Psychotherapist | EMDRIA Certified Therapist & Approved Consultant
Credentials & Professional Leadership
- CA Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2009
- EMDRIA Certified Therapist since 2011 and EMDRIA Approved Consultant since 2016
- Sonoma County Family Court Therapist for high-conflict families, Sonoma County Bar Association Certificate of Completion 2014
- Mental Health Liaison Committee, Sonoma County Bar Association, since January 2026; supports collaboration among judicial officers, attorneys, and court-involved therapists
Professional Experience
Private Practice, Laura Capinas Psychotherapy
2008 – Current (Sonoma County)
- Provide individual and family systems psychotherapy and evaluations; behavioral assessments and consultation for children, adolescents, and adults
- Specialize in trauma, anxiety disorders, child abuse and neglect, grief, parenting, high-conflict divorce, co-parenting, and family systems therapy
- Collaborate with attorneys involved in civil and criminal cases involving psychological trauma; provide clinical assessments and psychological trauma focused therapy for victims
- Consult with schools on bullying, peer conflict, behavior plans, and 504/IEP supports; provide parent education and school presentations
- Supervise pre-licensed clinicians and provide EMDR consultation toward EMDRIA certification and Approved Consultant status
Contract Psychotherapist, Alliance Medical Center
2008 – May 2018
- Assessed and diagnosed mental health conditions; assessed child abuse, neglect, and intimate partner violence
- Contract therapist primarily serving migrant and Latino populations; provided brief individual and family psychotherapy for Medi-Cal patients experiencing anxiety, trauma, and emotional or behavioral concerns
School Counselor, Social Advocates for Youth
Jan 2005 – May 2008 (Cloverdale, CA)
- Provided K–12 counseling, group and individual psychotherapy, classroom behavioral interventions, and family support in a rural school community
- Assessed child abuse, substance use, and domestic violence concerns; supported families facing poverty and mental illness
Contract Psychotherapist, Cornerstone Counseling Center
May 2004 – Aug 2005 (North Georgia)
- Provided in-home therapy for families involved in child welfare, foster care, and juvenile justice systems across five North Georgia counties
- Prepared detailed family and substance use assessments for agencies and courts; facilitated adolescent recovery groups and provided court testimony
Contract Psychotherapist, The Mentor Network
2004 (Atlanta, GA)
- Provided post-adoption in-home family therapy to stabilize adoptive placements and completed detailed family assessments
Professional Development, International Travel and Language Immersion
Nov 2002 – Feb 2004
- Expanded Spanish-language skills and cross-cultural understanding through travel in Latin America, Mexico, and Southeast Asia
Child Protective Services Case Manager, DeKalb County Department of Family and Children’s Services
Sep 2001 – Oct 2002 (Decatur, GA)
- Investigated allegations of child maltreatment; conducted home visits and psychosocial assessments
- Coordinated child safety interventions with law enforcement; presented findings and service plans in juvenile court and testified in adjudicatory hearings
Continuing Education & Presentations
- Dec 6, 2025: Mental Health Diagnoses, Sonoma County Bar Association Minor’s Counsel Training (presenter)
- Nov 2024: Child Abuse, Sonoma County Bar Association Minor’s Counsel Training (co-presenter)
- Oct 2022: Neuropsychological Effects of Trauma on Children and Adults, Mental Health Liaison Committee / Sonoma County Bar Association (co-presenter)
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
- Redwood Empire California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (RECAMFT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA)
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
Treatment Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); Feeling-State Addiction Protocol (FSAP); Flash Technique; HeartMath biofeedback; play, sand tray, and art-based therapies; family systems therapy; co-parent counseling; behavior modification and parent coaching
Graduate Internship
Medical Social Work Intern, ICU and Emergency Department, Grady Memorial Hospital
Aug 1999 – Jul 2000 (Atlanta, GA)
- Provided crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, and coordination of resources for patients and families experiencing serious injuries, assault, sexual violence, and medical emergencies
Education
Master of Social Work, University of Georgia School of Social Work
May 2000
International Health Continuing Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
Spring 1997
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Emory University
May 1996
