Profile
In our work together we will focus on developing a secure relationship of mutual care, a true partnership which operates according to principles of fairness and sensitivity and utilizes collaboration and a commitment to the other’s well being to resolve conflict. Rather than seeing relational issues as pathological, our work will build empathic understanding of how your early coping strategies can make you actors in each other’s old movies, and result in misattunements, underlying cycles of ongoing injury, and failures of repair. In this experiential approach we will practice new ways of relating and repairing that can build a stable and secure foundation to your relationship. Whether you are struggling with sexual issues or problems with money, mess, time, work, children, or in-laws, the experience that your partner has your back will help you develop a closer connection and the security to more effectively address your concerns.
I came to my work as a psychotherapist through my my dedication to healing, my deep curiosity about people, the workings of the brain and the intricacies of human experience.
I received my BA from Barnard College, my MA from Columbia University and my Ph.D. from the University of Hawai’i. I have been working with individuals, couples and families for 35 + years; my professional history includes 20 years working with divorcing and remarried families and I maintain a special interest in working with blended families and have navigated one of my own. I have extensive training and experience in relational approaches to psychodynamic individual and couples psychotherapy including Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy, Sexual Crucible work, Gottman’s approach to marital therapy. I also maintain a meditation and yoga practice and bring an interest in alternative modes of healing to my work.
I am no stranger to the challenges of a committed relationship; my personal experience underlies the compassion and respect I bring to my work with you. Although this journey to strengthen the foundation of your relationship is a serious undertaking, I will also strive to make sure that our work includes laughter and play.