Meet Myung Jin (MJ) Purves

I bring over 45 years of lived experience as a competitive athlete (volleyball, swimming, triathlon, Olympic weightlifting, ultramarathon running, and CrossFit), elementary school teacher, CrossFit affiliate owner and head coach, high school swim coach, therapist, client, mother of three, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and Korean adoptee. These roles have shaped my perspective on resilience, identity, relational dynamics, embodiment, and healing across the lifespan.

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I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling from Dominican University of California in San Rafael, where I graduated with Psi Chi Honors. I later earned my Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy from The University of Akron in Ohio, where I was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society.

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My clinical training and professional work have included internships, volunteer service, and thousands of hours of direct care across diverse settings, including The Larkspur Center for Brain Injury Recovery, The Rape Crisis Center of Marin, Bellefaire JCB Residential Treatment Center, The University of Akron Counseling Clinic, and Searchlight Family Therapy private practice.

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I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Level 1 & 2 Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I remain committed to ongoing consultation, continuing education, and professional development.

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I am a member of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).