Philosophy

 

I believe everyone can benefit from psychotherapy with the right therapist. First and foremost, therapy should consist of a safe, confidential, and supportive environment. Your therapist should be focused, attentive, empathic, understanding, and as dedicated to the therapy process as you are. I also believe good therapists are life-long students, and enrich and expand their experience by continuing to educate themselves in emerging theories and techniques in the field of psychology.
 

Approach

 

I am psychodynamically oriented, which means I pay attention to the workings of the unconscious mind. I have a specialty in Right Brain Psychotherapy, which means I pay attention to how minds/brains/bodies interact in the room, with particular attention to implicit, nonverbal processes. Many long term relationships and individuals experience challenges with communication, closeness/attachment dynamics, issues from childhood, and sexual difficulties. I combine an empathic therapeutic stance with a straightforward approach. It is my goal to help my clients feel better as soon as possible. The relationship between the therapist and client forms the foundation of the therapy process, so I encourage people seeking therapy to set up an initial consultation to determine if the therapist is a good fit.

 

Training  & Experience

 

I specialize in treating individuals and couples on a wide variety of issues. I earned a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Ryokan College in Los Angeles, California. I am licensed by the California Board of Psychology, #PSY25890. I trained and taught with renowned couples therapist Dr. Walter E. Brackelmanns for seventeen years, and have been trained extensively in InterAnalytic Couples Therapy and Sex Therapy. I am also a member of the Dr. Allan Schore Right Brain Psychotherapy study group focusing on advancements in Interpersonal Neurobiology and Affect Regulation Theory. My professional interests and studies focus on the areas of Right Brain Psychotherapy, Modern Attachment Theory, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Somatic Therapies, Human Sexuality, and Mindfulness.

 

I am the Executive Director and co-founder of the American Association of Couples and Sex Therapists (AACAST), an independent professional organization dedicated to the education, training, promotion and expansion of the integrated skills and knowledge in both couples and sex therapy.

 

I teach and train mental health professionals and psychiatric residents through the American Association of Couples and Sex Therapists (AACAST), which includes coursework in InterAnalytic Couples Therapy (IACT) and Human Sexuality, Sex Education and Sex Therapy (HSSEST). I have taught at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, and currently teach and supervise psychiatric residents at the USC Keck School of Medicine. In addition, I am the proud recipient of the USC 2023 Marsha Goin Volunteer Faculty Teaching Award.

 

I speak and present to various companies and organizations, and also provide consultation services to other mental health professionals.