Hello and welcome to my website. I am a local psychotherapist who has been in practice in Contra Costa County for 20 years – first in the San Ramon Valley and now in the Walnut Creek Lamorinda area.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself:The field of psychotherapy is so rich and dynamic that one must pursue advanced training in order to keep up. I am committed to my own growth and development as a therapist. Some of the advanced trainings I’ve pursued recently are Filial Therapy (a type of play therapy), EMDR parts 1 and 11, Gottman Couple’s Therapy, and Hypnotherapy. For 12 years I have pursued my studies with Maggie Phillips, PhD, a well known hypnotherapy teacher, and I am now in her advanced consultation group. I also took a workshop to develop this website!
I am originally from the Midwest, and before becoming a therapist at age 40, I was an art teacher. In Chicago I taught art in the Lab School at the University of Chicago, and after moving to California, I taught art for the Community Colleges. I still use art in my work whenever I can. I find it a very valuable tool, especially with children and adolescents. Personally, I am married with two adult children, two adult step-children and three grandchildren.
Please see below for my recent professional experience.
EDUCATION
• M.A. in Clinical Counseling, California State University at Hayward 1982
• B.A., University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansass cum laude 1965
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, California MK 24013 1988
• State Teaching Credential, Adult
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, member
• East Bay Chapter of CAMFT, member
• American Association of Family Therapists of Northern California,
Board member
• The Psychotherapy Institute, member
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Private practice in Walnut Creek/Lamorinda area since l994.
• Intervention/Crisis Counselor at Walnut Creek Intermediate School
from 1994 to 2007
• Founder and Director of School Counseling Intern Training Program
serving 8 schools in San Ramon Unified School District from 1988 to 1994.
• Staff Therapist, SRV Discovery Center in Danville from 1988 to 1994.
PUBLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS
• Tips for Parents Parenting Brochures – My public interest brochures have
been widely
distributed in Contra Costa County. Topics include Drugs and
Alcohol, Eating Disorders,
Divorce, The Underachiever, Cyber Bullying and
Internet Safety. I have also spoken
widely on these topics. As Director of
the SCIP Program, I was frequently interviewed by the Contra Costa Times
on issues of child and adolescent mental health and parenting.
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