My clients describe me as direct, no-nonsense, and interactive. I bring a natural playfulness into my practice and I have found that humor and laughter can help shift perspective, lighten a burden, and sometimes make it easier to approach uncomfortable truths. I provide respectful, compassionate care that honors the diversity and uniqueness of each person.
My goal is to assist my clients in the process of change. I work collaboratively to assess goals and develop a plan to reach them. I draw from a number of practical and evidence-based theoretical disciplines to help guide the journey while walking the pathway with curiosity, openness, and acceptance.
Our past often provides the template for what we believe about ourselves and the strategies that we use to navigate the present. Sometimes our older coping skills do not serve us well and leave us struggling to develop new ways of thinking and responding to challenges. I use a solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral approach that examines past and current experiences as they relate to present day coping, thereby empowering my clients with tools for their growth.
Education and License:
- Oregon Licensed Psychologist (#1025), 1993-present
- Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology, University of Oregon, 1990
- Master of Science, Clinical Psychology, University of Oregon, 1985
- Bachelor of Arts, Stanford University, 1984
Professional Memberships:
- American Psychological Association
- Oregon Psychological Association
- Lane County Psychologist Association
Hobbies and Interests:
I enjoy gardening and competing with the deer to determine the winner in enjoying the fruits of the labor. I love building outdoor projects such as building a deck or laying in the brick fire pit and stone pavers leading to it. I play several musical instruments and consider myself to be the master of none of them. I do play trumpet and enjoy performing concert music in a community band, where I solidly hold down the third trumpet part. I have played guitar since I was a child and am quite happy to entertain myself and a few friends with playing and singing. I enjoy traveling and seeing new sights and learning about the history and culture of other places. And, you may have guessed from some of the pictures on this web site, I enjoy playing with LEGO bricks. I started playing with them when I was in graduate school and only rediscovered the fun of building during the past few years. One of my favorite LEGO themes is to create builds of places that I have visited