I came to the field of marriage and family therapy as a second career, out of appreciation for the healing therapy provides. My first career was law. I most enjoyed what we call corporate governance or informed decision making by corporations. I obtained an AV Preeminent rating of professional excellence by Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory and did my best to serve.
In litigation, we work with the many parts that make up the whole of a story; change in any one part, however small, can radically alter a case outcome. In therapy, we also work with the parts and the whole, reframing them in a way that best suits what you need from life right now, and as life progresses. After all, who you were at 15 is not who you are at 25, 50 or beyond. Sometimes, what we need is the freedom to adapt. Even while I practiced law, I nurtured my soul through community service and my own personal growth and development work. As an attorney, I frequently wrote and presented on topics of practical application, and as a therapist, have presented at the Florida Counselor’s Association and in Group workshops for the International Association of Social Work in Groups.
In working with domestic violence victims, I was able to provide basic training for individuals forced to represent themselves pro se in injunction proceedings. After watching one well-prepared client present her case, the judge encouraged the client to consider law school. I now utilize my advocacy and passion for people, social justice and healing, as a new kind of Counselor, one integrating the healing arts.
I also bring more than 15 years of training and development with Landmark Worldwide and participation in Being a Leader with Werner Erhard. These courses provide experiential, on the court training to deal with living an invented life.
I obtained my undergraduate degree in journalism from Loyola University in New Orleans, LA. I wrote life and times stories for the school newspaper. Expressive writing and journaling are now a focus of mine. I have steadily maintained a journal for more than 20 years and utilize expressive writing in session and in workshops entitled Write to Be.
I attended law school in Gainesville Florida, at the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. There, I also served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review and was awarded the Myrna Brick service award. I currently maintain membership in both the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists and the Florida Bar Association. I also participate in the IASWG, the Florida Society for Group Work and the Jungian Association of South Florida. I have undertaken numerous trainings in Jungian dream work and archetypes, Trauma Incident Reduction, DBT skills, psychodrama and group work. I see learning as a lifelong process.
