I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#43710) with a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from New College of California and a certificate of modern psychoanalysis from the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California.
Since the start of my clinical practice in 2001, I have served hundreds of individual adults as well as adolescents and families in various settings including private practice, schools, inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment centers. Through these experiences, I developed a special interest and expertise in helping culturally diverse adults, adolescents, and families overcome a range of emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues that interfere with growth and development.
To integrate the richness of my professional experience into a comprehensive psychotherapeutic approach, I pursued advanced training in modern psychoanalysis. I am a psychoanalyst member of PINC and the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA).
Before becoming a psychoanalyst, I spent two decades in academic research science, studying and teaching microbial biochemistry and developmental genetics at major universities in Germany and the United States. My international background shapes my sensitivities to and interests in language, cross-cultural phenomena, emigration, and immigration.
My therapeutic approach is also informed by the meaningful work I have done in my own talk therapy. In fact, it was because of my first-hand transformative experience through therapy that I ultimately changed careers and dedicated my remaining professional life to helping adults, teens, and their families in the way I had been helped.
Certifications
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, #43710, California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), 2006-present
Psychoanalyst, International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA), 2015-present
Education
Modern Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California, 2015
M.A., Clinical Psychology, New College of California, San Francisco 2004
Ph.D., Microbial Biochemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany 1993
M.S., Microbiology, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany 1990
Professional Experience
Psychotherapist and Supervisor, Private Practice, San Francisco 2005-Present
Staff Psychotherapist, Elpida House, San Rafael 2006-08
Milieu Therapist, McAuley Adolescent Inpatient Unit and Day Treatment Center, St. Mary’s Hospital, San Francisco 2005-06
Therapist Intern, Community Institute for Psychotherapy, San Rafael 2003-05
School Counselor, Davidson and Del Mar Middle Schools, Marin County 2004-05
Milieu Therapist, Homeward Bound of Marin, 2003-04
Crisis Intervention Counselor, Crisis Support Services of Alameda County 2001-03
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California at Berkeley 1998-2003
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge 1994-98
Professional Memberships
California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC)
International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA)
