No

Yes

Clinical Psychologist

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, California, and received my Psy.D. from The Wright Institute. I am highly trained in psychodynamic and relational theories with over twenty years of experience working with diverse populations with a wide range of issues, and I continue to pursue regular training and consolation to deepen my practice. I serve children and adults who are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and young adult issues. I am typically engaging and interactive during session, and use a client-centered approach to treatment, utilizing feedback from my clients to facilitate the progress of treatment goals. Providing a safe environment to explore the conflicts that brings one to therapy is instrumental in the long-term healing and personal growth of each individual.


In addition to providing psychotherapy, I also conduct neuropsychological assessments for children, teenagers, and adults who wish to learn more about how they approach and interact with the world. Neuropsychological evaluations are crucial in determining what, if any, issues may be impacting academic, professional, social, or emotional functioning. I specialize in assessing the impact of attentional difficulties and deficits in executive functioning on academic performance. In discussing the results of testing, I offer clinical and practical recommendations to clients regarding ways to improve functioning and limit the impact of any diagnoses.

Moving through life means encountering inevitable pitfalls and periods of stress and sometimes, we power through and endure without question. In times of particular struggle, it can be challenging to pinpoint the true, or original source of our discomfort.

There is no step-by-step manual to effectively guide us through life to avoid pitfalls and times of stress. When we are thrown off balance and struggle, it can be challenging to pinpoint the true source of our discomfort.

Even when it seems easy to identify our fears, relationship conflicts, or unhealthy patterns, it may be difficult to find healthy, sustainable resolutions. With so much information and interpersonal engagement saturating our world, it can be daunting and confusing to know what is genuinely best for oneself.

Therapy can provide a supportive environment that allows space for being curious about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior, as well as how the three are related. As trust is built in the therapeutic relationship, the difficult questions that tend to be avoided or unseen in life can be explored. It tends to be challenging at times, but as a deeper understanding is gained, so is an authentic sense of personal freedom.



I've always felt that the following poem captures the nature of the struggle to shift from problematic patterns:

Autobiography in Five Chapters

by Portia Nelson

I.

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost...
I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

II.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I'm in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in...it's a habit
My eyes are open; I know where I am;
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

IV.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V.

I walk down another street.

Psychologist

PSY 27924

2016

CA

12

The Wright Institute

PsyD

2014

True

No