Being listened to deeply, and truly heard, renews our capacity to flourish. Like rain after a drought, being understood can bring to life, perhaps for the first time, parts of oneself that may have been neglected in earlier key relationships.

Psychotherapy heals by relieving suffering and increasing awareness; energy is then freed for creative, satisfying engagement in work, love and life. In this way, your capacity for ease, choice, zest, playfulness and resilience increases.

Since each person brings to therapy a unique life history and way of responding to the world, each therapy treatment is unique.  Quality psychotherapy reflects the therapist’s clinical training, sensitivity, and experience in life and in therapy. My orientation is psychodynamic, an insight-oriented approach. My style is lively and engaging, responsive to each person’s individual style and needs.

I work with people facing many kinds of challenges: relationship conflicts, parenting, chronic pain or illness, pre-marital counseling, divorce, loss and grief, sexual abuse, depression and anxiety. I work with adults and couples (including parent-child pairs) to identify frustrating patterns in relationships, their sources, and the "filters" and "blinders" that powerfully affect others.

My special interests include helping women form healthy relationships with their mothers and children. I have specialized training in working with parents and infants and toddlers. I also offer a particular understanding of the issues artists, writers and others who do creative work may face (I have an MA in Writing as well as a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology).

I have been trained in both short-term and long-term models of psychotherapy and offer both options for treatment.  I have committed to many years of my own psychotherapy, in order to increase my level of awareness and effectiveness in my work and life.

Some people enter therapy simply because they feel limited or dissatisfied, or seek more fulfillment or joy. 

I am a member of the:

• American Psychological Association
• California Psychological Association
• Santa Barbara County Psychological Association   
  

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.  I am happy to talk with you and answer any questions you might have.