PERSONAL INFORMATION
Now a little bit about me, as its only fair that you have sense of me. I’m not one of those therapists that is uncomfortable or unwilling to share a little of themselves with their clients. I also recognize that these days that you can find out just about anything you want about anyone you want…
From an early age, I knew that I wanted to help people in the medical or health profession. No surprise, as both of my parents were medical professionals. I was an army brat for a number of years so we moved all around the US and even lived in Lima, Peru. If you’ve ever been in a military or foreign service family, you’ll know that moving around is a common occurrence. After leaving the service, my family settled in a small, mid-western town.
This was very different after living in so many diverse places. Settling in a small town where everyone seemed to know each other, made me aware of how it feels to be an outsider. If you’ve moved around, you likely understand what I am talking about. I loved the friendliness of the mid-west but knew it would not be my “forever-home”, weather being a huge factor.
College
As you know, college is often an opportunity to explore new places. While I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, I was able to explore other universities, as well. I enjoyed and was honored to be included in a summer program at Georgetown University. I also took some classes at George Washington University and Indiana University, during my undergraduate years.
In grad school, again at the University of Michigan, I received two Masters Degrees, one in Public Health in which I studied health behavior (why people make health decisions and possibly stay locked into them) and health education (how to help people change bad habits, such as smoking) and Social Work focused in Mental Health and Interpersonal Practice – the areas necessary to become a Psychotherapist.
After grad school, in between my first and second job in the Philadelphia area, I went to Cuba to study Spanish (I’m still not fluent) and explore what seemed to be a forbidden world. I also spent time going back and forth to Europe and North Africa. In fact, my wandering spirit never felt truly at home until I moved to paradise, aka southern Florida. If you’re a wanderer, you know what it feels like when you’ve finally found your “soul home.” Now the only wandering I want to do is vacationing and going to visit family and friends in the US and Europe, where my husband is from.
Practice
I’m sure you’ve heard that its important for your therapist to specialize but you also want to work with someone with a breadth of experience so that they can understand all of you, not just one sliver. I’ve worked across a range of settings with people from all over the world. This varied experience helps me to “get” all of you. My natural curiosity and non-judgmental stance will create a space to share the parts of yourself that perhaps you’ve never shared before.
You may wonder why I’ve had an in-person practice, an online practice and do walk and talk therapy, utilizing the beach. This is because I’ve watched people heal in different ways, in different spaces. I want to give my clients the opportunity to heal in the space that feels best for them.
As you can see by my photos, the beach is my favorite place. I have found that my clients who do therapy there, often find it easier to get “out of their heads” and connect with their “here and now.” The sound of the waves, the smell of the sea air, the feel of the ocean breeze, the warmth of the sun, and the sand between their toes, connects them to the present moment in a way that a more sterile environment, cannot.
That being said, I love online therapy, perhaps, most of all, because being in your familiar, “safe space” can allow a client-therapist connection like none other, I’ve seen. I guess you could say, I love people and connecting with them in many different environments.
