My Qualifications

My approach is eclectic and tailored to your goals. I ask a lot of questions, focus on your priorities, and encourage you to flex your inner and external strengths.

Clients have described me as kind, good-humored, helpful, and understanding.

I draw from mindfulness-based, cognitive-behavioral, and self-compassionate approaches as well as exploration into whether writing, reading, creativity, laughter, and other therapeutic practices can help you.

You're best-served by a holistic approach in which we look at how your personal environment and health affect your well-being. In our work together, you can see that you have choices you might have felt you didn't.

My background may be quite different from yours, and I strive to honor your experiences. Please let me know how best to help you.

Currently, I work with individuals and couples age 21- senior.

It's important for you to feel secure that your therapist is qualified to work with you.

I earned my Master of Social Work degree from UT-Austin in 1995. I've had Advanced Clinical Practitioner certification since 1999, when I went into private practice, specializing in "talk" therapy and writing therapy. I do continuing education to stay informed.
Before I went into full-time private practice in 2001, my work as a therapist included (in reverse chronological order):
(1)Jewish Family Service, as a therapist for people who are elderly and/or differently abled.
(2) Integrated Mental Health/Austin Regional Clinic Mental Health, as a therapist for individual, couples, family, and groups.
(3) St. David's Pavilion, a psychiatric hospital, where I was the lead therapist for both the Eating Disorder Program and the Adult Intensive Outpatient Program.
In addition, I completed a Master of Fine Arts degree in Fiction Writing at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and I've taught writing and literature at the college level. My background led me to develop and facilitate Writing to Heal practices with my clients.