I took a roundabout route to becoming a psychologist. Having majored in psychology in college, I took some time off to explore possibilities, and became enamored with midwifery. I trained as a Certified Nurse Midwife, and practiced in that field for several years. In that work, I was struck by how much the mind and body work together in pregnancy, childbirth and health and well-being in general. I found myself doing a good deal of counseling in my midwifery practice, especially around childbearing losses. It seemed to come naturally for me to provide that support, and I began contemplating further training in Psychology, which I was fortunate to be able to pursue. The process of pregnancy and childbirth provide a beautiful metaphor for the natural process inherent in our bodies and minds. Healing from emotional wounds functions similarly, and many of the processes I offer capitalize on the natural healing capacity we all have built into us. The outcome is often a resolution as unique to each individual as is the baby born at the end of pregnancy. It is a joy to witness people healing, shedding painful baggage they’ve carried sometimes for many years, and discovering their powerful and wonderful best selves – kind of like the butterfly that emerges from a chrysalis, having entered it as a caterpillar and transformed through the wonders of nature.
I became a Psychologist (PsyD) in 1992, and worked first at a residential facility for teens and young adults, and then at an outpatient facility with people of all ages (mostly adults). Early in my career I learned EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and began using it to assist people in resolving traumatic memories, ease anxiety, resolve phobias, and develop and strengthen inner resources. In 1997, I opened an office where I ran a private practice, working with adults and older teens, focusing largely on helping my clients to resolve trauma, and to clear blocks to functioning as their best selves. Along the way, I added new skills and techniques that further augmented the possibilities of clearing traumas and eliminating obstacles to reaching one’s goals. These include EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique – meridian tapping), and Havening Techniques®, which, along with EMDR, fall under the category of Psychosensory Therapeutic approaches. I find these to be powerful and creative tools for reducing stress and anxiety, and for building resilience.
At the end of 2018, I closed my office with the goal of providing therapy remotely. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this became the norm. As of this writing (3/23/2024), all the insurance companies I participate with (Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CIGNA, Medicaid/HUSKY, and MEDICARE) are continuing to cover telehealth services. There is widespread strong support from many clients and clinicians for this to continue.
I am happy to answer questions you might have via phone or e-mail, so that we can determine together whether this form of therapy would be a good fit for you.
