Education

I hold my Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. I completed part of my pre-doctoral training at the UCLA Center for Health & Human Services, while receiving the Cornelius Hopper Diversity Award from the UC Office of the President. I also trained with the UCLA Center for Health & Human Services as a Fellow in collaboration with the Veteran’s Administration. My further trainings also included UCLArts and Healing, and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, while working with transitional age youth (TAY) and the LGBTIQA+ community. I completed my post-doctoral training with college students at Santa Monica College. I am currently working in private practice in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, CA. I completed my Masters of Education degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and have taught and worked with students in higher educational institutions internationally. I am also an active Teacher in K-12 in the Santa Monica and Malibu school district and consult with educators and parents about educational concerns. My Bachelors of Arts was completed at the University of California, Santa Cruz with a research thesis in psycholinguistics.

Experience

I have been in field of mental health since 1993, first working at a locked county facility in Santa Cruz, CA. Since then, I have not only provided education, counseling, and consultation in schools, universities, hospitals, and private homes, but I have also been a survivor of the mental health system. It is my personal experience, more than my professional experience, that gives me the capacity to transcend and guide you to explore the depths of your unconscious, endure the suffering, build resilience, and discover your authentic Self. My journey of self-healing has expanded over 30 years, and I long to walk with you in your healing process.

I have given presentations and workshops in the areas of extraordinary experiences, the numinous, extreme and peak experiences, spiritual emergence, including those experiences pathologized and labelled as “psychosis” and “schizophrenias” by the current outdated biomedical model. My research interests include human suffering, crisis, identity concerns, including cultural identity and diversity in mental health. I have experience in expressive art modalities and have led & facilitated numerous groups & educational trips.