Lynn M. Jones Ph.D.

1947 - 2010

Lynn M. Jones, PhD succumbed to cancer on Dec. 30, 2010. Her life demonstrates that we too can succeed, however challenging our beginnings or daunting the curves life throws at us.

Jones was born March 22, 1947 in Los Angeles to Robert and Goldie Jones. Her birth was traumatic -- she was not expected to live. A birth-accident left Jones' right arm paralyzed behind her back. A childhood's-worth of operations at Children's Hospital LA moved her arm to the front but it remained paralyzed for life.

Jones' kindergarten friend said of her at the time: "Lynn had a new cast every year, but it was a non-issue. She didn't ever think she was handicapped." Her husband and father of her two sons left her when the boys were ages two and four. For the next 20 years Jones worked 2-3 jobs to support them.

Determined to advance herself, the John Marshall HS graduate "went to 10 different universities from age 18 to 42," she said, earning AA, BA, MA and PhD degrees (Psychology).

In 1983, with her new Master's degree (counseling) in-hand as well as her new Marriage Family Therapist (MFT) State license, Jones launched her new career in two parts: First she opened and for the next 27 years operated Camarillo Psychotherapy Center (CPC), a private counseling practice in Camarillo for children, teens and adults.

Reflecting the physical, psychological, emotional, and financial trauma she had survived throughout her life, Jones dedicated her professional life to helping others cope with and triumph over their own challenges and pain.

She called it "blood and guts" therapy -- counseling crime victims, disaster victims, victims of domestic violence, badly-shaken police officers/ambulance drivers/ firefighters, and children of divorce -- Jones saw them all. "The saddest cases," Jones once said, "are fathers of dead children. They sit out there in the waiting room in their three-piece suits with briefcase in-hand; they come into my office, loosen their coat and start sobbing. Following our session, they put their coat back on, pick up their briefcase and go back to work."

Second, and over and beyond the direct service she provided through her CPC private counseling practice, Jones founded the non-profit counseling agency, Morbrook Institute, (http://www.morbrook.org/) in 1983, as a place in Camarillo for "blending education and psychotherapy." She deliberately gave the agency an innocuous title for the safety of her clients, such as battered women: "They could say they were going to a class instead of to a battered women's support group," she said.

Morbrook Institute served two related clientele: One being new MFT interns coming into the field, for whom Jones saw a gap in training. Training for these interns previously was over-priced, impractical and inadequate, she said. Result? A "teaching hospital" atmosphere for training MFT interns. The other clientele group served by Morbrook Institute was children, teens and adults in need of affordable high quality counseling.

Everyone who asked for help got it; countless clients were served free of charge. But even more than that: "Good, affordable psychotherapy that helps deal with a current issue is not enough," Jones said. "People need to be offered the opportunity to develop skills to reinvent themselves. That way, clients leave Morbrook Institute better equipped to handle future adversities."

Illustrating that point, Los Angeles Times writer, David Kelly (LA Times, 03.05.01) recounts this story: "Susan, a Camarillo accountant, said her life radically changed after meeting Jones. A car wreck at age 34 crushed her legs, knees, ankles and left arm, leaving her permanently on crutches. Angry and bitter, she came to Jones for help. 'I believed everyone was staring and talking about me,' Susan said. 'I never went out, except to go to work. In therapy, Lynn would get in my face and confront me and ask why I thought I was a lesser person because of my crutches. She told me I was projecting my feelings onto others. It changed my whole way of thinking.'"

By 1999, Morbrook Institute was serving 5,000 low or no-fee clients annually from throughout Southern California, assisted by a staff of 28 staff, volunteers and therapist interns, and numerous and generous donations from the community. The scope of assistance to clients expanded to include interpersonal relationships, children with learning disabilities, and much more. In 2000, Morbrook began to offer special community services including school violence prevention, crisis intervention, parenting classes, communication skills classes, childhood cancer services, and assistance to those in the community traumatized by disasters, accidents, crimes, and other tragedies.

Until her retirement a few months ago, Jones served for 27 years as its pro bono Executive Director. Not only did she not take a penny out of Morbrook Institute - she frequently and generously dipped into her personal funds to supplement its income. Several of her numerous national, state and local awards include: Mental Health Professional of the Year by the Camarillo Health Care District; Woman of the Year by the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce; the Camarillo Star's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Voluntarism Award; and won the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community and Public Service from the American Institute for Public Service founded by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Jones is survived by her loving husband of 15 years, David Migocki, PhD; son, Adam Meyer (Karin) of New York; son, Travis Jones (Jennifer) of Colorado; granddaughters, Kelsey Parker of California and Savannah and Shayna Meyer of New York; sister, Vickie Rabourn (Jim) of California; uncle Jim Porter (Gail) of Texas; and several nieces, nephews, and other loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Jones in 1967; her mother, Goldie Stadler in 2008; her sister, Barbara (Pete) Darley in 2001; and step-father, Philip Stadler in 1986.

Jones will be remembered by all she touched for the legacy she leaves. She made the world a better place by helping others to grow and become better people. She did this by teaching communication skills, by fostering understanding of oneself and others, and by helping others learn how to cope, rise up to meet challenges, and move ahead in life with practical skills, positive intentions, and solid goals. Most of all: she walked her talk, leading by example and deed. We honor her memory by following her example.

A celebration of Jones' life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Center for Spiritual Living, 340 Mobil Ave., Camarillo, CA 93010. Make tax-deductible donations to: Morbrook Institute, 155 Granada St., Ste. A, Camarillo, CA 93010.