice with her husband, Jorge Galindo, MFT, who is also a psychotherapist and Reserve Deputy Sheriff. Dr. Miriam Galindo is a child psychologist with post-graduate training in play therapy. Her focus is on helping children and their families cope with challenges involved in difficult divorces. Dr. Miriam Galindo is on the Orange County Superior Court panel of approved evaluators. Prior to establishing her private practice, Dr. Miriam Galindo served children and families in the capacity of a social worker. She completed an internship and subsequent employment at CPC Psychiatric Hospital in Santa Ana as social worker for both the adolescent and adult closed units. She also completed an internship and subsequent employment at Family Services Association where she received special training in the assessment and treatment of sexual abuse through the Parents United/Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program. Dr. Galindo then worked at CSP, Inc. for two years providing outpatient care to high-risk court-referred dependency cases. For almost a decade, Dr. Galindo served as case manager for a six-bed, level-12 group home through Olive Crest Treatment Center in Santa Ana. There, she oversaw the daily care of abused and neglected children, ages four through 12 years old. She also facilitated staff trainings and interfaced with juvenile and dependency courts in Orange and Los Angeles County. Tireless in meeting the special needs of each child, she oversaw volunteers and CASA workers, facilitated reunification plans between children and their biological families, and advocated for the children at IEP meetings.

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Alzheimer’s Orange County’s Fundraising Event Walk4ALZ and Run4ALZ

California psychologist Miriam Galindo offers counseling to children and families involved in high-conflict divorces. Miriam Galindo also volunteers at Alzheimer’s Orange County, an organization dedicated to supporting people with memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of dementia. Alzheimer’s Orange County’s largest walk and run fundraising event is the Walk4ALZ and Run4ALZ. The only fundraising event that donates 100 percent of every dollar toward Alzheimer’s services, research, and programs in Orange County, the 2019 Walk4ALZ and Run4ALZ event is scheduled for November 9. The event will be held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, and this is the first year that the organization is offering a 5k run event. To participate in the Walk4ALZ and Run4ALZ event, participants can register either as individual walkers/runners or as members of a walking or running team. If there is no existing team, participants have the option of creating a walking or running team. Walkers and runners will raise funds as they train for the event. Over the years, Alzheimer's Orange County has partnered with organizations such as Oakmont of Orange, United Healthcare, Forever Young Memory Care, and Right at Home. For 2019, the organization has set a goal of raising $500,000 and has reached roughly 20 percent of that goal as of August 2019.

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Structured and Unstructured Play

Licensed social worker and psychologist Miriam Galindo, PsyD, works with at-risk families and children through her practice in Irvine, California. An alumna of Trinity College of Graduate Studies, Dr. Miriam Galindo has several certifications and is a credentialed and registered child play therapist. Although many people view playing as a single thing, specific activities can actually be divided into two categories: structured and unstructured play. Both types of play are needed to promote growth and well-being among children. The primary difference between the two types of play is their goal. With structured play, kids are tasked with following certain instructions and rules to reach a specific goal. Most games, including board and card games, as well as traditional outdoor games like tag, are considered to be structured play activities. Kids may also participate in structured play activities by joining an organized sport. Through this type of play, children learn about solving problems and becoming better active listeners. Structured play also boosts kids’ confidence and teaches them about cooperating on a team. With unstructured or free play, kids create and improvise their goal as they go. This develops such qualities as empathy and imagination. Playing with blocks, coloring, and playing with a doll are all examples of unstructured play since they are all more open ended.

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What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?

For more than 20 years, Dr. Miriam Galindo has been supporting families and at-risk children as a licensed social worker and psychologist. Working in private practice in Irvine, California, she provides co-parenting counseling, reunification counseling, and play therapy to clients. Dr. Miriam Galindo is also trained in parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). An evidence-based treatment, PCIT is designed for young children with behavioral problems. It is conducted during 12 to 20 coaching sessions with a therapist. During these seasons, both parent and child interact in a playroom. Meanwhile, the therapist observes this interaction by way of a video feed or a one-way mirror. As parents interact with their child, they receive guidance from their therapist about managing their child’s behavior through an in-ear device. The entire process consists of two treatment phases. First, parents learn and apply different skills to establish a secure and calm relationship with their child. This relationship enhancement phase is designed to reduce the negative characteristics of the parent-child relationship, thus allowing children to feel supported and safe when around their parents. It’s hoped that building a stronger relationship between parent and child will decrease tantrum frequency and duration, boost self-esteem, and lower parental frustration. Second, therapists teach parents how to manage their child’s challenging behaviors while staying calm and confident. During this discipline and compliance stage, parents are equipped with the tools and training they need to help their child respect house rules, comply with directions, and behave appropriately in public.

