Meet the District Coordinators

Joan Berman – Midpeninsula/Silicon Valley

Joan Berman is the District Coordinator for the Midpeninsula/Silicon Valley District. She has been involved in local district planning since 2012.

Joan has worked in the field of child and parent and individual adult counseling for over 35 years. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Michigan. Since 1989, she has had a private practice in Palo Alto working with children, their parents and individual adults.

In addition to her private practice Joan has served as the Director of Children’s Services at Family Service Midpeninsula, Child Therapy Consultant at International School of the Peninsula/Early Childhood Program and as consultant and supervisor for social work student interns at Child Advocates (CASA) of Silicon Valley.

Contact Joan by Email

Michelle Foy – San Diego

Michelle L. Foy has been working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California for over 11 years. She is currently working as a Telehealth psychotherapist for Octave Behavioral Health and supervising Associate Social Worker’s through the Conrad Prebys Clinical Supervision Program at San Diego State University. She is a Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician and  Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist through Evergreen Certifications.

Michelle started her social work career in community work providing bilingual Spanish/English child abuse prevention services via the Triple P Positive Parenting Program and Comprehensive Assessment and Stabilization Services with foster families, both through the Fred Finch Youth Center. She served as a psychotherapist and Director of Behavioral Health in a community medical center setting at Operation Samahan.

Transitioning to private practice, Michelle practiced psychotherapy through the Office of Kristin Filizetti PhD, Fusion Care Center, and Foresight Mental Health where she treated children and adults in individual therapy. 

Michelle graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Master of Social Work from San Diego State University (SDSU). While attending SDSU, Michelle was active in student organizations where she was awarded the School of Social Work Leadership Award. 

Activism and community engagement have always been a priority for Michelle and she has served in leadership with the SDSU Social Work Alumni Chapter and is now also serving as the San Diego District Coordinator for the California Society for Clinical Social Work. Other volunteering favorites are the Jornada volunteer rehabilitation clinic at the Hospital Infantile de Las Californias in Tijuana, Mexico and the Latino Social Work Network Fundraiser for the Barrio Logan Preschool. 

Michelle is also a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant pediatric specialist has has worked with children at risk for developmental disorders as well as children with severe disabilities. She presented the Triple P Program at the WE CAN’T WAIT Conference and California Children Services Grand Rounds. Her hobbies are hiking, ocean sports, cooking, and adventures with friends and family.

Contact Michelle by Email

Flor Chaidez – Greater Los Angeles

Flor Chaidez, MSW, LCSW, PPSC, is a licensed clinical social worker, clinical supervisor, and educator with more than 25 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, families, and emerging clinicians across Los Angeles. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from Occidental College. Bilingual and bicultural, Flor brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens to all aspects of her practice.

Flor’s clinical work integrates evidence-based modalities—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, mindfulness-based interventions, narrative approaches, and family systems work—to help clients build resilience, improve emotional regulation, and navigate complex life transitions. She specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, blended-family dynamics, parenting support, and school-based mental health.

In addition to her therapeutic practice, Flor is a seasoned supervisor and consultant, offering training in telehealth law and ethics, crisis response, documentation, boundaries, and culturally attuned care. She is the creator of the Telemental Health Workbook and the founder of Chaidez Support Services, where she provides supervision, consultation, and wellness programs, including her signature Self-Care Sunday retreats.

Flor is known for her warm, practical, and empowering approach, helping clients foster meaningful change and strengthen their overall wellbeing.