Biography

Education and experience

Ann Steiner, Ph.D., M.F.T., CGP (Certified Group Psychotherapist), AGPA-F ( Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association),(CA. Marriage and Family Therapist, License #ML17115, Marriage and Family Therapist New Mexico, USA, License # CMFO218881) has been treating clients and leading psychotherapy groups for 30 years. She supervises, trains and consults with therapists and their clients.

• Graduate of the California School of Professional Psychology with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
• Maintains a full-time private practice in the San Francisco East Bay, online since COVID
• Presents a wide range of talks, workshops and keynote addresses to consumers and mental health professionals throughout the US and internationally
• For more information see Keynotes, Workshops, Consultation, Articles and Publications.

 

My approach is heavily influenced by my belief in the importance of lovingkindness and compassion not only for others, but for oneself. To learn about my treatment approach, please see Therapy Services.

Education and training

• California School of Professional Psychology, Berkeley, CA., Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, 1981
• California School of Professional Psychology, Berkeley, CA., M.A. in Clinical Psychology, 1979
• Registered Psychologist, Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, 1981 - 1982
• Doctoral Fellow, Children’s Hospital, San Francisco, 1980 – 1981

Academic affiliations

• Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California Medical School, San Francisco, 1998-2009
• Founding Member and Faculty member, Psychotherapy Institute's Group Therapy Training Program, 2005 - ongoing

Honors and professional accomplishments

• Member, Board of the International Human Learning Resources Network, 2016 - 2021
• Member, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force: American Group Psychotherapy Association 2019 - ongoing
• Co-Chair the American Group Psychotherapy Associations' Medical Illness Special Interest Group - ongoing
• Voted Member of the Year, National Speakers Association, Northern California, 2019
• Board Member, National Speakers Association, Northern California 2016 – 2018
• Member, Board of Directors, American Group Psychotherapy Society, 2012 - 2016
• Member, Exceptional Service Award, Arthritis Foundation, Northern California Chapter, 2011
• Elected Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Society
• Founding Member of the National Registry of Group Psychotherapists
• Founding Member of the American Orthopsychiatric Association's Disability Study Group
• Past President of Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society
• Former coordinator for the Self-Help Clearinghouse in San Francisco
• Former Clinical Director of the Peer Counseling Program for the Arthritis Foundation
• Member of the National Speakers Association

Special interests and expertise

• Consultation to therapists, groups
• Relationship issues
• Chronic medical illness
• Therapy groups
• The Therapist's Professional Will
• Back-up systems for small businesses

Publications: Overview

• New! Green Pastures, under the auspices of Grace Yung, Ph.D., in Hong Kong, translated/ published her most recent book for the general public into traditional Chinese characters and simplified Chinese for readers in Mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia. Green Pastures has also agreed to translate/ publish her book for therapists, How to Create and Sustain Groups that Thrive:

  Therapist's Workbook and Planning Guide into Chinese in 2024.

• New! Routledge recently released the Third Edition of How to Create and Sustain Groups that Thrive: Therapist's Workbook and Planning Guide, a collection of guidelines and templates to assist group psychotherapists. Topics covered include: "How to Facilitate Healthy Termination in Groups," the "Nuts and Bolts of Starting and Maintaining Healthy Groups," "Designing Group Agreements that Fit Your Group," etc.

• Recently published Help Your Group Thrive: Workbook and Planning Guide, Routledge Books, London. This easy-to-use manual guides leaders of groups of ALL kinds—discussion groups, peer support groups, organizations, and workplace teams. It provides leadership and facilitation tools, sample group agreements, and numerous modifiable forms for starting and maintaining groups that thrive.
• Authored numerous articles about living with chronic illness, and the challenges and joys of group therapy.
• Produced a downloadable back-up system for therapists, entitled "The Therapist's Professional Will: The Complete Guide™," described as the definitive guide for therapists committed to their clients' well being in the event of the therapist's absence.
• Published over twenty articles and taught about the important, yet taboo topic of therapists preparing for illness, death, relocation or retirement. Her work on the Professional Will has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, a textbook entitled Skilled Empathy: Creating Safety Through Therapeutic Attachment, (Gollnick, 2005), and incorporated into the curriculum for FilmTx, a continuing education provider. Her articles are featured on the CAMFT website and have been published in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
• Completing a self-help book, the companion text for her MP3 The Rollercoaster of Chronic illness: How to Add Joy to the Ride. Also see the list of related articles in the Articles and Publications..
• Provides a free downloadable Medical Information Form on which to track daily prescription medication intake. This easy-to-use, one-page form improves safety and independence, and gives individuals more control over their medical care.
• Currently working on The Therapist’s Professional Will™: Guidelines for Managing Planned and Unplanned Absence: editable e-book, to be released in 2024.
  