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Telling Children about Divorce

A licensed clinical social worker and psychologist, Miriam Galindo, PsyD, works with at-risk children and families in California. In this capacity, Dr. Miriam Galindo leverages her extensive training and experience to help young children involved in high-conflict divorce cases. When telling children about parents’ plan to divorce, it’s usually a good idea for parents to write out what they plan on saying. This lets parents set some ground rules before talking to their kids and figure out what information they want to share and what they don’t. Regardless of how old the child is, parents should never blame one another for the divorce, nor should they pressure the child to take sides. In addition to writing out what to say, parents should plan when they will talk to their children. Ideally, kids should be told about divorce about two to three weeks before parents separate. And parents should be together when sharing the news of their upcoming divorce. By being together, parents convey a sense of unified caring that reminds kids that both of their parents are concerned about them. Beyond finding a time when both parents are present, it’s important to set a time where all children are also present. Many parents think it’s better to shelter younger children and tell older children first. But this puts older children in the position of having to keep secrets and can be more damaging. Instead, the entire family should be present when news of a divorce is shared so that children of all ages are told at once and no one is responsible for keeping secrets.

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Donation Supports Olive Crest’s Independence Project in Las Vegas

As an experienced psychologist and social worker, Dr. Miriam Galindo assists at-risk children and their families. Dr. Miriam Galindo formerly served as a social worker at Olive Crest, an organization in Santa Ana, California, that offers a diverse range of care for neglected, abused, and at-risk children. Olive Crest recently received a donation from Las Vegas-based technology company House Advantage to support the organization’s Independence Project that assists local youth. The Independence Project helps young people work toward achieving their education and employment goals after they move out of foster care. The program provides young adults with a furnished apartment, funding to cover the cost of living, and access to training, mentoring, and a resident advisor who is available 24 hours a day. The Independence Project accepts young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who want to go to high school, trade school, or college and can find and retain employment.

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When Children Witness Domestic Violence

Dr. Miriam Galindo, a clinical psychologist and former social worker, has served families in crisis for more than 20 years. Trained in child custody evaluations and experienced in counseling children from high-conflict homes, Dr. Miriam Galindo understands the developmental impact of witnessing violence in the home. When children witness domestic violence, the experience affects the way they see the world. Never truly knowing when an abuse event will happen, they learn to be constantly on guard and fearful for the safety of their loved ones. They may blame themselves for not being able to prevent the abuse, thus developing chronic feelings of guilt, or they may become angry at the abused family member for not being able to protect himself or herself. This unsettled mind-set leaves a child more prone to difficulties with learning, concentration, and memory. Risk of psychological challenges increases both in the short term and further in the future, when children may struggle to develop healthy relationships without a solid model to draw from. Statistics show that children who grow up in abusive homes are 300 percent more likely to become abusers in adulthood. Even in the short term, children from abusive homes are prone to developing post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. If the abuse continues, these children are 600 percent more likely to take their own lives and have a 50 percent higher risk of substance abuse than children from homes without abuse. It takes a skilled and caring adult, often a trained professional, to work with the child and help him or her feel protected, resilient, and most of all not at fault for what has occurred in the home.

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Protecting Parent-Child Relationships in Divorce

A licensed psychologist in private practice in Southern California, Dr. Miriam Galindo previously served for eight years as a social worker in Santa Ana. In her practice today, she frequently works with children and families in high-conflict divorce and custody cases. Dr. Miriam Galindo’s extensive background in this field has led to her current service as an expert panelist for the Orange County Superior Court. Divorce typically has long-lasting effects on the children involved. One way for both parents to help mitigate this problem is to maintain strong relationships with their children. Experts advise parents to avoid casting blame on one another, and to refrain from seeking revenge. The momentary satisfaction that comes with gaining the upper hand over the other party is not worth the damage it can do to the emotions of everyone involved, particularly children. Additionally, it is never wise to request that children take the side of one parent over the other. Adults can decide issues involving finances, property, and life choices between themselves while allowing children to keep up strong ties to both parties. Schedule regular times for the non-custodial parent to spend time with the children. Both parents should make sure to respect these times, and should not interfere with a child’s right to visit the other party. If physical distance is involved, make the best of a less-than-perfect situation by using Skype, FaceTime, or other video chat services to stay as close to children as possible.

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Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents

An approved child custody evaluator and registered child play therapist, Dr. Miriam Galindo works with at-risk children and families. Over the course of her career, Dr. Miriam Galindo has completed training in topics such as bipolar disorder. Capable of being diagnosed in children as young as 18 months, bipolar disorder is typically characterized by abnormally intense moods that shift over time. While these shifts generally occur every few weeks or months in adults, children with bipolar disorder experience rapid changes in mood and may demonstrate several extreme moods in a single day. In most cases, the first episode of children with bipolar disorder is depressive. This is accompanied by complaints of pain, feelings of guilt, thoughts of death, and lack of energy. When children with bipolar disorder have manic episodes, they display unusual feelings of happiness and talk faster than usual. Further, children having manic episodes frequently have short tempers and struggle with sleeping and staying focused. Older children may also participate in risky behaviors such as drinking or taking drugs.

