Let’s get acquainted.

I have worked in the clinical, organizational, and community mental health fields for over 35 years (link to vita). Throughout my career, I have been drawn to the wisdom and power of an integrative view of human beings. We are not disembodied minds. Rather, our body, brain, mind, and spirit, rooted in our relationships and the communities to which we belong, all play a vital and interconnected role in the quality of our lives. When problems in living arise, each of these factors must be considered and incorporated into an effective treatment plan for lasting change. 

I take this approach with each person who comes to me for assistance in finding a new path for their lives.  

My diverse clinical experience includes social work with the developmentally disabled at Great Oaks Center in Silver Springs, MD, and doctoral training through Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Department of Occupational Health, and the Veterans Medical Center in Sepulveda, California. In these settings, I received specialized training in psychotherapy and assessment, health psychology, geropsychology, and prevention-oriented community psychology.

From 1985 through 1994, I maintained a full-range private practice with Pacific Psychological Resources in Pasadena, California, followed by clinical practice in Washington since 1994. In addition to clinical work, I have held academic posts at the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology and at Seattle Pacific University as Dean and Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, Family, and Community.

In addition to my clinical practice, I consult through TrueBearing with a wide range of organizations in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors on issues ranging from executive coaching and performance enhancement to strategic planning and research and program evaluation.

Areas of Specialization

I work primarily with adults and older adolescents who are dealing with a broad range of life issues, particularly as they relate to relationships, school, work and career, and other challenges that life can bring.

My clients include those coping with depression, anxiety, cognitive and attention issues, and the effects of major life stress, trauma, or change. I also work with individuals who are trying to “raise their game” in their personal lives as well as their careers.

In many instances, people experience the effects of stress not only emotionally but also physically. I have extensive training and experience in health psychology and behavioral medicine, and where appropriate, I integrate proven adjunctive tools such as biofeedback and neurofeedback into an overall psychotherapeutic plan.

Therapeutic orientation

I am often asked what is the best approach to psychotherapy. The answer generally depends on a client’s particular concerns, distinctive traits, and goals. Two methods I often find useful are cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. For those dealing with stress-related conditions, I frequently use specialized tools such as neurofeedback as part of an effective treatment plan.

In my clinical work, I have found that individuals’ well-being is often tied up in the health of the organizational culture to which they belong, and this discovery energizes my consulting work with organizations.