PSP Gathering 2025

Jim Jones

I cannot attend the get-together which is coming up very soon. However, I want to heart-felty thank Dr. Bergquist, the faculty (especially Nancy), and students in my April 1994 PSP graduating class for the opportunity that resulted in becoming a licensed mental health professional.
What I have been doing since:
Upon starting the program I was a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist and certified teacher for children K-12 and adults. Upon my graduation I immediately became a psychologist at Napa State Hospital, a large residential psychiatric treatment hospital for LPS and Forensic clients. Upon retirement from the state I had been the Chief of Psychology for years. My work there included earning a Superior Accomplishment Award and two Sustained Superior Accomplishment Awards from the California Department of Mental Health. Concomitantly, I also worked for the California Department of Rehabilitation.
I then began working for the City of Napa Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, earning the Police Chief’s Coin for distinguished public service and an individual Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature Assembly (for my work with CHP).
Since relocating to Los Angeles I have been working on the Los Angeles Mayor’s (Mayor Garcetti and Mayor Bass) Crisis Response Team, working directly with the LAPD and Medical Examiner’s Office. 98% of our callouts involve a death, frequently a homicide or suicide. I am also a mental health service provider for the Red Cross as a first responder to disasters and with their Services to the Armed Forces program, earning the Regimental Coin from the Army’s Rough Riders in L.A.
Lastly, unrelated to my learning at PSP although that experience helped to give me the confidence to pursue, I have earned a variety of awards for work on stage and screen.
In the past 3.5 years I have produced/wrote/acted or  just performed for others in Short Films that have done well on the awards circuit. The awards include Best Actor (Silver) at the Paris Film Awards and Gold at the Florence International Film Festival. My Short films have played at Cannes, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Toronto, others here and abroad. I am working on my first full-length film. One played at the Burbank Film Festival last Fall at the busiest cinema complex in the U.S.A. – near my home in Burbank. The red carpet is always cool.
Please forgive the length of this message. But, none of this would have happened without the confidence, pride, learning, and determination gained from the school.
Much Obliged,
Jim
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Career Summary – Dr. Jay Skelton, PhD, PSY 14831

I graduated in 1994 from the Professional School of Psychology. During that time, I continued working under my MFT license in Marin County, California, while preparing for my state licensing exams in clinical psychology. I was among those who faced the challenges of the licensing exam during the years before the Board of Psychology was sued for the lack of inter-rater reliability, when the pass rate had fallen below 12%. I took the exam three times, passing in 1996 after an intensive study of the DSM. My mastery of the material led to my being hired by the largest test preparation company of the time to teach other candidates how to pass the exam.

I have been a licensed clinical psychologist since 1996. My work has focused on high-conflict custody and divorce, with the majority of my practice involving families, couples, and children caught in these situations. I frequently provide services for the Marin County Family Court, addressing co-parenting dynamics, supporting children caught between warring parents, and helping families navigate custody disputes. In addition, I have done some forensic evaluation and expert witness testimony, though the majority of my work remains clinical.

The Professional School of Psychology was an excellent fit for me. As someone with a family and an active practice, the structure allowed me to continue working while completing my studies. The classes were rigorous, the professors were strong teachers, and I formed friendships that remain meaningful. I am deeply grateful for my time at PSP, which provided the foundation for a career I continue to love.

More than three decades later, I remain in full-time practice, and I expect to continue working for as long as I am able. I will always be thankful to my teachers and colleagues at PSP, whose guidance and support shaped both my career and my life.

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  • Posted by William Bergquist
  • On September 27, 2025
  • 0 Comment

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