Our Therapists
Alison Salter
MA, LPCC, BC-DMT, NCC
CARTSS President
Alison is a licensed professional clinical counselor, board-certified dance/movement therapist, and national certified counselor. She has spent the past 34 years building CARTSS into the dynamic company it is today.
Her experiences span a wide range of populations from adults to geriatrics, adolescents, and children. She has worked with psychotic and mood disorders, dementia, substance abuse, sexual trauma, dissociative disorder, PTSD, eating disorder, autism spectrum, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
She has developed programs for adult and geriatric acute, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient behavioral health programs, day treatment programs for children’s residential treatment centers, and community-based day treatment programs for intellectual disabilities.
She has served on the American Dance Therapy Association and the California Chapter of the ADTA National and State Boards as Government Affairs Chair, along with the California Association of Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, Legislative Committee. She was honored to attend the Arts in Healthcare briefing at the White House, as part of expanding the creative arts therapies into the VA system.
She has organized and led ADTA’s Hill Day at the Capitol in Washington DC to increase awareness of the use of creative art therapies within the VA system and private healthcare systems.
She values excellence in service, authentic value, trusted connections, and creative vision.
Linda Gibbs
Expressive Art Therapy Assistant
CARTSS Employee Relations
Linda holds a certificate in Expressive Arts and Art Therapy (Assistant) from the University of San Diego, Extension Program.
She has provided art-based groups for 27 years, working with adults and geriatric patients within acute clinical settings and children within public schools. Her specialty is using innovative art forms, incorporating computer art/technology, photography, graphic arts, painting, poetry, drama, and creative writing.
She has created various special events and shows for patients and hospitals: Senior Olympics, Holiday Celebration Events for patients, 50th Anniversary Hospital Celebration, Employee Appreciation Days, Self-Care Day for Hospital Employees, PHP original plays, talent shows, TEDTalks, a patients’ book of poems, and annual holiday patient created gifts.
Lora Wilson
MA, BC-DMT
Dance/Movement Therapist
Lora is a board-certified dance/movement therapist. She has been working in the field for the past 19 years.
She is a lecturer at California State University, Long Beach on Nonverbal Communication and Dance as Healing. She is the continuing education manager for the American Dance Therapy Association and a presenter for several professional organizations on “Gene Expression and Neuroplasticity: Implications for Dance/Movement Therapy and Alzheimer’s Disease.”
She has served as a board member for the American Dance Therapy Association and California Chapter of the ADTA. She is a program adviser for the Arts and Healing Initiative in partnership with UCLA Collaborative Center of Integrative Medicine.
She produced ADTA Talks –Understanding Dance/Movement Therapy which includes 42 short videos highlighting the effectiveness of Dance/Movement Therapy across a range of populations.
Karen Monteilh
BS, CTRS
Recreational Therapist
Karen is an Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She has been working for 34 years in the behavioral health field.
She her speciality is working with adults, ranging intellectual and developmental disabilities to psychiatric disorders. She is self motivated, creative, versatile, and provides a calming presence. She is focused on creating dynamic groups which brings real life stressors into positive, fun and effective learning experiences and environments. Karen has a passion for dogs. She actively participates in Flyball competitions.
Minju Park
MA, APCC, ATR-P
Art Therapist
Minju graduated from Lesley University with her masters of arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy. She is currently an professional clinical counselor registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Along with her expertise in art, Minju has worked within various educational setting with children 4-13 years old, supporting the arts and teaching Korean to Korean-American students.
Ben Mabry
MA, AMFT
Art Therapist
Ben graduated from Loyola Marymount University with his masters in Marital and Family Therapy with Specialized Training in Art Therapy. He is currently an associate marriage and family therapist registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Along with his expertise in art, Ben is a life long drummer and skateboarder.
Our Interns
Abby Michel
Drama Therapy Intern
Niloofar Ojani
Art Therapy Intern