I welcome men and women age 18 and over into my practice. In addition, I would like to emphasize my availability to the following groups:
Women
Women are a major focus of my practice. I have studied the psychology of women and, as an adjunct professor, have taught Women’s Studies at the University of La Verne. Feminism can be seen by some as a negative or controversial term, however, in the sense that I value women and seek to empower them, I embrace that term. I see feminism as a philosophy that is for everyone. A true feminist strives for equal rights and respect for all people. Additionally, I try to understand women as individuals and help them find their path in a society which — sometimes blatantly, sometimes subtly — persists in relegating them to a secondary role. Workplace issues, life transitions, anxiety and depression are all areas in which I have worked with women in my practice.
LGBTQ
Throughout my practice I have welcomed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and I have taught classes in LGBTQ studies, also at the University of LaVerne. My purpose, again, is to value people as individuals, no matter what their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to help them find their power and their path in what remains an often profoundly homophobic and transphobic society. Further, I understand that sexual orientation or gender identification may or may not be an issue for discussion in therapy, depending on the particular individual and how they have integrated their gender and sexual orientation into their lives.
Students
Much of my practice has been devoted to working with Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional Students. I worked for four years in the Student Health Center on USC’s Health Sciences Campus, and still have the pleasure of working with a number of students from that and other medical schools. The transition from home to college can be very stressful, and in these pandemic times being away at college is often and uncertain and stressful thing. Additionally, Graduate school, medical school, law school and other professional schools are environments where people are put under huge amounts of stress for long periods of time, while sometimes discouraging people from getting help or relief for the stress. In addition to the effects of stress itself, stress puts pressure on coping mechanisms so that it is difficult for the stressed person to deal with things that, in another environment, they would be able to deal with effectively. It is my hope to help with this situation so the student can complete their studies in the most effective way possible.