I am honored to join with you in the process of exploring and working with the challenges that bring you into counseling and the opportunities that this presents. My interest in psychology led me to pursue a B.A. in psychology from Yale University; Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno; and pre-doctoral internship at the V.A. Palo Alto Health Care System. I began my clinical career as an inpatient staff psychologist for patients with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorders at the Palo Alto V.A. I then served as an outpatient staff psychologist for patients with chemical dependency and related issues in the Psychiatry Department of Stanford University Medical Center. In 1990, I started my Palo Alto based private practice. Drawing from my own struggles with infertility and the mind-body path that led to the birth of my daughter through surrogacy, specialties emerged in the areas of mindfulness, fertility challenges, life transitions, and general life issues.
I became interested in meditation in 1971. Since then, I have been a practitioner of transcendental meditation, zen meditation, kriya yoga, kundalini yoga, and vipassana meditation or mindfulness. Between 2003-2005, I participated in a 9-day professional training program under the direction of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. and Saki Santorelli, Ed.D. and an 8-week MBSR professional training program under the direction of Bob Stahl, Ph.D. It was my good fortune to be introduced to mindfulness through this most extraordinary program which inspires and informs my professional and personal life.
My current professional activities include working with individuals and couples in my private practice; serving as Mind-Body Program Coordinator at Palo Alto Medical Foundation Fertility Physicians of Northern California, and writing a book released for publication December 2013: 50 Mindful Steps to Self-Esteem: Everyday Practices for Cultivating Self-Acceptance and Self-Compassion. I find great pleasure in my nuclear and large extended family, and in my friends and fellow sangha members. I enjoy dance, exercise, art, music, yoga, meditation, the outdoors, and spending time with my dog, Luna.
For a detailed description of my educational and professional background, please see my resume.