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The Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder

Dedicated psychologist and social worker Miriam Galindo has been working with at-risk families and children for more than two decades. Miriam Galindo belongs to an approved panel of experts for the Orange County Superior Court and possesses experience with such child psychology issues as attachment disorder. Children may develop attachment problems when they do not connect with a caregiver or parent. The most serious form of these problems is reactive attachment disorder (RAD), which can start during infancy. As a baby, children with RAD may display a variety of symptoms, including avoiding eye contact and rejecting any efforts made to soothe and calm them. Infants with RAD may also be uninterested in playing with toys, inconsolable when crying, or indifferent when left alone. Since these symptoms can also be a sign that infants are on the autism spectrum or have ADHD, parents should have their baby checked by a professional. As children age, the symptoms of RAD may continue. However, professionals are uncertain whether RAD symptoms occur past the age of 5. Still, a few symptoms, such as a persistent emotional or social disturbance, may appear after infancy. This is typically characterized by minimal emotional responsiveness to others or episodes of irritability or unexplained sadness.

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Three Types of Child Abuse and Their Possible Warning Signs

A licensed psychologist and social worker in California, Miriam Galindo works with at-risk children and families in private practice. Dr. Miriam Galindo has been working in the field for more than two decades and has developed a strong understanding of numerous topics relating to child therapy and abuse. Part of helping children who are victims of abuse involves recognizing and stopping abuse as early as possible. The following are the three main types of abuse, excluding neglect, and some warning signs that are associated with each one: 1. Emotional abuse: This type of abuse damages a child's social development and mental health. It may consist of constant humiliation, frequent yelling, or ignoring a child as punishment. Children who are being emotionally abused may show extremes in behavior and be unattached to their caregiver or parent. They may also show excessive anxiety about doing something wrong or behave inappropriately adult or infantile. 2. Physical abuse: Signified by frequent, unexplained cuts and bruises, physical abuse results from either excessive physical punishment or a purposeful attempt to injure a child. Some parents who are physically abusive believe they are just punishing their child. However, they extreme actions may cause their child to be withdrawn, jumpy, or afraid of going home. 3. Sexual abuse: Many children who are sexually abused experience a high level of guilt and shame, thus making it difficult for them to come forward. Sexual abuse can consist of either bodily contact or exposure to sexual material or situations and may result in children running away from home. Other signs of this type of abuse include trouble sitting, hesitancy to change clothes in front of others, depression, and sudden changes in behavior.

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The Importance of Art Therapy for Children Overcoming Trauma

A Southern California-based psychologist, Dr. Miriam Galindo has extensive experience in high-conflict divorce cases in the family court. The breadth of Dr. Miriam Galindo’s experience extends to co-parenting, reunification, and child counseling. She also engages with very young children in play and art therapy. Children who have been traumatized emotionally, physically, or sexually often experience a threat to their sense of self that makes that presents an extreme challenge to impulse control. Without having a means to articulate what they have undergone, they can also experience a heightened sense of aloneness. Recounting the traumatic event within a supportive, guided, and exploratory environment is often one major step toward transforming and overcoming it. Art materials allow children to describe their pain freely, with sketching, painting, or molding providing a connection to what is unconscious or has been suppressed. Having conveyed meaning in a way that the therapist respects and understands, pain is released and shared in ways that begin the process of recovery.

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Child Custody Evaluations

Holding dual licenses in clinical psychology and clinical social work, Dr. Miriam Galindo maintains a private practice with her husband in Irvine, California, where she engages in challenging divorce court proceedings while serving on the approved panel of experts for the Orange County Superior Court. Dr. Miriam Galindo specializes in private child custody evaluations. A child custody evaluation is conducted by a mental health professional appointed by the court to determine if and in what capacity a parent should receive custody of the child. According to AmericanBar.org, various factors are used to determine custody and visitation arrangements. Factors that evaluators consider include the current circumstances of each party; the history between the parties and the impact of that history on the child; and potential red flags, including inconsistencies around key facts and the misrepresentation of troubling events.

