About

While my two specialties, trauma and performance, may seem to be an odd pairing, fear is fundamental to both. Fear triggers a reflexive brain-body reaction that occurs more quickly than one can control.

When I began to practice psychology many clients came to the office whose stated problems were not typically related to trauma. Rather the presenting issues involved depression, anxiety, panic, self-defeating behavior, fear, anger, eating issues etc. Yet a startling number of clients revealed trauma histories as the work progressed. It became apparent that trauma's effects were at the root of their current problems. This piqued my interest in learning all I could (I'm still engaged in that pursuit!) about trauma, attachment, and the brain.

It seemed that talk therapy was not able to help these clients as much as they deserved. So, I began to investigate other forms of therapy that went beyond talk therapy. This led me to EMDR and Brainspotting. These techniques help to light up parts of the brain that are relevant to clients' responses to traumatic experience. Processing in this way proved to be far more efficient, effective and gratifying for them.

Performance has been an enduring interest, stemming from a passion for and study of music (age seven through college). I experienced from the inside out the discipline, commitment, long hours of preparation and focus that goes into performance; along with those special moments when performance entered the zone as if the music poured out of me, just the way I wanted, and with what felt like no effort on my part. At other times, I experienced significant performance anxiety. I know how that wreaks havoc on the performer.

I have also been a sports fan for years and am perpetually curious about the phenomenon of sports. What allows someone, to be confident; what triggers doubt? How does injury affect the mind-body connection? How do self-loathing, negative core beliefs, anger, self-doubt, fear of success and fear of failure affect performance? And, what skills can an athlete cultivate to enter the zone with more frequency?

As with my trauma patients, I was not satisfied with a superficial approach to my athletes. It is a fact that many athletes experience developmental trauma that affect their performance in ways that are surprising. Abusive parents, abusive coaches, parents who want to live vicariously through their kids' victories all can contribute to problems years later.

Professional Development:

• Widener University, Psy.D.
• Widener University, M.A.
• Hahnemann University, Masters in Creative Arts Therapy (M.C.A.T)

• Gestalt Therapy Institute of Philadelphia: Certificate in Gestalt Therapy
• EMDR Institute: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT)
• Certified in Brainspotting
• Ongoing Continuing Education

Relevant Work Experience:

• Albert Einstein Medical Center; Inpatient Psychiatry: Creative Arts Therapist; Group Therapist
• Renfrew Center for Eating Disorder, Philadelphia, PA: Primary Clinician
• Kaiser-Primavera, PC, Philadelphia, PA: Licensed Psychologist
• Villanova University Counseling Center, Villanova, PA: Staff Psychologist
• Private Practice since 2004: Licensed Psychologist

Affiliations/Memberships:

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA)
• International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISST-D)