Member Highlight — Sipan Nazaryan, Student/Prelicensed

Shari Manculich, LMFT

“We’re all holding the door open for you,” says Shari Manculich. Shari would know. After a career working for a Fortune 500 company, she decided to follow her heart and transition into clinical work as a second career. “Becoming an LMFT was the best decision I ever made,” says Shari, “You need to follow your passion and diversify your experiences . . . a huge part of that was becoming involved with CAMFT . . . I felt so welcomed and met so many colleagues who have now become friends.” Shari spent several years as the Prelicensed Representative on the SFV-CAMFT Board before becoming VP of Membership. After spending five years on the Board Shari knows firsthand what a difference having a community can make. “Let’s be honest, this work, especially with telehealth, can be isolating. When you volunteer, go to meetings, and get involved, you’ll make connections that will offer the kind of support and expertise every professional in our field needs.”

While Shari’s primary focus is working with a school district to help students who need IEPs and other types of intervention, Shari also has a private practice where she works with a variety of populations including veterans, victims of crime, and the unhoused population. “It’s a privilege to be able to be of service,” says Shari. “I’ve found that collaboration is key . . . nobody in our field should ever be afraid to ask for help.” A big part of her ethos is giving back to the profession: “My supervisors took a risk on me, so I supervise Associates and encourage them to work with as many populations as possible; the broader their clinical experience, the better prepared they will be for licensure. I tell them that it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and that they’re part of a community. There’s no need to do this work alone.”

“When I see the progress that my clients’ make, especially working with the whole family system, or I see my associates thriving, or I collaborate with colleagues creating this beautiful professional community, that is when I’m reminded of what a great career move this was.” Shari lives in Porter Ranch with her husband and kids. In her spare time, Shari enjoys training and competing in half marathons, Zumba dance fitness, and Yoga. Shari tries to offer as much time to others as others have offered to her on her journey. “We’re all holding the door open for you,” she says.

Sipan Nazaryan, is a therapist trainee at Child & Teen Counseling in Woodland Hills, working under the supervision of Kent Toussaint. Sipan is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. He may be contacted at 818.452.3216 or Sipan@ChildTeenCounseling.org.