Education

Wake Forest University, B.A., 1971
North Carolina State University, M.S., 1973; Ph.D. 1975
Dorothea Dix Hospital 1974-1975 internship
John F Kennedy University, 1977-1979, post doctoral studies and internship

Affiliations

American Psychological Association
California Psychological Association

Professional Biography

I hail from North Carolina and am a licensed clinical psychologist. I began practicing as a psychotherapist in California in 1979. Below is a summary of my professional training and experience.

After completion of my Ph.D., I completed training as a group psychotherapist from the National Training Lab in Bethel, Maine (1974-1977). I served as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Coker College, South Carolina (1975-1977). During this time, I also provided group therapy for Vietnam Veterans suffering from PTSD.

I came to California in 1977 for an internship at the Esalen Institute. I settled in Oakland and joined the staff of the Institute for Creative and Artistic Development (ICAD), lead by Eugene Sagan, Ph.D., a student of Fritz Perls. I studied Gestalt psychotherapy and creative writing as self-development tools in working with patients.

In 1977-1981 I served as staff therapist for Phoenix House, Inc., providing psychological services to individuals and families of psychotic populations in an experimental treatment program.

From 1981-1985, I was a staff psychologist at San Quentin Prison, coordinating and facilitating inmate treatment in a research program designed to investigate optimal treatment strategies for sociopathic personality disorder.

From 1981 to 1993 I served as a field clinician for Occupational Health Services, providing treatment to policemen and firemen, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, and depression. I was rated "Best Overall Psychotherapist" by clients for services provided during this time.

From 1984-1990 I lectured at U. C. Berkeley Extension, teaching the psychotherapy of depression, and the various personality disorders to other clinicians.

From 1987 to 1990 I did volunteer work with the homeless population of Berkeley, in co-ordination with the Berkeley Chaplaincy program.

I began my private practice in 1979, which continues to the present. I have been fortunate over the years, to continue to develop professionally under some extraordinary mentors:

I studied intensely with Eugene Sagan, Ph.D, a gestalt/humanist from 1977-1986.

From 1985 -1991 I studied cognitive/behavioral therapy with well-known behaviorist, Zol Garfield, Ph.D.

From 1989 -1997 I studied with James F.T. Bugental, Ph.D., a nationally known leader, writer, and teacher in existential-humanistic psychotherapy.

I consulted with international teacher of existential-humanistic psychotherapy Paul Bracke, Ph.D., from 1998-2006, where I learned techniques for treating the serious effects of stress and Type A behavior.

From 2008 to present I have been working with John Gottman, Ph.D, a world-renowned leader on relationship stability and divorce prediction, involving the study of emotions, physiology and communication.

I bring all of my training to my private practice with individuals, couples and families.