After earning my B.A. in Experimental Psychology from UCSB (1977) and my Master's Degree in Psychology/School Psychology and Pupil Personnel Credential from California State University, Northridge (1979), I began my career as a School Psychologist . During my 25 year tenure with three different California public school systems (including Oak Park Unified School District here in Ventura County), I worked with children of all ages (infants to 22 years of age) with a variety of handicapping conditions including ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Communication Handicaps, Spectrum Disorders, Emotional Disturbance, Visual Handicaps, Hard of Hearing and Deaf, mental retardation, and orthopedic handicaps.
As a school psychologist and member of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, I conducted over 2500 psychoeducational evaluations and developed Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Accommodation Plans for identified students. Additionally, I provided counseling services for students struggling with academic and social problems. I worked closely with parents/families to assist them in implementing changes--in the home setting--that would lead to greater academic success for their children. While serving as a school psychologist, I was trained in Behavior Intervention and served as a Behavior Intervention Specialist for over two decades. In 1982, I became a board-certified Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) and maintained a private practice in addition to my work as a school psychologist.
In 2003, I returned to school and entered a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. I completed my Ph.D. in 2008. I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist and have four years of additional training in psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy. I received this training at the Wright Institute of Los Angeles as a pre-doctoral intern and Reiss Davis Child Study Center in Los Angeles as a Post-doctoral Fellow.
Retired from the public school system and adjunct teaching, I now divide my time between my private practice in Westlake and many life-affirming activities such as sailing, hiking, travel, and painting.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology--Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, CA
M.A., Psychology/School Psychology--California State University, Northridge
B.A., Experimental Psychology--University of California, Santa Barbara
CREDENTIALS, LICENSES & CERTIFICATES
Licensed Clinical Psychologist PSY23451
Licensed Educational Psychologist LEP1337
Pupil Personnel Credential (Life)
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificate, Wright Institute
WORK EXPERIENCE
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Educational Psychologist -- Private Practice
School Psychologist - Oak Park Unified (1998-2005), Moreno Valley Unified (1986 to 1998), San Bernardino Unified (1979-1986)
CLINICAL TRAINING
Reiss-Davis Child Study Center, Los Angeles - Two- Year Postdoctoral Fellow
Specializing in Child, Adolescent psychotherapy, and parent work
Training Program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with an emphasis on play therapy techniques
Wright Institute, Los Angeles - Two-Year Predoctoral Internship
Specializing in Adult psychotherapy using a psychoanalytic/psychodynamic approach
TEACHING
California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
Adjunct Faculty
Graduate Psychology Department
Courses: Law and Ethics, Psychopharmacology, Psychological Testing and Measurement, Psychopathology, History and Systems, Life Span Development, and Gender and Sexuality
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Adjunct Faculty-School Psychology/Educational Psychology Program
Educational Support Services
Courses: School Psychology Intern Seminar and Field Supervision
Antioch University Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Adjunct Faculty
PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology
Courses: Cognitive Assessment; Neuropsychological Assessment