About

My experience in the field of psychology dates back to a very early age – my father is a psychoanalyst and psychiatrist, so I was exposed to an analytic understanding of the world from childhood on. I was born in London, England and lived there until I moved to Santa Monica, California when I was 11. This move was a big adjustment at the time, but having to adapt to a new culture and assimilate with a foreign accent gave me invaluable insight into what it means to be an outsider and to have to fit into a culture that is not your own. After attending Santa Monica High School, I attended Amherst College in Massachusetts where I completed a pre-medical course of study and majored in psychology, graduating magna cum laude. Shortly thereafter, I returned to the United Kingdom to complete a Masters in Psychoanalytic Observational Studies at the Tavistock Institute in London. This was the clinic where Melanie Klein and several other students of Freud taught and practiced, therefore the Tavistock has a rich history and a strong commitment to quality teaching and practice. The infant and young child observations were particularly valuable and allowed me to deepen my understanding of how our earliest relationships set the groundwork for those that come later.

After moving back to Los Angeles a few years later, I completed another Masters in Psychology at Phillips Graduate Institute, and this program allowed me to become licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist. While I was completing my two graduate programs, I continued to work, gaining experience in a variety of settings - as a therapist in school settings; with foster youth, adopted youth and blended families; and with youth on probation. These diverse experiences, as well as my work with adults in a clinic setting, gave me a solid foundation in understanding the various impulses and issues that impact both youth and adults who are struggling to cope.

For several years now, I have worked with children, adolescents and adults facing a variety of challenges ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder and substance abuse problems. I work with individuals, with couples and with families, and my breadth of experience and 24 years in the field allow me to work effectively with a wide variety of clients.