Adjunct Professor of Psychology & Counseling
EDUCATION:
▪ M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy - Hope International University
▪ B.A., Child Development and Theology - Ambassador College
▪ Certificate of Play Therapy - University of California, San Diego
CREDENTIALS/CERTIFICATIONS:
▪ Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #115238
▪ Registered Play Therapist, RPT #T5035
▪ EMDR Certified Therapist
▪ EMDR Advanced Flash Technique Certificate
▪ EMDR Flash Technique trained
▪ UCLA PEERS® Certified Instructor
▪ Prepare and Enrich Trainer
▪ Brainspotting trained
COURSES TAUGHT:
▪ Assessments in Counseling
▪ Infant and Toddler Mental Health
▪ Risk and Resiliency
▪ Treatment of Children
KEY AWARDS/AFFILIATIONS:
▪ 2018 City of Irvine Certificate of Recognition for the UCI Engage Outstanding Field Study Award, for outstanding mentorship of field study students
▪ Delta Kappa
▪ California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
▪ Association for Play Therapy
▪ EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
ACADEMIC INTERESTS:
▪ Play therapy with children and adolescents
▪ Trauma treatment and recovery
▪ EMDR, EMDR Flash Technique, and Brainspotting
▪ Infant and early childhood mental health
▪ Assessment in counseling
▪ Autism, social skills, and parent support
▪ Marriage and family therapy
▪ Couples counseling
▪ Crisis response and suicide assessment
▪ Motivational interviewing, change theory, and solution-focused work
▪ Integration of Christian faith and counseling
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Professor Lawton is an adjunct professor at Hope International University and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. Her clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed care and includes EMDR, EMDR Flash Technique, Brainspotting, play therapy, solution-focused approaches, and relational work with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
She brings experience from private practice, school-based mental health, crisis response, parent and adolescent support, and social skills development into a warm, engaging online learning environment. She enjoys supporting students as they grow in confidence, compassion, and clinical understanding.
HOBBIES/INTERESTS:
Time with my grandchildren, history, painting/art, gardening, and travel
FAVORITE VERSE/QUOTE:
Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge God, and God will make straight your paths.”
RECOMMENDED LINKS:
▪ Association for Play Therapy - https://www.a4pt.org/
▪ EMDR International Association - https://www.emdria.org/
▪ CAMFT - https://www.camft.org/
