I am a licensed marriage and family therapist for more than 20 years, licensed in Arizona and California. My practice is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and I am also available through telehealth. I work with individuals, couples and families.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UCLA and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. I am the author of The Connection Between Anorexia Nervosa and Achievement in Modern Society: A Review, published in the journal Progress: Family Systems Research & Therapy, v.1 (1992).
I have experience working in both nonprofit and private mental health settings with clients from all walks of life, experiencing many different types of psychological and interpersonal issues.
Among the issues I have experience working with include anxiety, depression/mood disorders, marriage and relationship issues, parenting issues, divorce and family conflict, infidelity, anger, management, grief, trauma, and PTSD.
People come to therapy expressing various emotional issues that include sadness, inner turmoil, disturbed relationships, stress at work, and stress at home and/or school. They have an overall feeling of loss, emptiness, and unhappiness. Undoubtedly, we live in stressful times with many responsibilities and demands, having too much to do and not enough time. Such demands can affect peoples' abilities to cope effectively in their lives.
I believe the human spirit is resilient. People say they want to change but don't know how or expect others in their lives to do the changing. They continue to repeat the same unhealthy patterns expecting to get different results which often lead to increased frustration, feelings of helplessness, and being "stuck".
My clinical approach in working with individuals, couples, and families is relational, cognitive behavioral, pschodynamic, and family systems oriented. When working with couples one of the approaches I use is the Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
In addition, I am an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) practitioner. EMDR is both a therapeutic approach and technique that helps clients work through and heal from the grips of trauma.
Because every individual is different, my approach is to understand my client’s needs. To do this I strive to create a safe space that is necessary by expressing genuine interest, curiosity and being nonjudgmental so that the client feels understood and accepted.
I believe that the goal of therapy is to help clients live happier, more productive, balanced lives and have satisfying relationships.
Through the collaborative endeavor of therapy, I focus on clients’ strengths, help them look at themselves honestly, challenge their thinking and consequently help them feel better.
I help clients to invest in their own personal change and to realize that through their own growth, others in their lives can change as well.