I received a Ph.D. in psychology in 1984 from Alliant International University in San Diego with specialized training in clinical and counseling psychology. I am licensed as as a Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor and in 1986 I was licensed as a psychologist. I am a founding member of the National Association of Certified Group Psychotherapists and I am a past-president of the Santa Clara County Psychological Association. I belong to eight professional organizations and I am active in three of these: The Santa Clara County and San Mateo County Psychological Associations and Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society. I teach cont. ed courses on Group Psychotherapy and I have given several professional level presentations and workshops on social anxiety, relationship issues, codependency, and group psychotherapy.

In my approach to counseling I emphasize self-understanding leading to behavioral change.

Because good psychotherapy puts you and your concerns at the center stage of a counseling relationship, you have the opportunity to talk about yourself, explore your own feelings and life experiences and come to understand your patterns of behavior. Through this process you begin to understand your needs and learn how to become more assertive in getting them met. You develop positive healthy self-esteem, and a stronger sense of self.

In psychotherapy, it has been my experience that most people make profound life changes for the better. Many of these life changes are in the form of bringing more people into their lives, experiencing more rewarding relationships, and changing patterns of behavior.

• Counseling for relationship and commitment issues for couples and individuals, social isolation and anxiety, self-esteem.
  
  Codependency, Adult Children of Alcoholics, childhood trauma/abuse.
  
• Couples counseling to improve communication and resolve emotional issues.
• Group Psychotherapy for relationship issues, self-esteem, social isolation, and Interpersonal Skills to develop healthier ways of relating to others.
• Counseling for singles issues
• Workshops on Relationship Skills

I have been in private practice since 1983. Over that time I have developed specialization in working with shyness, codependency, Adult Children of Alcoholics, and relationship issues. In order to develop these areas of special focus, I have actively studied and developed methods for working effectively with my clients on these issues.

Clinical training presentations:

• Employee Assistance Program Association, The Unique Benefits of Group Psychotherapy - Fall 1995
• Northern Califalifornia Group Psychotherapy Association: Group therapy presentation -1996
• Calif. Psychological Association: Effective and Dynamic Psychotherapy Groups, Annual Conference -1996
• California Psychological Association: Avoidant Personality Disorder (Shyness), Annual Conference -1997
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society Clinical Conference: Too shy to trust, too quiet in group, working with shy and avoidant clients in group psychotherapy-2000
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society Clinical Conference: Benefits of the Clinical Summaryin Group Psychotherapy-2002
• California Psychological Association:Effective and Dynamic Psychotherapy Groups, Annual Conference-2003
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Clinical Conference: Personality factors and group psychotherapy leadership:2004.
• California Psychological Association: Working with children and adults in group psychotherapy:2006.
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Clinical Conference: Maximizing the power of group psychotherapy:2006.
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Clinical Conference: Too Shy to trust: too quiet in group: working with shy clients in group psychotherapy:2008.
• Santa Clara County Psychological Association:The Essentials for Starting and Leading successful psychotherapy groups:2009

Staff Training and Consultation:

• Palo Alto Rape Crisis Center -1989-1994
• Stress Management, Staff Burnout, Rape Trauma Syndrome, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Staff training and consultation:Human Affairs International: Couples Therapy -1992
• Staff Training: Family Services, Inc.: Group Therapy -1995
• Staff Training: Group Psychotherapy and Shyness: Santa Clara University Counseling Center -1995
• Staff Training: Working with Shy Clients in Counseling: Stanford University Counseling Center - 1998

• American Psychological Association
• California Psychological Association
• Santa Clara County Psychological Association :Board Member: 1995- present, President-Elect for 1998, President 1999
• Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society
• American Group Psychotherapy Association
• California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
• Santa Clara County Psychological Association, President-1999, Board member 1995-2000
• Santa Clara Valley Chapter of Calif. Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

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