My Training and Background

Having worked as a mental health professional for more than twenty-five years, I draw from a wide body of knowledge. My work is particularly influenced by Mindful Experiential Therapy Approaches (META), including current thinking on neural patterning, attachment and the use of mindfulness as a tool for change. I am a Certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer, a Re-Creation of the Self facilitator, a faculty member at Hakomi of the Pacific Northwest and The Embody Lab, offering training and consultation for somatic practitioners. My undergraduate degree in psychology from Reed College (1986) emphasized the science of behavior, focusing on understanding how the brain works, interpreting research and critically evaluating clinical approaches. My Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from Portland State University (1993, Summa Cum Laude) provided opportunities for refining my clinical skills from a systems perspective. Post-graduate studies included two years at the Institute for Family-Centered Therapy, deepening my facility with Family of Origin theory and practice. Additionally, I've pursued advanced training in trauma resolution, attachment and couples work, embodied social justice, group work, sexuality and intimacy, crisis intervention, art therapy, narrative therapy and mindful living. I bring a strong anti-oppression perspective to my work and completed Ruth King’s year-long Mindful of Race training in 2021. In addition, my work is informed by many years of spiritual training, particularly in earth-based and non-dual traditions. I am a teacher of meditation, movement and the use of ritual for personal growth.