I am a clinical psychologist who works with young children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. My treatment philosophy and approach uses a truly integrative developmental perspective: genetic, biological, familial, cultural, and relationship patterns all influence human development. Mental health and well-being are consistent with optimum human development. Well being involves achievement of an essential balance between the real/external and the imagined/internal forces of influence on both the mind and the body. Furthermore, there is a human conditional need to make peace with one's own personal narrative (your story) and to have a trusted listener (therapist) to tell it to.

I have special interest in personality and identity development through life's transitions (for example: parenting, attachment and separation, coping with college, new baby, grief, crises of faith or self/identity, career, major life events, etc.). I work with people who present with symptoms of anxiety, depression, dissociative conditions, attention or learning problems, and those who have experienced traumatic stress or who have unusual mental symptoms.

I am particularly sensitive to multicultural concerns, matters of race and ethnic identity, and to the importance of knowing oneself in the context of relationships with others. I combine my scientific background in developmental psychopathology and neuroscience with my longstanding interests in psychoanalysis and culture. I have a background as a university professor with an extensive research career studying children and adolescent personality development.

My psychotherapy style is depth- and insight-oriented from a psychoanalytic tradition. Duration of treatments vary from shorter-term to open-ended depending upon the needs of the patient. In my therapeutic work, I combine matters of the spirit with matters of science: I have a passion for understanding people, a commitment to reducing suffering, and a regular sense of humor.