About Me
My story begins with a camera. I initially trained as a photo historian and have an MFA (Masters in Fine Arts) in Photography. After several years of curating with local and national galleries and museums, I stepped behind the camera with my mother as we started a portrait
photography studio. Over the next decade, as my children grew and the photography medium changed from film to digital, I came to realize that while I was still interested in storytelling, it was no longer grounded in visual imagery but instead delving deeper into helping people with their personal stories. I decided to return to school where I pursued a Master's in Counseling. I completed my internship with Crisis Preparation and Recovery and was subsequently hired to work in its Scottsdale outpatient counseling office. I worked with CPR for over 6 years prior to beginning my private practice.
I am a member of EMDRIA (Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association), a Certified Counselor from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Arizona (LPC). I am certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), trained in Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY) and Polyvagal Theory.
I am a native of Arizona, having lived in San Francisco for a brief stint. I am married with two grown children, two rescue dogs and a desert tortoise. I currently serve on the Governance Board of Jewish Family and Children Services; having been a volunteer and advocate with JFCS since my father introduced me to the organization over 30 years ago.
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom" Viktor Frankl
My approach to counseling begins with recognizing that everyone is unique, and I will focus on you, as an individual. I view the individual as a whole and am willing to explore how significant childhood and adult experiences have shaped correlations between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. I believe that my role is to help you achieve your goals in the most efficient and effective way possible. However, my role also involves challenging belief systems or behaviors that have contributed to the reasons you are seeking counseling today. My goal is to provide a supportive and nonjudgmental environment, while encouraging growth and healing.
The path you are on is not always an easy one. For this I applaud your motivation and dedication. I will be by your side along this journey, as there will be times when counseling focuses on subject matter that can be overwhelming. I encourage you to recognize that the therapeutic relationship is an important part of counseling and thrives on mutual respect and motivation.