I received my Ph.D. from Hofstra University and my NYS license as a Psychologist in 1990. I received ASSECT certification as a sex therapist in 2007.
Early on, in my personal search for relief, I found that “talk” therapy was insufficient and depleted my well being. Then I found Rubenfeld Synergy, a method that combined Gestalt Therapy, Feldenkrais, bodywork, psychodrama and spirituality. It really worked! Relief plus deep healing! This became my North Star.
I trained with Ilana Rubenfeld and her colleague Dr. Seena Russell. Later, Seena and I collaborated to develop a training center called Return To Self.
In that post doctoral time, Dr. David Schnarch ignited a passion in me that led to me training with him for over 10 years. His work, The Sexual Crucible, combined sex therapy, differentiation, couple therapy and systemic therapy.
After 9/11, fire fighters and their families found me and inspired me to delve more deeply into understanding brain science, trauma, and the necessity of practical skills. Dr. Michael Yapko became my mentor, training me to utilize short term strategic therapy and hypnosis to treat depression and anxiety effectively and efficiently.
I found Dr. Stan Tatkin and PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy) because I was still looking to optimize my work with couples for practical outcomes. Stan’s work is based in the body and science, and most importantly it works! I was a member of his core faculty, training clinicians in PACT. I then applied this methodology to working with CEOs, founders and family business leaders with great success.
I’ve delved deeply into both science and embodied wisdom traditions. Margo Anand mentored me in Tantric sexuality and trained me to train others. In addition, yoga, meditation, ecstatic dance, authentic movement, Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rhythms practice, breathwork, drumming and trance dance keep me enlivened.
I view the world through embodiment practices, differentiation and relational science. These cornerstones of my worldview inform all that I do professionally and personally.