Workshops, teaching, and trainings:

Dr. Steiner is passionate about helping people confronted with challenges to rebuild and add joy to their lives. She gives inspirational and practical keynote addresses, leads workshops and provides consultation with clients, organizations, therapists, attorneys, and health care workers.

 

I was honored to be invited to present a Webinar for the National Register of Health Service Psychologists: "Doing Online Group Therapy" on April 24, 2020. This one hour, CE optional recorded webinar is available for licensed clinicians directly through The National Register.

 

Upcoming and Recent Workshops and Presentations for Mental Health Professionals

Invited Workshop Presenter: American Group Psychotherapy Association: "Your Professional Will: The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself" March, 2024 ( TBC)

Invited 6 Hour Law and Ethics Virtual Workshop Presenter: Redwood Psychological Association and other California Psychological Associations:

“The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself: Creating Your Therapist’s Professional Will” 2024 (DTBC) 

Invited Workshop Presenter: International Human Learning Resource Network, "Your Professional Will: The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself" CE workshop, October, 2023 (TBC)

Recent Presentations

Invited Workshop Presenter: American Group Psychotherapy Association: "Your Professional Will: The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself" March, 2023

Invited 6 Hour Law and Ethics Virtual Workshop Presenter: Feeling Good Whole Health: “The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself: Creating Your Therapist’s Professional Will” May, 2022 

Invited Workshop Presenter: American Group Psychotherapy Association: "Your Professional Will: The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself" March, 2022

Invited 6 Hour Law and Ethics Workshop Presenter: California Society for Clinical Social Work, "Your Professional Will: The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself" January 8 & 9, 2022

Invited Didactics Series Presenter: The Psychotherapy Institute's Group Psychotherapy Training Program:"Screening: The Key to Groups that Thrive", January, 2022

Invited Workshop Presenter: International Human Learning Resource Network, "Your Professional Will: The Ethical Care of Your Practice and Yourself" CE workshop, November, 2021

Invited Speaker: American Group Psychotherapy Association's Women's Special Interest Group Speaker Series: "Is it Ladylike for Women to Market Themselves: or is it Rather Audacious?"

Recorded and available on YouTube

Invited Workshop Presenter: International Human Learning Resource Network, Online CE workshop, The Therapist's Professional Will - Getting Started!" November, 2021

Invited Online E-Learning Workshop Presenter: American Group Psychotherapy Association: "The Nuts and Bolts of Creating and Maintaining Groups that Thrive" September 19, 2021

Invited Webinar Presenter: National Register of Health Service Psychologists: Doing Online Group Therapy, April, 2020 - recording available to members

Invited Online Workshop Presenter: Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society's Conference, "The Nuts and Bolts of Creating and Maintaining Groups that Thrive" August, 2020

Interview for the American Psychological Association, Division 49: "The Nuts and Bolts of Creating and Maintaining Online Groups that Thrive" August 29, 2020

Invited Workshop Presenter: International Human Learning Resource Network, Online CE workshop, October, 2020

Invited Support Group Trainer/Facilitator/Coordinator: National Cystic Fibrosis Research Fund, Redwood City, CA. 2020

Invited Workshop Presenter: International Human Learning Resource Network, Online CE workshop, Dubrovnik, Croatia, changed to online, October, 2021

Invited Workshop Presenter: The Psychotherapy Institute’s Group Therapy Training Program’s Annual Symposium: Leading Groups Online During COVID-19: A Practical Overview Utilizing Group Therapy Frameworks.May, 2020

