Michelle Mason, AMFT & Cairo, Certified Service Dog

Michelle Mason, AMFT #125714 is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist under the supervision of Lisa Bertelle, LMFT, license #40984 who is joined by Cairo, her Belgian Malinois Service Dog.

In December 2020, Michelle earned her master’s degree in Marital Family Therapy from Alliant International University School of Professional Psychology in San Diego.

Michelle has worked with the first response system since 2018 as a trauma interventionist with TIP Trauma Intervention Program of San Diego, where she has served survivors of traumatic incidents and first responders on scene to stabilize, support, guide, and help during tragedy, and receive the ongoing support they need in the days following the critical incident. Michelle is familiar with working with the different stages of emergency calls within the Emergency Response System.

Michelle’s clinical residence experience includes focused work with Grief and Loss, working with The San Diego Elizabeth Hospice Grief and Bereavement Department, where she worked with many clients, adults, and children who were survivors of loss, natural death, suicide, traumatic losses, accidents, homicide, and overdoses, all of whom were referred by the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office.

Michelle’s primary focus is assisting clients get to a better place during difficult times. Michelle guides clients toward understanding, navigating, and working with their unique challenges by getting to the root of them in a secure, safe environment with authenticity and compassion.

Michelle utilizes treatment modalities Psychosomatic and Psychodynamic processing, mindfulness, and EMDR, with a foundation focus on Attachment-Based Therapy for creating a safe, secure therapeutic alliance for healing and feeling better.

Cairo graduated from basic and advanced obedience training at Man K9 Dogs in San Diego, which prepared Cairo for his future training with his handler and work as a Service Dog. A Service Dog differs from Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs. Emotional support dogs are companions to their owners. They do not require special training, although basic obedience certification is suggested. Therapy Dogs are working dogs and have received training and certification for providing services to clients, people in hospitals, or others who can benefit from supportive animal-assisted intervention. Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs have public access restrictions and are not endorsed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Service Dogs are working dogs, performing service tasks for their handlers. They are permitted to accompany their handler and are endorsed by the ADA.

To leave a message for Michelle Mason directly, dial 619-249-4413 or email michellemason.focus@gmail.com