Why psychotherapy?  When people come to talk with me, usually they have tried to help themselves in many different ways, and are puzzled about the difficulties they continue to have.  Psychotherapy is a direct expression of an old saying, “two minds are better than one.” We, as humans, are born into relationships first with our parents and then in increasingly complex circles growing into forming our own families as adults.  In psychotherapy, two people agree to focus their attention, intellect and emotional life on one person, to increase understanding and promote emotional growth.  Psychotherapy provides an opportunity to think the thoughts that are hard, hard in the sense of emotionally painful, and to bear the pain associated with recognizing one’s own contributions to life difficulties.  Out of these recognitions come opportunities for change.
When working with children, I establish a collaborative relationship with parents so that the adults can provide the support needed for a child to cope with and change in ways that make room for ordinary development to proceed.  In line with my philosophy that the work of childhood is play, I generally engage children in play therapy for direct treatment.

I have been serving adults and children in Oakland for over thirty years, helping people with a variety of problems including anxiety and depression as well as general dissatisfaction, problems with intimacy and development of a capacity for joy in life. 

Professional Interests

Adults

• Helping people reach their full potential by reducing unconscious interference with their own development
• Resolving barriers to the development of intimacy in relationships
• Learning to lessen chronic anxiety or depression, so that more light and joy can enter your life
• Thinking through worries about alcohol and drug use

Parents and Children

• Supporting couples through the transitions of becoming parents and changing as their children change
• Increasing parents empathy for their children while they become more confident in parenting
• Aiding children to free themselves from crippling anxiety and/or depression so that they can be free for the work of childhood, playing and learning

Couples

• Working with couples to preserve their intimate life as a loving couple while meeting their responsibilities to their children
• Facilitating closeness and interdependence between partners through improving communication
• Reducing conflict and increasing connection

Professional Training
In addition to the five years in post graduate education spent earning my doctorate, I also have advanced training in the clinical practice of psychoanalysis, including extensive theoretical study, supervised clinical analysis and my own personal analysis, an essential part of preparing myself to help others.  Please see my website  for a complete descrition of my training, credentials and publications. .

Years in Practice

Education

• 1999 Psychoanalyst San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis
  
• 1980 Ph.D. Ca School of Professional Psychology
  
• 1975 B.S. Virginia Commonwealth University
  

Professional Affiliations

• International Psychoanalytical Association
  
• American Psychoanalytic Association
  
• California Psychological Association
  
• No. Ca Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology
  

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