Gabriela Buendia

Gabriela Buendia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 20 years of experience working with Multicultural Families in various roles such as Educator, Early Interventionist, Case Manager, and Therapist. For the past 10 years, Gabriela has worked with Early Childhood Educators providing Mental Health Consultation Services in order to support their work as primary caregivers of young children using a relationship-centered, strength-based, culturally sensitive approach. Gabriela is passionate about working with ECE programs to increase quality, provide emotional and mental health support to staff in their role as caregivers, increase well-being, and decrease burnout. Ms. Buendia consults to ECE programs throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara County and also facilitates workshops, trainings, and Communities of Practice for educators and parents of young children. Gabriela has a private practice in Palo Alto, CA where she sees young children, adolescents, adults, and couples using and psychodynamic, attachment-focused approach.

Prof. Buendia has been teaching at Pacific Oaks College for almost 7 years and is passionate about supporting students in their academic journey as they become clinicians. She has taught courses such as Clinical Theories of Child Development, Personality Theory and Assessment, Child and Adolescent Therapy, Practicum I, II, and Clinical Portfolio. Ms. Buendia also served as Training and Practicum Coordinator for the San Jose Campus and worked closely with agencies supporting students during their Practicum work.