MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Connie Yee, MFT
Connie Yee, our featured therapist of the month, was born and raised in Salinas, California. She has been a member of MC-CAMFT since 1989 and served as its president in the year 1990-91.
Connie graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Following graduation she worked as a legal secretary and then decided to pursue a career in education. She taught third grade for two years at Alisal Elementary School and then taught English for five years in the middle school. While teaching English Connie returned to school part-time to attain a Master’s Degree in counseling psychology and a Pupil Personnel credential from Santa Clara University. She then became a school counselor and served at both the middle school and high school grade levels. She also worked part-time for 2 ½ years as a crisis counselor at Hartnell College. Connie then decided she wanted to pursue a part-time career as a marriage, family, child therapist and completed an internship in the field of grief counseling. Every Saturday for one year she worked at El Camino Hospital in Cupertino working with families who had a loved one with a terminal illness.
After obtaining her MFT license, Connie began a private practice in Salinas and Monterey part-time. After juggling with what became two full-time positions for several years, she resigned six years ago from the school district. With 20+ years of experience as a therapist, Connie continues to work at her “dream job”. She also is a self-esteem consultant. She worked for two years as a consultant with Jack Canfield (author of the Chicken Soup books) and considers Jack one of her best mentors in the field contributing to her success in her private practice where her specialty is the well-being of her clients. Connie also presents three workshops a year for the Monterey County Air Pollution Control Agency teaching teachers a student curriculum on the interrelationship between air pollution, transportation, traffic congestion and the use of the automobile.
In the summer of 2006 Connie became a caregiver for her husband, Ward, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away in August of that year. Prior to his passing, Ward and Connie enjoyed traveling to the Orient, Mexico, Hawaii and across the United States. Ward was a local florist owner and both he and Connie were avid football and baseball fans. They were blessed with three children, Allison, Jolene and Ward. Connie also has one 21 month old granddaughter whom she babysits one day a week. She derives great joy from her granddaughter whom she says keeps her young and active!
Connie enjoys being with family and friends, and enjoys spectator sports, playing cards, concerts, music and the movies.