ABOUT ME

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California with over twenty years of clinical experience with adolescents, adults, and families.  I specialize in the treatment of emotion dysregulation, suicidality, non-suicidal self-injury, substance use, disordered eating, and behavior problems. My clinical training began at the Center for the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder at McLean Hospital where I worked with young adults with severe emotional instability and self-harming behaviors. Later, as an intern, at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, I worked therapeutically with adolescents and adults with multiple, serious emotional, and behavioral difficulties.  While on staff at UCLA’s Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program, I received specialized training working therapeutically with adolescents presenting with suicidality and emotion dysregulation. Also at UCLA I trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as well as psychological and neuropsychological assessment.

I am intensely trained in DBT and have completed several of Behavioral Tech’s trainings including DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol for Trauma. As an Executive Director I founded, developed and oversaw multiple DBT programs for adolescents struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and co-occurring suicidal behaviors and non-suicidal self-injury. I serve on several expert panels providing consultation on DBT and evidence-based practices. In addition I have presented at National conferences and to general audiences speaking on the topics of borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy, suicide and parenting.