Mark Purcell, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
“Life is available only in the present moment.”
"There is in every child at every stage a new miracle of vigorous unfolding."
“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."
"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination."
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose. In that space lies our growth and our freedom."
Training
Mark has provided skills-based training to professionals from a broad range of settings, on a variety of topics. He is Assistant Professor at John F. Kennedy University in the Graduate School of Counseling Psychology and serves as Adjunct Faculty at several Bay Area Universities. He served as a Training Specialist at UC Berkeley, Center for the Development of Human Services, and SF City College's Foster Care Training Program. Over the past fifteen years, Mark has developed numerous training programs and taught a broad range of helping professionals including: therapists, behavioral specialists, child welfare workers, nurses, and teachers. Mark's teaching philosophy is to integrate current research with skill-based interactive training. His goal is that participants leave with both current knowledge and effective intervention skills which can be applied to their professional work. Mark is available to teach prepared trainings, or can consult with agency staff to develop a customized training to meet specified needs.
Past Professional Training & Courses
Conferences & Presentations
Pathways to Resiliency and Trauma From Community Violence
Conference Presenter. Academic Organization for Advancement of Strategic and International Studies (Academic OASIS). International Multidisciplinary Academic Conference. Paris, France. 2015.
Trauma Informed Training for Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) Graduate Programs: Integrating Recovery, Crisis, and Trauma into the MFT Curriculum.
Conference Presenter. Sponsored by The Bay Area Marriage and Family Therapists Consortium and The Greater Bay Area Mental Health & Education Workforce Collaborative. Oakland, CA. 20011
Behavioral Health Needs of Transitional Age Youth. Mind the Gap: Effective Strategies for Meeting the Needs of Transition Age Youth
Conference Presenter. Hosted by Larkin Street Youth Services. 2008.
The Effects of Urban Youth Violence & Effective Intervention Strategies
Guest lecturer at California Institute of Integral Studies, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. 2008.
Trauma and Resiliency among Urban Youth Exposed to Community Violence
Presented at Divisional Conference at Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, 2006
Social Skills Groups for Youth with Behavior Disorders
Presented at Pediatric Resident Rounds - Children’s Hospital and Research Center at Oakland, 2006.
Interdisciplinary Training for Professionals in Child Welfare Services
Presented at the National Conference for Staff Development and Training in Human Services, 2000.
Professional Trainings Conducted
DBT Principles and Skills for Residential Treatment - Four Day Training
Edgewood Center for Children and Families. San Francisco (2013-2017)
DBT Skills for Medical Social Workers.
Lucille Packard, Stanford Children’s Hospital. Palo Alto, CA (2011-2015)
Trauma Diagnosis & Treatment.
Lucille Packard, Stanford Children’s Hospital. Palo Alto, CA (2013-2014)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training.
Edgewood Center for Children and Families. San Francisco (2013)
Identifying Developmental Issues in Young Children.
Parents Place sponsored training in Palo Alto Preschools. Palo Alto (2012).
Understanding ADHD - Parent Workshop
Parents Place. Palo Alto, CA (2012)
Managing Challenging Behaviors - Parent Workshop
Parents Place. Palo Alto, CA (2012)
Identifying Developmental Issues - Parent Workshop
Parents Place. Palo Alto, CA (2012)
Vicarious Trauma
San Mateo Medical Center. San Mateo, CA (2011)
Helping Foster Youth with Birth Family Connections
SF Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). San Francisco (2011)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training.
Edgewood Center for Children and Families. San Francisco (2011, 2010)
Domestic Violence & Impact Upon Youth
Larkin Street Youth Services. San Francisco (2010)
Suicide Assessment and Intervention
Alternative Family Services. San Francisco (2010)
Professional Trainings (Continued)
Trauma-Related Symptoms and Interventions
Alternative Family Services. San Francisco (2009)
DBT Training for Clinicians & Support Staff
Edgewood Center for Children and Families. San Francisco (2009)
Communication Strategies and Strengths-Based Practice
Hickman Homes. San Francisco (2009)
Crisis Intervention for High Risk Youth.
