Dr. Morena is a transpersonal psychotherapist, certified in Jungian Sandplay Therapy and licensed as a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. She has been in private practice for over 35 years in the San Diego area, and works primarily with individuals and couples who are healing emotional trauma, resolving internal pain and confusion, and expanding awareness into their personal lives and relationships.

Dr. Morena’s interest in the mind-body-spirit connection developed through a dedication to western psychology, yoga and meditation. When she realized in the early 1980’s that psychological pursuits alone would not lead to inner peace and fulfillment, she left a successful private practice and teaching career to actively follow a spiritual path. After studying with a variety of Indian mystics, Buddhist and Advaita teachers from India, Europe, and America, she returned full circle to San Diego and resumed her professional career. Her experiences with spirituality and psychology have blended to create a firm foundation for guiding others into the complexities of their inner worlds. Her use of sandplay therapy, EMDR and symbolic language open doorways into the  unconscious that allow her to masterfully uncover and address inner conflicts and confusions.

Dr. Morena is a certified sandplay therapist and teaching member of the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) and Sandplay Therapists of America (STA.) She is the program coordinator for the professional certificate program in Sandplay Studies at the University of California at San Diego UCSD, and serves on the national board of STA where she is chair of the research committee. She is also an assistant editor for The Journal of Sandplay Therapy. In addition to her psychological pursuits, Dr. Morena has been a student of Iyengar Yoga and Vipassana Meditation for over 30 years.

Dr. Morena is the great grand-daughter of L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the great great grand-daughter of Matilda Jocelyn Gage, an early suffragist and freedom fighter. She is the author of The Wisdom of Oz: Reflections of a Jungian Sandplay Psychotherapist, which explores and investigates the insights contained in the Oz fairy tale. For more information about her family legacy and the The Wisdom of Oz click HERE.

Dr. Morena is available for individual psychotherapy, as well as couples counseling, private consultation and supervision for professionals working with sandplay. She also offers classes, seminars and retreats throughout the year. She is a gifted teacher, and can be contacted for specialized seminars and presentations with small groups and professional organizations. Dr. Morena works at her soul sanctuary in Lakeside, and provides long distance consultation by phone or internet.

Click  HERE  to see Dr. Morena’s resume and publications