Gerry McLean, ACSW

Gerry is an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), working under the supervision of Christine Peng, LCSW, license #102479.

Gerry received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Business Administration at the University of California, Irvine. She earned her Master’s in Social Work at California State University, San Bernardino.

Gerry’s clinical experience includes having provided individual, couples, family, and group counseling to post 9/11 active duty service members as well as military veterans at the Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Veteran’s Village San Diego. This experience included helping clients work through issues involving deployment, family separation/reintegration, combat, PTSD, trauma, grief and loss, as well as substance use interventions. During her time with the Cohen Clinic, Gerry also facilitated group therapy sessions with children and adolescents that included working on adjustment issues, anxiety management, behavior regulation, and life skills development.

During her graduate program, Gerry also worked with active duty service members, their spouses, and veterans to facilitate their effective transition from military service back to civilian life.

Gerry’s goal is to utilize a strengths-based and individual-centered approach to raise a client’s self-awareness and create a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment. She strives to meet a client where they’re at to create a safe space for them to feel comfortable after which she then can work with evidence based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, the Gottman Method, and Mindfulness-based techniques. Utilizing these interventions helps Gerry assist and support the client with developing tools and skills to navigate, manage, and overcome issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship issues, and substance use.

To leave a message for Gerry McLean directly, email her at gerrymclean.focus@gmail.com or by phone at 619-678-1009.