Lloyd Center Faculty and Staff

The faculty includes faculty of San Francisco Theological Seminary in the areas of spiritual direction, pastoral psychology and pastoral counseling. The faculty also includes seasoned pastoral counselors on the staff of The Lloyd Center, often at the rank of Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. The Lloyd Center provides a variety of services designed to enhance your personal and professional growth, effectiveness and wholeness.

Barbara Alexander, M.A. Program involvement – SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, COUNSELING, RETREATS After twenty five years as a psychotherapist, she returned to school to study theology and spirituality, earning a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction and a Master of Divinity degree from SFTS. Her studies focused on the integration of spirituality, theology and psychology with special emphasis on the work of Ken Wilber. Barbara’s work is informed by Wilber's Integral Model and the Christian and Buddhist contemplative traditions. She believes that the spiritual journey is humanity's highest calling and that a faith tradition provides an authentic path of transformation. She lives in Fairfax with her Presbyterian pastor husband, their 14 year old son and their seven year old miniature Schnauzer.

Diana Nishita Cheifetz, M.Div. Program involvement – SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, RETREATS Diana is an ordained minister, and a spiritual director who works with those interested in a deeper and more powerful walk with God as they live out their faith. Married to a pastor for over 30 years, she is well acquainted with church life and the richness and challenge of living as people of faith. Besides doing individual and group direction, Diana provides supervision and trains spiritual directors in the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction program at San Francisco Theological Seminary, and is a Master Level Reiki practitioner with a concern for the wisdom and care of our bodies.

Gayle Madison, M.Div. Program involvement – COUNSELING, INSRUCTION, COACHING Gayle is an ordained minister, who after graduating from Pacific School of Religion in 1980, has served as a chaplain, pastoral counselor and local church pastor throughout the North Bay.  In more recent years, she has worked for several years as a denominational executive, assisting ministers and congregations with personal and systematic issues.  She holds the rank of Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and received training as a spiritual director at the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C.  She is candidate in the Doctor of Ministry program at SFTS.  In recent years, she has become a resident expert in Internal Family Systems Therapy.  In addition to her work as a pastoral counselor and coach, Gayle teaches and supervises in the Center’s D. Min. program.  In her free time, she enjoys open water swimming, hiking, travel and art with her husband, Ed.

Tim Mooney, M.Div. Program involvement – SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, RETREATS Since completing the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction at San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2000, Tim, an ordained minister, has been a spiritual director, retreat leader and speaker, and serves as a trainer, mentor, and supervisor for the DASD.  Tim finds great meaning in accompanying persons in discerning signs of Spirit in the midst of longings, transitions, relationships, and the mundane aspects of daily living.    As a full-time artist, he continues to find connections between creativity and spiritual formation, and his artwork is often an integral part of creative worship experiences.  Tim and his wife Deborah love music, travel and sharing good food with friends and family.

Susan Pohl, D.Min. Program involvement – COUNSELING (Berkeley) Susan is a certified pastoral counselor with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and has earned her Doctor of Ministry in pastoral care and counseling through SFTS. She comes to this work from a background in human resources and organizational consultation. Susan’s primary work site is the center’s Berkeley office, located in the Durant House, on the campus of First Congregational Church, Berkeley. Susan and her husband, Gary enjoy traveling to Italy and watching their two dogs nap.

Jan Reynolds, B.A. Program involvement – SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, RETREATS Jan has practiced spiritual direction at The Lloyd Center for five years and has led many spiritual retreats, classes and groups in the Marin community. Jan accompanies clergy and laypersons as they deepen their experience of The Divine and access their authentic voice in every area of their lives-- in their work, relationships and personal development. Jan particularly enjoys working with people in life transition, offering approaches for navigating change and fresh perspectives in decision making. Her background includes a 30-year career as an executive and consultant in publishing, education and non-profit settings. Jan earned her Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction at SFTS in 2003 and is currently an M.Div. student at SFTS. She is married and is the mother of two pre-teen children.

Carol Saysette, D.Min Program involvement – COUNSELING, SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, INSTRUCTION Carol is an ordained United Church of Christ minister who served as a Co-Minister of a congregation for twelve years following her graduation from SFTS. She trained from 1981-1983 to be a Spiritual Director through the Shalem Institute. Carol is a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and teaches in the center’s D.Min program. She now chooses to be a Pastoral Counselor and Spiritual Director part time because she "loves the work." This gives her time to be with her husband, her adult children, her five grandchildren, do volunteer work in the community, knit, garden, and play with her dog.

R. Scott Sullender, Ph.D. Program involvement – COUNSELING, ASSESSMENT, COACHING Scott is an ordained minister, a licensed Psychologist (#8931) and a Diplomate with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.  He has over 35 years of professional experience as a pastor, pastoral counselor, organizational executive, psychologist and author/writer.  He has made a specialty of providing psychological and career assessments for Protestant ministers and seminarians. In addition to his work with counseling and assessments, Scott is the primary instructor in the center’s Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling program.  Consequently, he holds the rank of Associate Professor of Pastoral Counseling at SFTS.  Scott also serves as the chief administrator of The Lloyd Center. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, hiking and bicycling in beautiful Marin where he lives with his wife of 38 years.

Royce Truex, M.D. Program involvement – SPIRITUAL DIRECTION Royce graduated from the DASD program at SFTS in 2005, a few years after retiring from a nearly 40 year career as a pediatrician, about 30 years of which was in private practice here in Marin County. He also worked for a year each in Tanzania and Kenya and spent shorter periods of time in other parts of the world. As was the case as a pediatrician, he considers it an enormous privilege as a spiritual director, to be with people when they are dealing with important matters in their lives. He is married, has three adult children and six grandchildren.

Clinical Consultants

David Glick, M.A.
David is a licensed Marriage, Family Therapist and has been in therapeutic practice for 30 years in Marin County and the San Francisco East Bay. He is currently serving as a clinical consultant to the staff of The Lloyd Center.

Patricia Scott, M.D.
Patricia is a psychiatrist in private practice in Corte Madera and Petaluma. Dr. Scott consults with the staff of The Lloyd Center.