My Passion — Supporting growth and resilience in Couples and Families

Every morning I look forward to the honor of working with my clients. In the last 42 years my time with individuals, couples, children, and families continually humbles me as I see them grow. 

Couples find new avenues to reach each other, and parents delight in new-found tools for communicating with their children. Magic happens in my office as conflicts are resolved and insights are revealed. For me this is the joy of being a marriage and family therapist.

The Aspen

You’ll notice the Quaking Aspen tree throughout my web pages.  The trees speak to an aspect of me that is closely aligned and attentive to nature.  As a child, the Quaking Aspen trees were the signal for me that we had reached the high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I loved the gentle shimmer of the quaking leaves along with the delicate tree trunks that withstand wind, fire, and snow.  They represent a resilience able to withstand the forces of nature.  There is fragility in the white bark combined with the strength to face the unpredictability of nature.  Like the Aspen, even after trauma and hurt, mankind is able to survive, repair, and grow.

I grew up in a large family, coping with the challenges of alcoholism. The quietness and strength of the Aspen became a source and symbol of solace and restoration. As a therapist, I hope my office can be such a refuge—a place of solace, restoration and growth.  As each person shows their pain, my hope is that they will discover roots of courage, together writing a new story that provides hope, creativity, and sense of purpose.

Compassionate, Holistic Counseling

My intention in counseling is to support families, couples, and individuals who want the skills and wisdom to create healthy relationships, particularly in their family life.  I bring my knowledge and training in systems theory, behavior and cognitive therapy and neuroscience to meet the specific needs of each of my clients. Most importantly, I listen with compassion and curiosity as to how I might give guidance holistically--healing the body, mind, and spirit.  My hope is that individuals will find hope as they witness strength in their unique changes and that they will come to know what it means to support each other’s growth in relationship.

Credentials & Experience

With a B.A. from UC Berkeley, I was trained well to value the minds and curiosities of young children from diverse backgrounds. I used this gift to teach in challenging schools in the backwoods of New Hampshire, the plains of Texas and the diverse urban setting of Cleveland, Ohio. Each experience prompted me to be interested in family life, parenting and the creative minds of children. 

As a mother of two sons my inquisitiveness about the growth and development of healthy family life led me toward an M.A. from Central Washington University, specializing in training programs in “family systems and school counseling. “

As a school counselor in both Northshore and Lake Washington School districts, I relished the opportunity to interface with parents who wanted specific guidance and knowledge in behavior management and raising emotionally healthy children.  Witnessing many children who had single, hardworking parents with little time, inspired me to create a mentoring program with the schools and a local church that linked these children with healthy caring adults.

As a family therapist of 42 years I bring both a background in education and experience in family court mediation to my present work with diverse relationships & life stories.  

Links: Psychology Today, Facebook, LinkedIn