I am a psychotherapist (Marriage and Family Therapist #23666), licensed by the State of California in 1987, after I had completed five years of training, 3000 hours of practice, and two rigorous exams.  I have been in private practice, specializing in women's issues and depression for over 25 years, and PTSD/trauma for the past 20.  I have a master's degree in clinical counseling, and trained at the Women's Therapy Center in the psychology of women in 1984-1985.

Over the past 25 years, I have worked with, written about, and lectured about depression, PTSD, survivors of abusive, absent, or mismatched parents, grief and loss, infertility, parenting, shame, addictions, homophobia/heterosexism, spiritual cynicism and other issues.  I have worked in several clinics, and have supervised other therapists in their process of learning our profession.  I also co-directed an organization for seven years that produced an educational forum for master therapists to train other therapists.  I was first trained to use EMDR as a treatment for trauma in 1992 by Francine Shapiro, who invented it, shortly after she invented it, and have continued my training since then.  I have gotten amazing results from EMDR.

In my work, I have found that women's struggles with relationships, depression, anxiety, shame, work issues, grief, sexuality and self-esteem are different than those men experience.  I have also found that compassionate, direct psychotherapy has a powerful effect in helping people work through these struggles.  I work with heterosexual, lesbian, and queer women, many women of color, as well as a few heterosexual, gay and queer men.

I listen carefully and empathically, but I am not a therapist who says nothing but "uh huh" and "how do you feel about that?"  I offer feedback of many different kinds, depending on what you need at any particular moment.  I am constantly adjusting to be responsive to your needs as they change.  I will always be kind, and I will tell you what your friends don't, with my heart open.  I also have a sense of humor, which offers another way for us to connect, or to have a moment of rest from the serious work we do together.