From despair to joy
Like many of you, I too have endured many challenges in my life. My personal and professional journey began many years ago when I realized that I desired to help people through their challenges so that they didn't have to suffer alone as I had in my youth. I pursued that path diligently, majoring in psychology at Dartmouth College, doing psychological research for my professors, and beginning my work in psychiatric hospitals and group homes for troubled adolescents from the age of 19. After graduation, I moved to Colorado to take a break before grad school. It was there that a series of events, including a fateful tick bite, altered my plan and led me down a path of severe illness, depression, hopelessness, and despair; a dark time in my life.
Path to Recovery
I found my way out through alternative therapies, and Energy Psychology in particular. First, I completed a year of training in massage therapy at the Boulder School of Massage Therapy. It was there that I began to understand that mind, body, emotions and spirit were all interrelated and interdependent. I was introduced to meditation, chiropractic, muscle testing, nutritional supplements, and all kinds of mind-body healing techniques. I was seeking answers and found myself on a spiritual journey. This led me to Palo Alto, California for graduate school at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, a program that takes a holistic approach to the training of psychotherapists, teaching them how to help people self-actualize and reach their highest human potential. Here, in addition to traditional clinical psychology, I learned about Eastern philosophy, shamanic traditions, creative expression, somatic psychology, and even had classes in Aikido and Yoga. I took outside courses in Reiki, and became a certified hypnotherapist as well. I came to understand that in the healing of psychological issues, one must acknowledge and address the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of those issues.
While over the years, all these methods were helpful, and all that I was learning was expanding my mind and spirit, my body remained quite ill. In fact, I was so sick and in so much pain, so weak and exhausted all the time that I could barely function. At this point, I fully immersed myself in alternative medicine, began seeing a naturopath, taking herbs and homeopathy, receiving acupuncture and a host of other somatic treatments. I would make progress, but kept hitting plateaus. Things really didn't change significantly for me until I discovered Energy Psychology in 1999 and began clearing the emotional and energetic blocks that were contributing to my state of dis-ease. Bing – the light bulb went off! In fact, the light bulb exploded! Results were profound and I was so impressed with my own healing and the miraculous growth that I saw in others doing this work that I decided to pursue EP wholeheartedly, starting with my doctoral dissertation (Be Set Free Fast: The Use of an Innovative Psychotherapeutic Technique to Improve Self-Esteem In a Dually-Diagnosed Population), and going on to gain extensive training in a number of techniques, including my certification in NET (Neuro Emotional Technique). In fact, I don't think I would've made it through grad school and on to obtain my license as a Clinical Psychologist if it hadn't been for these amazing tools. With the addition of Access Consciousness® in 2011, I finally was able to beat the symptoms of what turned out to be Lyme Disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
My Experience as a Psychologist
Private Practice and Access Consciousness®
These days, I am traveling around the world attending and facilitating workshops in Access Consciousness® and energy psychology. I also work with people in my private practice, whether in person at my San Francisco office, or by phone/video. Though the techniques I employ are so powerful that we are often able to make amazing changes in a brief period of time, I always enjoy working with people who are interested in longer-term therapy. Most recently, I've added an innovative, intensive coaching program to my practice.The great thing about most of the EP techniques that I use is that you can practice them at home in between sessions. In fact, it's possible to do a tremendous amount of self-healing, but often there are blind spots that we miss, which is why it's usually more effective to have someone guiding you through the process. Plus, there is tremendous value in the therapeutic relationship itself; feeling that you are safe, understood and cared for promotes a profound depth of healing.
What You Can Expect During Therapy with Me
Want to know more? Wondering if our working together would be a good fit? I offer a free consultation to help answer any questions or concerns you might have. You can contact me by phone or email.
Thanks for reading...and whatever path you choose, may you find all that you are seeking!