I received my doctorate in Psychology from the University of California and did my postdoctoral clinical training at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), a premier training site for clinical psychologists and psychiatrists in the Bay Area. During training, I treated clients diverse in ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, gender, health status, and life circumstances. I am licensed to practice clinical psychology in the State of California (PSY21764). I continue to pursue training opportunities; I am Certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy (www.icceft.com) (www.ncceft.com) and have advanced training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (www.aedpinstitute.org).

As a therapist, I draw on more than 25 years of teaching and conducting research as a Professor at the University of California (UCSF) School of Medicine. My research has focused on many areas that inform my therapeutic work, including research on decision-making, stress, health and risk behaviors, sexuality, and women’s reproductive health. Much of my research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and I have published extensively in the professional literature. I have also had the opportunity to assist in shaping national health and science policy in Washington, D.C., and have served as an advisor to the National Academies of Science.

Bringing together these diverse experiences and areas of expertise has given me a rich, well-rounded perspective and sensitivity to the human experience.