TLS STAFF

Dr. Bridget Melson, MFT, PsyD.
Co-Founder Trinity Life Solutions
Teen and Parenting Expert

Dr. Melson lives in the San Francisco Bay area with Mike, her husband of 13+ years, and their two sons, Lucas and Landon.

Mike’s career began as he worked for NASA on the Space Shuttle project. He then became a consultant for Accenture, formerly Andersen Consulting. Next he entered the world of start-ups in the Silicon Valley and became what many in the world would label “successful”. However to Mike success meant something entirely different. Success to him meant becoming involved with his community and mentoring young people to be all that God had envisioned them to be. He decided to take a risk and quit his executive job in the software industry and instead dedicate his time and effort to coaching men of all ages on becoming the man their current and future families need them to be. His “Balance Boundaries” teaches men how to balance their priorities be it family, work, hobbies, sports, church etc.

Mike’s passions include, serving God, spending time with his family, flying, and coaching men and teens on how to maintain balance in their lives now and in the future.

Jean Arnett M.A., MFT
Marriage & Family Therapist

Jean’s first calling in life was to marry her high school sweetheart and to dedicate herself to being a wife to her husband and a mother to their three extraordinary and sometimes very challenging sons. It was a wonderful journey that of course came to an end when the boys were ready to be launched. With the nest empty she looked to God to guide her into her next life endeavor, which was to prepare to help others and she has always felt being a Christian Therapist was an extension of being a wife and mother. So now the circle is complete.

For nearly 15 years, Jean has relied on God and the Holy Spirit to bring change and healing into the peoples’ lives that she has been privileged to work with in the therapeutic setting. She has worked extensively with troubled teens and their families and she now particularly enjoys working with individual adults and couples. Her clinical areas of expertise include: relationship issues, as well as individual challenges which include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, life stressors, anger, co-dependency, addiction, parenting, job problems, spiritual concerns and life transition issues.

Jean is a clinical member in good standing of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and she and her husband of 44 years are certified trainers for Parent Project, a program designed to help parents of extremely out-of-control children.

Her life motto is: To God be the glory!

Blaine Carman M.A., MFT
Couples Expert

Blaine is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California who has been counseling individuals or consulting with organizations for almost 20 years.  Blaine has a passion for helping people uncover what’s blocking them in their own individual growth or in relationships and to implement effective strategies to bring about positive change. In this process, clients find tools to help them sustain the growth, which they have begun.

Blaine loves working with adults from 18 to 80 who are trying to find solutions and answers to life’s difficult questions and challenges. He is a Clinical Member in good standing of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and is certified to administer and interpret the Preparetm premarital counseling assessment.  Blaine’s specialty areas include: troubled couple relationships, family conflicts, stress and anxiety management, spiritual dilemmas, post-divorce counseling and problems resulting from major life transitions.

Dr. Mark Demanes, MFT, PhD
Marriage & Family Therapist

Dr. Demanes’ emphasis is working from a faith-based perspective. He specializes in restoring the marital relationship and assisting couples in finding the quality of life that God meant for them. He also specializes in anger management, sexual addictions, and helping men and women fulfill the challenge of leadership and love at home and in their lives.

Dr. Demanes has developed and supervised several anger management programs in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. He is currently Director of Alpha Family Services’ Domestic Violence Program in Oakley, CA. Dr. Demanes also headed Xanthos’ Outpatient Drug-Free Program in Alameda, CA. He also has private practice locations in San Mateo and Oakdale, California.

Rebekka Fears, M.A., MFTI
Teen and Trauma Expert

Rebekka takes her work and passion for counseling others seriously, as she feels it is a very delicate process when helping people find their way through life. She feels that it is not just about helping people reach their goals, but also about walking them through the process even when they feel like they are not getting anywhere.

Rebekka received her B.A. in Social Science from Patton College and completed her M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a certificate in Pastoral Counseling. As an intern she continues to gain training in specific techniques and on theoretical perspectives.

Rebekka has worked in group homes with teens, social services and foster children. She has also worked with mentally disabled children and their families and has extensive experience working with families on parenting issues and life stressors. She currently specializes in working with adults and children who have experienced mild to severe trauma at some point in their lives.

Judi Koenig, M.A., MFT
Marriage & Family Therapist

Judi was called to attain her MFT graduate degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in the midst of raising her three children. Fortunately, God provided Judi with a strong and supportive husband (for 31 years and counting), as well as good friends and loving children. Both of Judi’s sons and her daughter have Type I diabetes mellitus. This has given Judi perspective and passion in working with individuals, couples, and families coping with chronic and/or life-threatening health issues. Major depression, anxiety and panic attacks, stress, communication problems, relational issues, marital troubles and enrichment, and parenting are other areas of expertise.

Judi’s approach to therapy seeks to integrate God’s ability to heal with clinical expertise. Bringing relationships to healthy states, leading people to greater self-knowledge and enjoyment of life, and maximizing strengths to help each person better become who God wants them to be are at the heart of Judi’s practice.

In addition, Judi is a warm, approachable person, who enjoys working with people of all varieties – children, adolescents, adults young in age or at heart, couples before, within, or after marriage, and families of all types.

Michael McCratic, MFT, BCETS
Marriage & Family Therapist

Michael is a Licensed Psychotherapist with over 23 years of counseling and teaching in the Christian Community. His specialties are trauma resolution, anxiety, depression, and advanced marital skill training. Like many therapists, he works with a wide variety of issues with individuals, couples and families.

Michael is a Diplomat and Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress. He is also an Approved Consultant and Certified in EMDR. (EMDR is a psychotherapeutic methodology for the rapid resolution of traumatic/upsetting memories). He has taught for Fuller Theological Seminary, Northern California Bible College and California State University Hayward and he has also presented various workshops throughout the Bay Area. Michael has a passion for showing people how to reach their full potential. He enjoys helping people go from feeling “stuck” in some area of their lives to achieving healing using innovative EMDR methodology.

Besides the above, Michael has a unique ability to come alongside people and gain their respect and trust. He looks forward to helping you achieve your full potential.

Jann Blackstone-Ford, M.A., is a certified mediator in private practice in Northern California who specializes in divorce and family conflict resolution.  Jann holds two Masters Degree’s—one from San Jose State University and another in Behavioral Science from California State University at Dominguez Hills.  She is a member in good standing of the Association for Conflict Resolution, the merged organization of AFM, CREnet and SPIDR and the Northern California Mediation Association. 
A wife and mother of four kids, two bio, two bonus, Jann is the author of seven books on divorce and parenting , including the award winning, My Parent’s Are Divorced, Too: A Book For Kids, By Kids, published by the American Psychological Association. Jann's most recent books, the Ex-Etiquette series, are published by Chicago Review Press and are co-written with her husband's ex-wife, Sharyl Jupe.  Jann is the Divorce and Stepfamily Expert for iVillage.com (www.ivillage.com), plus a frequent guest or consultant on television and radio talk shows, including Good Morning America (ABC), The Today Show (NBC), Keeping Kids Healthy (PBS), the Early Show (CBS), and The Oprah Winfrey Show.  Jann also co-hosts a regular internet radio program called, Stepfamily Talk Radio. www.stepfamilytalkradio.com and she has been the featured expert in many magazines, including, Child, Newsweek, Family Circle, More, Good Housekeeping, Working Mother, and Single Mother Magazine.