About

I have been practicing psychotherapy since 1989, after graduating with my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. I have always had a keen interest in the deeper questions of life, such as, “Who am I?” and, “What is the meaning of my life?” This inclination led me quite naturally to the study of psychology and also of spirituality. I carried out a very active investigation into the nature of my identity. I wanted to know who I was and how I fit into the greater whole. I learned to meditate and have explored spirituality through Catholicism, Native American, Tibetan Buddhist and now Ascended Master teachings. Through these ongoing investigations I know that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and that we exist in a good and friendly universe.

Psychology of the True Self

I have developed a psychotherapy model called the Psychology of the True Self. It begins with the premise that we are divine beings. As such, we are whole, healthy, happy, purposeful and good. We have a True Self that hums away at our core, loving ourselves, loving life, dreaming of good things we can do or create, purposefully acting, courageously being our unique Self in the world and contributing to the greater good. While this is an accurate description of what lies within every human being, many of us are not experiencing or expressing this level of energy, purpose, and happiness. The Psychology of the True Self is an uplifting, positive and even exciting form of psychotherapy as one discovers the hidden treasure that resides right within the center of their being. For more information, click here.

Professional Background

I have worked in many different professional settings over my 25-year career. In Washington, DC I lived and worked with residents of the Adams Morgan neighborhood in a unique, faith based non-profit organization which provided affordable housing and supportive services to economically disadvantaged residents.

In Vermont, I worked as a therapist for five years in the state prison system and also as a family and individual therapist in private practice. I was the start-up director of a community hospital program during the time when patients in the state mental hospitals transitioned into their communities. I worked extensively with people with severe mental illness during that time.

In Tucson, I was a therapist and then Director at COPE, a community mental health agency, and then worked as a therapist at Family Counseling Agency. I worked for Catholic Social Services as an in-home family therapist to support children remaining in the home who would otherwise have been removed by CPS. I have been exclusively in private practice in Tucson since 2005.

I learned through my work with thousands of people in many settings, that each person has that inner spark of the True Self, no matter what the circumstances or outer appearances.

The goal of my work is to assist people to reconnect with their True Self, believe in themselves again, remove the power from the negative, conditioned layer and get back on track in their lives.

Professional Credentials and Training

• Licensed Professional Counselor – Arizona (LPC-10326)
• Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor – Arizona (LISAC-11610)
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (training at University of Arizona)
• EMDR
• IMAGO Relationship Therapy
• Couples Institute: Couples Counseling Training
• Lifeforce Yoga Training (Yoga approaches to mood balancing)