My Background
I received my Bachelor's Degree in Human Biology with a concentration in Social Psychology from Stanford University in 1984. I received my Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in 1988, and became licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Marriage & Family Therapist in 1991 (BBS License# MFC28341). My experience includes many years of providing family and couples therapy at various mental health clinics in San Mateo County and in private practice. I have extensive experience with adults and adolescents around anxiety and sexual and physical abuse. It is through this experience that I developed an interest and expertise in helping people heal from traumatic experiences in their lives.
I have been in private psychotherapy practice in San Mateo since 1991. I have worked with adolescents in group homes, foster homes, school groups, and in private practice. I have also coordinated and managed abuse prevention and recovery programs, and I led parent education groups for 8 years. I have coordinated several intern training and supervision programs, and have supervised Masters and Post Docorate level interns since 1993. I was the Clinical Director for 4 years at the Youth Service Bureau in South San Francisco.
From 2000-2004, I taught at San Francisco State University in the graduate Counseling program, teaching Theory and Techniques of Couples and Family Therapy. I have also provided a number of trainings on family therapy, child abuse intervention, adolescent development, and sexual abuse. I taught the class "Mindfulness Techniques for Healing Depression", three times a year, from 2004 through 2015.
Throughout this experience, I have developed my expertise with adults, couples, and adolescents and believe psychotherapy is a powerful healing tool that enables people to overcome anxieties and lead more fulfilling lives.
Memberships and Certifications
Clinical Member - California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
CAMFT approved supervisor 2001 -2020
Clinical Member - American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT)
Clinical Member - Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA)
Trained in EMDR since 2004. EMDRIA certification in 2010
Trained to teach MBCT classes by the UCSD Center for Mindfulness
Trained in Compassion Cultivation - March 2015, Stanford's CCARE program
Trained in Mindful Self Compassion - November 2019
Completed Natural Processing Part I - October 2023 Natural Processing