Following a long career in another field, I returned to school graduating from Holy Names University in 1996 with a Masters in Counseling Psychology.

Since then I have worked in agencies, serving at risk families. I also have a private practice in Oakland, California. I have extensive experience and training in working with trauma related issues including childhood physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, verbal abuse, and attachment disorders. These types of issues often result in difficulty regulating emotional arousal, causing persons to either over-react or shut down emotionally. Either of these responses create challenges for being in healthy and nurturing relationships and can negatively impact parenting. I work with individuals and couples to develop skills that can help them be more present emotionally and thus more effective in relationships with partners, children and others.

I am trained in levels I and II EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and I am certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and in John Gottman's Bringing Baby Home.