Invited Workshop Presenter: American Group Psychotherapy Association: "The Nuts and Bolts of Creating and Maintaining Groups that Thrive" New York, March, 2020

Invited Workshop Presenter: American Group Psychotherapy Association: "Money in Therapy Groups" New York, March, 2020

Invited Continuing Education Presenter: International Human Learning Resource Network, The Nuts and Bolts of Groups that Thrive: San Diego, CA, October 27, 2019

Invited Speaker: The California Writer’s Club Mt. Diablo Branch: How to Successfully Promote your Book, Pleasant Hill, CA., September 14, 2019

Invited Workshop Presenter: Beginning Group Process: 3 Day Experiential Learning for the Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society's Training Institute, Asilomar, CA May 31- June 3, 2019

Invited Workshop Presenter: Law and Ethics: If Not Now, When? Sponsored by the Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, Santa Cruz, CA. March 23, 2019

Invited Workshop Presenter: American Group Psychotherapy Association: "The Nuts and Bolts of Creating and Maintaining Groups that Thrive," Los Angeles, CA, February 28, 2019

Invited Workshop Presenter: The Psychotherapy Institute Group Therapy Training Program didactic training: "Screening Matters!" Berkeley, CA February 9, 2019

 

Some keynote addresses, workshops/ training events for the public

• AARP, Walnut Creek
• Ageless Lifestyle Live Expo, Concord, CA,
• American Chronic Pain Association, Fairfield, CA
• Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation: Keynote speaker 2004 and 2009
• Arthritis Foundation of Northern California, annual presenter
• Center for Independent Living, Berkeley, CA
• Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Support Group Facilitators, San Mateo, CA
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Research, Inc. Keynote Address,
• Diabetes Society of Solano County, CA,
• First Hospital of Vallejo, Women's Series, Vallejo, CA.
• Northern California Diabetes Society
• Myasthenia Gravis Support Group, Walnut Creek, CA.
• National Organization for Victim Assistance National Conference, Burlingame, CA.
• Northern California Arthritis Foundation, annual presenter since 2001
• Northshore Senior Center, Seattle, WA.
• Parkinson's Network, Walnut Creek, CA.
• Rossmoor Stroke Club, Walnut Creek, CA.
• Seattle Senior Services, Seattle, WA.
• Sjogren's Syndrome Symposium, Swedish Hospital Medical Center, Keynote Address, Seattle, WA.

Some previous keynote addresses, workshops/training events for therapists:

• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Herrick Hospital Psychiatry Grand Rounds, CA.
• American Group Psychotherapy Association, annually since 2001: New York, San Diego, Chicago 2009, Washington D.C., Texas...
• Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation Keynote speaker
• Arthritis Foundation of Northern California, annual presenter
• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Santa Clara, CA.
• California Pacific Medical Center, Radiation Oncology Department, SF, CA.
• California Psychological Association, San Jose, CA
• California Society for Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• California Specialty Hospital, Vallejo, CA.
• Center for Independent Living, Berkeley, CA
• Contra Costa Psychological Association, CA.
• Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Support Group Facilitators, Burlingame, CA
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Research, Inc., annually since 2000
• FilmTx Continuing Education Law and Ethics Seminars
• Front Street Inc, Santa Cruz, CA.
• International Human Learning Resource Network, annually since 1999
• Kaiser Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Walnut Creek, CA.
• National Organization for Victim Assistance National Conference.
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society, frequent faculty/ presenter since1988
• Northern California Multiple Sclerosis Society Facilitators Conference
• Northern CA Society Clinical Social Workers Mid Peninsula Chapter
• Northshore Senior Center, Seattle, WA.
• San Antonio Group Psychotherapy Association.
• San Francisco State University, Department of Social Services.
• Santa Clara Chapter CAMFT Northern Region, 2002
• San Luis Obispo Chapter CAMFT, 2007
• The Psychotherapy Institute of Berkeley, CA, 2006, 2009
• University of California, Davis Coronary Heart Disease Reversal Program, Davis, CA.
• University of California, San Francisco Symposium Presenter.

For a more complete listing of past speaking engagements please send an email to Dr. Steiner.

National Speakers Association