Lynette Lively Cookson
My identity as a young Black/filipinx individual along with my reflective stance can be supportive in thinking critically about how our actions as CalAIMH support the mission and the goal for an equitable transdisciplinary space. I am tenacious and resourceful, and have many creative ideas for partnerships throughout California and nationally. I find community outreach and connection is a particular skill of mine, along with reflective thinking that allows me to appreciate the very different perspectives and ideas that fellow committee members bring. Although I am not highly detail-oriented (my notes remain a mess to this day), I am someone that “makes things happen“ by holding myself and others to action-oriented planning. An example of this is clear in the first 6 months of my work as a Clinic Director within private practice, where I developed the practice’s APPIC Postdoctoral fellowship training, BBS master’s level clinical training, and Department of Defense SkillBridge Internship training programs for both Licensed Military Psychologists (Officer) and Behavioral Administrative Assistant (Enlisted) positions. I utilize SMARTER goal setting to achieve plans within a time-frame that maximizes efficiency without losing quality.
BIO
Dr. Lively Cookson is a pre licensed psychologist who is growing into their professional identity as an Infant mental health specialist. She/They have varied experience in their early career and training in private practice, therapeutic preschools, rural community mental health clinics, school-based services, child and adolescent short term residential placements, and supporting mothers in substance abuse residential treatment. Dr. Lively Cookson is a Napa Fellow in the 2024-2025 cohort, a co-chair of the Communities of Practice Committee with CalAIMH, and a current faculty member at San Diego State University’s Child and Family Development Department.
Dr. Lively Cookson leads with her/their identity as a Black/Filipinx, gender queer, military dependent, and first generation graduate from a family of mixed citizenship status. They have unique experiences in supporting birth equity initiatives in South Carolina through the SCBirth Opportunities Initiative and SC Infant Mental Health Association, as well as in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys through First 5 LA’s African American Infant and Maternal Mortality initiative. Dr. Lively Cookson has dedication and passion to support Black diaspora and brown families in improving outcomes and decreasing the equity gap in care. They bring fresh and challenging perspectives in reflective spaces for the benefit of both providers and the clients we serve.
