About Us

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Licensed Clinical Psychologist 

Dr. Kaufer completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno,  Masters in  Marriage and Family Therapy, Masters in Clinical Psychology, and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, California campus. Dr. Kaufer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of Nevada and owner of NF Psychotherapy, LLC. She practices individual, family, and conjoint (i.e., couples, marriage) mental health treatment.


Dr. Kaufer has experience working with children, adolescents, families, adults, and couples. She has worked with individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit, autism spectrum, grief and loss, suicidal ideation, mood disorders, and personality issues.  She completed graduate student research for the Child and Adolescent Suicide Review Team in Los Angeles, California and was the student founder and executive assistant for the Pediatric Health Research Group with The Chicago School, Los Angeles.


She completed her practicum and pre-doctoral clinical hours in Head Start, parochial, and charter school settings, a home-based behavioral modification program, and a community resource program serving victims and families of trauma. Her dissertation focused on identifying additional risk and protective factors for youth experiencing depression and endorsing suicidal ideation. Post-doctoral hours were completed in a Nevada program conducting assessments with youth in crisis under the supervision of a Nevada licensed psychologist and providing psychotherapy to adults, couples, and families under the supervision of Dr. William Danton at Clinic AD (Anxiety and Depression) .


https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/news/clinical-psychology-doctoral-student-casha-kaufer-m-a-combines-empathy-and-science-to-help-victims-of-trauma-and-prevent-teen-suicide/

Psychometrist

Education:

Heritage University; Omak, Wash.(1997)

M.Ed. Counseling Psychology; featured alumni success story 2004.

Central Washington University; Ellensburg, Wash. (1985)  

M.S. Psychological Research and Counseling (thesis due); advanced testing and statistical analysis; publication of psychological research.

University of Alaska, Fairbanks; (1983)

B.A. English / Literature; Cultural Anthropology and Music minors;

Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.

Certifications: 

Wa. St. Minority Mental Health Specialist;  

Ethnic Multicultural Advisory Committee (EMAC) consultant member 2002-2009;  

Wash. State Dept of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA) Multi-Cultural Trainer.

         As a student during the early 1980’s, Mr. Nutt obtained extensive research experience while attending Central Washington University graduate school of psychology; followed by several years of research experience working for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute of Drug Addiction (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). From the mid 1980’s into the 90’s, his career was predominately focused on behavioral psychology, learning theories and mental illness/substance abuse treatment research. The target populations included what were described as the “hard to serve”; e.g., substance abusive, seriously mentally ill, homeless, multi-cultural, forensic patients. 

During the past 3 decades, Garrison has researched, designed, and implemented psychometric testing/mental health treatment programs targeting a diversity of populations and mental health issues in the states of Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Nevada; including one of the most successful and innovative M.H. deferred prosecution systems in the history of the states of Washington, Oregon and Alaska. As a result of his efforts, Garrison was granted the “Governor’s Recognition Award 2006” for his participation in the development of the Washington State Mental Health Transformation Act. 

        Garrison retired from community mental health work in 2021, after 12 years of service for the state of Nevada. His position with the state included his duties as a psychometrist (psychological testing expert) and outpatient mental health counselor. He spent most of that time focused on providing individual/group counseling services and psychological testing & assessments for the people of rural/urban Nevada. In 2013, he also authored a chapter in a psychiatric text on the design and development of transitional programs from jails and/or prisons back into public communities. The target population included mentally ill forensic patients with substance abuse disorders. This text has been a part of the curriculum at the University of Nevada, Reno medical school, since that time.

           Mr. Nutt’s background and experience in psychological testing and assessments spans more than 30 years. He has designed and implemented the testing/assessment component of psychological research programs and community mental health facilities in 4 states - involving a wide spectrum of referrals including evaluations for social security disability, schools, courts, hospitals, probation & parole, jails/prisons, substance abuse, marital/relationship issues, competency, involuntary hospitalization, custody cases, and minor to major mental health issues. Many of the programs and referrals have involved direct extensive experience with the courts and legal system. His expertise with psychological testing and as an expert witness also dates back into the 1980s. His experience and specialized training make him an exceptional new addition to our team here at NF Psychotherapy. We feel fortunate to be able to add his services to our Nevada communities in need.