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Child Testimony in California Custodial Proceedings

Over the course of her career, Dr. Miriam Galindo has established herself as an expert in the psychological impact of court proceedings on families going through divorce. Dr. Miriam Galindo has completed advanced training in child testimony and has helped many families to understand what it entails. In the state of California, children have legal permission to testify in court unless doing so would not be in their best interest. Even legally permitted testimony, however, may impact the child's psychological well-being. Testifying can be an extremely stressful situation, in which the child must answer questions from strange adults in a strange environment. The child is likely already feeling caught between two battling parents, and testimony may seem like having to officially choose a side. The child may feel guilty about testifying against one parent or the other, and this may impact the child's relationship with that parent down the road. The child may feel manipulated by the parent who requests that he or she testify, but may be unwilling to say no for fear of hurting that parent's feelings. The child may even allow him- or herself to be coached on what to say, which can easily turn to panic in the courtroom when the child runs out of script. These processes are not uncommon and can turn a court's opinion against the manipulative parent, while simultaneously harming the child. Experts suggest that parents consider carefully whether a child's testimony is absolutely necessary. In many cases, the child's opinion can be gathered in a different and less intimidating manner. This can preserve the child's relationship with his or her parents and also set the stage for much more peaceful co-parenting. If the court does need to hear the child's voice regarding an issue, the child should receive support and therapeutic help in navigating the process.

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Play Therapy for Children

A licensed clinical psychologist and social worker, Dr. Miriam Galindo has operated her private practice in Irvine, California, since 2004. Dr. Miriam Galindo has been involved with a number of high-conflict divorce cases and specializes in play and art therapy for very young children. Play therapy gives children a chance to express feelings and ideas they might have difficulty putting into words through play. Children are more capable of expressing certain ideas through guided play, and in turn apply problem-solving skills to their own situations and issues. This form of therapy can benefit everyone, but is most appropriate for children less than 12 years of age. It can be used to address a variety of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, including anxiety and depression, and it can shed light on personal life issues such as family dissolution and academic difficulties. Play therapy typically lasts at least half an hour, but usually not more than 50 minutes. A typical course of treatment consists of about 20 sessions, though some children may require more or less time. Speed depends on both the child and the type of issue being treated. In most cases, however, children develop a greater understanding of their abilities, new social skills, and acceptance of themselves and others.

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Trinity College of Graduate Studies - Raether Library

Prior to beginning a career as a social worker, Mariam Galindo attended California State University, Long Beach where she received a master of social work degree in 1991 while also earning a place on the president’s list. Mariam Galindo also attended Trinity College of Graduate Studies in Anaheim, California, where she earned a doctor of psychology degree in 2007. The Trinity College of Graduate Studies programs are designed to provide students with smaller, more personalized classes, along with outstanding faculty members and exceptional research facilities. The college provides several resources for students, including the Raether Library and Information Technology Center. The Raether Library and Information Technology Center includes both the Watkinson and Trinity College libraries with digital collections and several rare books available along with several research publications. The digital collections include more than 400 playbills from 18th and 19th century British theaters, including operas, ballets, and comedies.

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Different Types of Child Custody

Working from her private practice in Irvine, California, Dr. Miriam Galindo is a psychologist and licensed clinical social worker with years of experience in marriage and family therapy. In addition to her work in clinical therapy, Dr. Miriam Galindo is an approved child custody evaluator for Orange County Superior Court. Though the laws and processes that govern child custody may differ depending on the state of residence, there are several forms of child custody that parents may pursue when they separate. To begin, there is a distinct difference between physical custody and legal custody of a child. A parent who has physical custody makes his or her home the child’s primary home as well. Conversely, a parent who has legal custody has the right to participate in decisions related to the child’s upbringing, including choices about education, health, and religion. Physical and legal custody can be maintained by one parent or shared by both. The most common legal arrangement in the United States is for parents to share joint legal custody while one parent maintains sole physical custody. The parent who does not maintain physical custody may be granted visitation rights, an arrangement typically worked out in discussions between the two parents. However, two parents may hold joint physical and legal custody if they live within a reasonable distance of each other and the child’s daily life can assume a degree of normalcy in the arrangement.

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Diplomates in the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute

Since receiving her master’s degree in social work in 1991, Dr. Miriam Galindo has continued her education to further her career in child services and social work. She received her doctorate in psychology in 2007 and has also received certifications in paralegal studies, child play therapy, and child forensic interviewing. Further, Dr. Miriam Galindo is a diplomate of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute (ACFEI). ACFEI is a professional association that supports the advancement of forensic examination and the continuing education of forensic examiners worldwide. To that end, ACFEI provides its members with opportunities such as certification, lectures, conferences, and educational courses, as well as its official journal, the Forensic Examiner. After two years of ACFEI membership with good standing, members are eligible to achieve the prestigious diplomate status. Diplomates must have clean professional records - no felony or ethical violations within the last 10 years and no active licensing, legal, or accounting investigations into their practices. They must also complete certification in one of ACFEI’s 10 forensic certification programs. Diplomate members of ACFEI receive elevated status within the forensic community. Diplomate status comes with a personalized press release to publicize the achievement as well as a certificate of recognition. Diplomates also receive two free listings in ACFEI’s online referral service. After three years, diplomates are eligible to attain fellow status, the ACFEI's highest honor.