Living in these contemporary times is challenging. Modern stressors can often overwhelm us. I appreciate you taking the time to consider how psychotherapy may help and how I might be a match to your current needs for support and care. For over thirty years I have been honored to work with courageous individuals, couples and families who have committed the time and energy to engage in therapy, to experience healing and relief, and to live fulfilling and meaningful lives that benefit both themselves and those with whom they are in relationships.

I have extensive experience providing individual psychotherapy to adolescents & adults and couples/marital therapy. My general areas of individual therapy practice are wide ranging and include anxiety, depression, stress management, loss and grief, career challenges and relationship difficulties. My work with couples addresses difficulties with emotional, physical and sexual intimacy, as well as repairing connections following relationship breakdowns, including infidelity and betrayal. I help partners improve communication and develop more empathic ways of being with one another, particularly around managing conflicts about finances, parenting, family issues, and how to provide optimal emotional and practical support in dealing with life’s inevitable challenges.

Most people who work with me begin when painful experiences of distress interfere with their ability to find enjoyment and satisfaction in relationships and school/careers. Psychotherapy with me usually begins with a discussion of the concerns, problems, and troubles from which you are suffering and seek relief. The goal of this work is to solve the problems, alleviate the distress, and place the concerns in the context of your personal development. Results of this effort often include increased self-awareness, enhanced self-esteem, recognition of unique strengths and potentials, and more positive feelings. As psychological distress is often a function of relationship difficulties, psychotherapy often focuses on thoughts and feelings about the significant people in one’s life, who may include family members, romantic partners, friends, and co-workers. An appreciation of one’s unique circumstances and developmental history makes for a more meaningful therapy experience.

My approach centers on creating a safe and supportive space in which you will feel comfortable exploring and expressing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In the initial session, we will work to identify a focus for our work together. As we progress, we will broaden our understanding of your presenting issues by evaluating how and why the problems of focus developed. This approach is supported by a thorough assessment of your difficulties, which may involve the use of scientific, evidence-based tests, and questionnaires, in conjunction with a personal history taking. This information is used, along with any potential test results, to better understand the nature and scope of your difficulties and to identify any relevant diagnoses to inform treatment.

I have a doctorate (1994) and masters degree (1992) in Clinical Psychology with a subspecialty in Medical Psychology from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree (1989) in Psychology from the University of Michigan. I completed my Clinical Psychology residency at Northwestern University Medical School/Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I worked at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for thirty-one years in various clinical (Psychologist) and administrative (Director of Counseling Services, Executive Director of Counseling, Health and Disability Services, Dean of Student Wellness) positions. I have had a private practice in adult & adolescent psychotherapy and couples/marital therapy since 1997. I am a dual US and Canada citizen and recently moved from Chicago to Toronto to join CFIR.

I have presented my work frequently at professional conferences with a particular focus on collaborative care for depression, suicide prevention, the unique mental health needs of creative individuals, flourishing, loneliness, college student mental health and the science and practice of compassion. I have been the primary investigator for two federally funded, multi-year campus suidice prevention grants and have led grant funded projects on topics including engaged models of learning that decrease psychological distress and increase flourishing, how medical and counseling professionals can provide supportive and empathic care to transgender clients/patients, and disability arts and culture. I have published several articles on coping with medical issues and other topics in the medical psychology realm.