About Me
I am a licensed clinical social worker in New York, New Jersey and California.
My approach synthesizes both evidence based and cutting edge therapies with the aim of integrating mind and body. These approaches include somatic experiencing, gestalt therapy, mindfulness, psychodynamic, relational, jungian and transpersonal (eastern and western esoteric) approaches. Please read more about them on my therapies page.
My clients tend to experience me as down to earth, warm and easy to relate to. In addition to extensive traditional and holistic training, I use my intuition to guide us and view our connection as something very sacred. When we work together, I tune into the higher wisdoms and energies that assist us and accelerate your healing process. Because much of my work is energetic, sometimes things shift more quickly than expected which is always exciting for me to experience as well.
My loyalty is to you and what emerges in the unique relationship we form together and it is not about fitting you into any kind of system or model. In other words, I work flexibly so that you feel met and understood. Therapy is always tailored to you and your needs.
Professional Experience
I received my Masters in Social Work in 1995 from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work and worked for numerous mental health, child/family, school based and addiction clinics throughout New York City including Mount Sinai Medical Center for 11 years in the departments of child and adult psychiatry, trauma and OCD.
My training includes over 20 years of study in Gestalt therapy, training in Somatic Experiencing as well as years of study in psychodynamic, Jungian and modern psychoanalytic approaches. Additionally, I am trained by leading experts in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which includes training by The Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) for OCD and psychodynamically by Paul Geltner.
My approach to child therapy is unique and always centered around the child’s unique personality and gifts. I combine mind-body tools (ranging from meditation, grounding practices, dance), art therapy, mindfulness and a specialty in understanding highly sensitive and neurodiverse children and adults who have been misunderstood and misdiagnosed by more traditional approaches.
I’ve also had an intensive meditation and spiritual practice for many years and incorporate Eastern and Western spiritual approaches that complement psychological development including Buddhist Psychology, Kabbalah, Reiki and Astrology. In addition, I studied with and was certified by transpersonal psychotherapist and Kundalini expert Bonnie Greenwell, to support people through Kundalini and other spiritual and energetic awakenings.
I lecture, write and lead workshops, groups and trainings for clinicians, yoga practitioners, private and public schools and the general public on embodied living, coping with anxiety, mindfulness practices and the integration of psychology and spirituality.
Places I have taught include: Barnard College, The NY Institute For Gestalt Therapy, Gestalt Associates for Psychotherapy, The Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy, The JCC of Manhattan, The Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute, La Palestra Center for Preventative Medicine and the Chapin School for Girls in Manhattan.
I have also published two pieces on the subject of trauma, neurodiversity and obsessive compulsive disorder. The first was an academic article in The British Gestalt Journal which proposes a new way of working with and conceptualizing obsessive compulsive process as a response to trauma. Read it here.
The second piece is a book chapter I authored in September 2019, in the newly published book “Obsessive Compulsive Experiences: A Gestalt Perspective.” This chapter focuses on Obsessive compulsive processes, neurodiversity and the role temperament plays in making highly sensitive children and adults more susceptible to traumatic experience. I emphasize the critical need for the mental health community and parents to acknowledge neurodiversity and the overlooked population of highly sensitive children and adults. Read it here.
Most importantly, as a fellow human, I understand the complexities and subtleties of being a person in this ever evolving complicated world we live in and can relate to personal struggle in very deep ways from my own continuous and enormous psychological work and spiritual growth.
I believe we all have the power to find our resiliency in relation to our most painful traumas and this is because of our spirits’ innate longing to heal and attain a sense of wholeness. The work we do together helps you create more space to embody more of your true nature which includes your intuition and inner wisdom. It can also soften the impact of societal and family conditioning.
