Biography
I grew up in Buffalo, NY and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
I worked in publishing and the law in New York and New Jersey and moved to Oregon in 1993. After recognizing that I was not fulfilled in those careers, I decided to return to my first major in college–Psychology. I enrolled in the Counseling Psychology program at Lewis and Clark College in 1994. I worked for and volunteered for various mental health agencies serving children and families. I did my internship at Garlington Center in North Portland. My course work focused on adult, adolescent, and child development and treatment. I received a master’s degree in 1996.
I worked in public and private agencies with a diverse population. I provided in-home family counseling for adults and children, and briefly worked as an intake/assessment adviser for Children and Family Services. I started my private practice in 2004. I am licensed to practice in both Oregon and Washington.
I believe we all have the strength, capacity, and inner knowing to transform our lives and community. I work with individuals alone, or in a relationship, uncovering the patterns, choices, and energy of their lives to discover where they are stuck and how they can move. Movement is powerful and transformative. I provide a safe and nurturing environment to grow and heal.
I have studied and applied a diverse mix of psychological methods and approaches (i.e., cognitive-behavioral, developmental, family systems, psychodynamic) with a particular interest in Jungian theory, or Analytical Psychology, a theoretical model developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl G. Jung (1875-1961). I have studied Jungian theory for 20 years. The ideas advanced by Jung have become very popular in recent years (”complexes”, “individuation”, “unconscious patterns”, “active imagination”). I am currently enrolled in a 2-year study program in Analytical Psychology offered by the Pacific Northwest Society of Jungian Analysts. Please inquire if you would like to know more about Jung’s ideas and theories and how I integrate them into my work.