Larkin Street Youth Services.San Francisco (2009)
Working with Challenging Behaviors
SF Boys & Girls Homes. San Francisco (2009)
Anger Management
Walden House Adolescent Services. San Francisco (2009)Clinical Case Management
Family Support Services. San Francisco (2009)
Substance Abuse & Dual Diagnosis
San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). San Francisco (2008)
Positive Discipline & Behavior Management
Walden House. San Francisco (2009)
Adolescent Mental Health Issues
New Directions. San Francisco (2009)
Crisis Intervention for High Risk Youth
Larkin Street Youth Services. San Francisco (2009)
Working with Challenging Behaviors
SF Boys & Girls Homes. San Francisco (2009)
Conflict Resolution
San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). San Francisco (2009)
Communication Skills & Strengths-Based Practice
Family Support Services. San Francisco (2009)
Learning & Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Services. San Francisco (2009)
Interdisciplinary Concurrent Planning for Child Welfare Professionals
University of California at Berkeley, School of Social Welfare. Riverside, CA(2000)
New York State Child Welfare/Child Protective Services Core Training
Buffalo State College: Center for Development of Human Services. Albany, NY (1998)
Courses Taught
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Therapy
John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) - Counseling Psychology Graduate Program. Spring (2014)
Marriage and Family Therapy Theories II
JFKU. Winter (2014)
Clinical Case Seminar
JFKU - Counseling Psychology Graduate Program. Winter, Spring, (2014) Fall (2013)
California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) - Counseling Psychology Graduate Program. Spring (2009)
Trauma and Transformation
Holy Names University (HNU) - Counseling Psychology Program: Trauma Specialization.
Fall (2013), Spring/Fall (2012).
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
JFKU - Counseling Psychology Graduate Program. Fall, 2014
Current Issues in Family Violence and Protection
CIIS. Fall (2008-2013)
Wright Institute - Counseling Psychology Graduate Program. Summer (2013)
Partner Abuse and Treatment
Wright Institute. Summer (2011-2012)
Therapy with Adolescents and Transition Age Youth (TAY)
CIIS. Summer (2012)
Child and Adolescent Therapy
CIIS. Spring (2012)
Professional Resources
Training Presentations
Below are training materials made available for other helping professionals. Presentations and workbooks & handouts are available for download. Additional on-line training for counseling students and helping professionals are also available. We hope the materials provided enhance your professional training needs.
Dialectical Behavior Training for Professionals
Full Day Training Covering the Principles and Therapeutic Strategies of DBT. Includes the Four DBT Skills Modules, as well as DBT Workbook and DBT Diary Cards.
Current Issues in Family Violence and Protection
Five Week Graduate Level Course covering issues and treatment related to family violence. Includes: PTSD and Complex Trauma; Child, Spousal and Elder Abuse; and, various treatment approaches.
Managing Challenging Behaviors
Half-Day Training covering the types and causes of challenging behaviors in youth. Various treatment approaches are presented including: behavioral and anger management strategies.
Challenging Behaviors Handouts
Challenging Behaviors Presentation
Suicide Assessment and Intervention
Half-Day Training covering the risk factors related to youth suicidality. Structured assessment tools and specific intervention strategies are covered.
Suicide Assessment Presentation
Trauma and Transformation
Trauma Lecture covering symptoms of PTSD and Complex Trauma and range of treatment modalities.
Vicarious Trauma
Training covering the causes and signs of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Strategies for self-care and support are covered. An assessment of Compassion Fatigue is also included.
Vicarious Trauma Presentation
Compassion Fatigue Assessment
Trauma Focused CBT On-line Training Program
This 10-hour on-line training features interactive videos and demonstrations presenting the Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) Treatment Model. The training is free and designed for mental health professionals. Sponsored and developed by the Medical University of South Carolina.
Trauma Focused CBT Online Training
DBT Diary Card
Class II Lecture
Class III Lecture
Class IV Lecture
Class V Lecture
