Psychotherapy, Social Skills-Training, Workshops & Seminars for individuals, couples, families & businesses

Welcome to my private practice website. On this site you will find information about myself, my practice and the services I provide, as well as articles and links to topics of interest on the internet.

Background & Professional Training . . .
About me . . . I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist practicing in the Seattle Metropolitan area. My work has been featured in the Seattle Times, the King County Journal, Psychotherapy Finances, and Cosmopolitan Magazine, as well as on Northwest Afternoon, New Day Northwest, Tellin' JoEllen and Evening Magazine. But perhaps my favorite interview was one I did "shyness" for Weekly Reader's Current Health 1 Magazine, bringing back fond memories of my own time spent with the Weekly Reader as a child.

As far as my training and background, I hold a Doctoral Degree in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Washington, where also I completed three year-long certificate training programs in the fields of E-Learning Development & Design, Brain Research In Education, and Web Technology Solutions, along with certificates in Telemental Health, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Animal Assisted Therapy, and learning management systems from a variety of different programs.

Over the course of my forty-plus years in the mental health field, I have worked in hospitals, youth service bureaus, community mental health centers, colleges and universities and one pre-trail diversionary counseling agency. In 1984, I ventured into private practice in Seattle--working with individuals, couples and families, as well as dabbling in family systems research. In the spring of 1999, after fourteen years in Seattle, I moved my practice across the water (locals will know what I mean) to its present location in Bellevue, Washington.

While I treasure my academic training and experience, I am particularly grateful to my clients who, over the course of my education, taught me much of what I know about what does and doesn't work in therapy.

Theoretical Orientation . . .
I can best describe myself as a Cognitive-Behavioral, Family Systems therapist whose work is based on a Competency Model. Now let me explain . . .

The Competency Model assumes people do things for a reason and that "problem behaviors" are logical adaptations to difficult situations--adaptations that simply have outlived their usefulness. The focus of therapy is to replace outmoded problem-solving strategies with new more effective solutions. As a Cognitive-Behavioral therapist, I favor techniques that highlight the relationship between our thoughts and the way we feel and act in the world. And finally, as a Family Systems therapist, I respect the importance others play in our life and include them in the treatment process in spirit, if not in body.

As time has passed, this has meant that I've become a cross between a detective, a teacher and a coach. A detective----because my job is to help people identify issues that are at the root of their problems. A teacher----because understanding the cause of our problems usually isn't enough. If we want to be successful, we need to learn new more effective ways to solve them. And finally, a coach----because even the most self-motivated person needs a little feedback and encouragement along the way.