La Cena
Jones
La Cena Jones
- Campus: Los Angeles, CA
- Department: Marriage & Family Therapy
- Institution: The Chicago School
- Address: 707 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90017
- Office Phone: 213-283-4291
Biography
My name is Dr. La Cena L Jones. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist currently practicing in California, Nevada, and Texas. I am the founder of Jacob Joseph and Jabez Family Counseling and Professional Services Group Incorporated. I am an assistant professor for The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Marriage and Family Therapy Department. I am currently a Subject Matter Expert for the Board of Behavioral Sciences. I hold a Doctoral Degree in Social Work, a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Child Counseling, a Master's Degree in Public Administration, and a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology, Sociology, and English. I am a researcher and I bring innovation, expertise, and, a multitude of experiences from the perspective of someone who began in this field as an entry-level front-line staff member who transitioned up the ladder of growth into an executive leader. My administrative knowledge and training coupled with my clinical training and expertise- including being culturally competent and trauma-informed- make me a force of interrelated skill sets that infuse both the theoretical and application frameworks often guiding the continuum of care and organizational efficacy and growth. I am also currently part of a research team looking to utilize technology to advance parity and access to mental health support to GenZ. I am also the Head of Adolescent Counseling for Jeeva Health which is a multi-modal digital platform that applies science and artifical intelligence to approach GenZ specify mental and emotional health challenges.
Education History
Degree Institution Year B.A., Criminology Upper Iowa University , Fayette, Iowa 2005 B.A., Sociology Upper Iowa University , Fayette, Iowa 2005 B.A., English Upper Iowa University , Fayette, Iowa 2005 M.S., Marriage Family Child Counseling University of Phoenix , Gardena, California 2012 MPA, Public Administration University of Phoenix , Phoenix, Arizona 2017 DSW, Doctoral Social Work California Baptist University , Riverside, California 2022 Professional Memberships
Role Organization Member AAMFT Areas of Expertise
Area Expertise Identity Development Parenting Styles Child & Adolescent Development Social Development Clinical Psychology / Mental Health Anxiety Disorders DSM/Diagnosis Mood Affective Disorders / Suicide Marriage & Family Family Therapy Parenting PTSD/Trauma Crisis Intervention Historical Trauma Vicarious Trauma Licenses
LMFT , California LMFT , Texas LMFT , Nevada Publications
Journal Jones, L (2022). Contributing Factors to Racial Disparities in Home Removal Processes among Child Welfare Agencies. California Baptist University ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  2022. 29327995.. , ,
Jones, L; Parish, T. (Fall). Ritalin vs. choice theory and reality therapy.. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 25 (1), p34-35. 2p..
Question and Answer
Please describe your teaching philosophy. Teaching is a form of servanthood; one must transition into the process of teaching with passion, openness, and a desire to model servitude. The learning environment is intimate and wrought with vulnerability which instructors must honor when they enter the teaching space; the exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge is two-fold and the impact on the learner is lifelong. Human beings are lifelong learners and teachers need to be equipped with skill sets that include their gifts and talents through which great opportunities for learning and growth are created for the learner. The teacher must be open to being flexible and innovative in engaging the withdrawn, not ignoring the avoidant, and hearing the silence within the course of the teaching process. We are constantly learning, processing, and questioning. Information flows in and out of our awareness and this information must be considered in the exchange of learning and teaching and the overall implementation of effective and innovative pedagogy that is constantly considering how to infuse learning while assessing that learning is taking place which also considers retention as the building block for forward growth in areas of academic achievement. Experiential learning is a wonderful tool for connecting the learner with the significance of the content taught and needs to be considered in addition to textbook content. Learning style, communication style, and an understanding of the learner's love language are significant to creating an engaging and comprehensively inclusive learning environment and must be considered with looking for specific pedagogy to integrate into one's teaching.
Please provide a statement or philosophy regarding the practice of psychology. People have everything inside of themselves, that they need to succeed; but, sometimes the path within is cluttered with thoughts, worries, and the impact of experiences that can impair the process of creating opportunities for learning and growth for the individual on their path.
Why did you choose to enter the field of psychology? I entered this field because the greatest gift one can give oneself is to understand and connect with others in a meaningful and transformative way.
What advice would you give to a student entering The Chicago School? The advice I have for a student entering The Chicago School is this: be kind to yourself.
