Dean R. Bender
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
California License number 49427
Utah License Number 11880940-3902
Idaho License Number LMFT-7841
5230 2nd Street
Rocklin, CA 95677
Email bender.mft@gmail.com
Phone/secure voicemail (916) 300-4543
Clinical and Life Experiences:
My private marriage and family therapy practice began in January of 2012.
Previously, I worked for 11 years, part-time, as a marriage and family therapist in the capacity of a trainee, intern and licensee with LDS Family Services of Sacramento beginning in April 2001 through December 2011.
I also have five years of Pastoral Counseling experience while serving as Bishop of the Rocklin Third Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2003 through 2008.
My wife and I have taught a marriage enrichment course and a separate course on parenting for eight years. We have been married forty-seven years and have five grown children and eight grandchildren.
Education and Professional Associations:
Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology (2002) from National University
A Lifetime Member of AMCAP (Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists); I served on their Board of Directors, as Treasurer (Twice), have presented professionally on Personality Testing and Marriage Counseling at their conventions and have published two essays in their bulletin.
Member of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) and have published in their bi-monthly magazine. I am currently President-elect of the Sierra Foothills chapter of CAMFT.
As A Therapist:
I work with individuals, couples, teens, parents, and teens but not children under 13. My work includes marriage counseling, parent-teen relationships, life adjustments, mood disorders including depression, anxiety, anger, and grief. Reading and being willing to make small but key changes are an essential part of therapy. My treatment of choice is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for individuals and Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy for couples. Spiritual interventions are also used when a client prefers those.
Other Professional Experience:
I earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (1986) from Golden Gate University and I held a California license (30791) as a Certified Public Accountant for 38 years. The last 20 years of this experience was in the area of estate and trust; including strategizing, consulting, sub-trust funding and tax return preparation. I retired from public accounting June 30, 2015. In June 2018 I retired my CPA license.