I am a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, originally obtaining my MFT license in California in 1988. I received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz (Summa Cum Laude) in 1981 and a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from the California Graduate Institute, Los Angeles in 1985. My training in California included extensive work with children, adolescents, families/parenting, individuals facing difficult life transitions, and adult survivors of childhood abuse. Prior to working in private practice, I was chosen to participate in a highly selective, year-long training program in Structural Family Therapy (based on Systems theory) in addition to receiving extensive supervision and training in working with individuals and groups around a variety of issues.

After moving to Washington in 1993, I worked in the business world for a number of years before getting back to the work that feeds my soul: therapy. Since becoming re-licensed in 2012 in Washington, I have immersed myself in deep learning in the areas of interpersonal neurobiology (looking at the ways in which being in relationship actually changes the brain), attachment theory (we are all born with a wired-in need for connection...how do we meet those needs...or not...in our most significant relationships), and EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy...a very powerful and proven technique for working with couples in distress). I have also received specialized training in a body of work for pre-marital couples called "Prepare-Enrich" and graduated from a year long intensive Coach Training Program (Life/Executive Coaching).

On a personal note, I am married (second marriage) and have two young adult sons. I am a (very gratefully healthy) cancer survivor and understand deeply all of the stages of grief, recovery and possible renewal that go along with that diagnosis.