I am a licensed clinical and school psychologist with 50 years of experience and training.

I specialize in leading people deep within themselves to clear obstacles and become the people they are meant to be: purposeful, happy, fulfilled and free.

 
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I realize that my life has been A journey of healing.

I believe that is true for all of us.

I am a grandchild of immigrants, born in a family who owned a bar in the south side of Chicago. Education was the ticket to a better life and the beginning of becoming a life long learner.

I received my Ph.D, from Northern Illinois University, my clinical internship and residency, at Illinois State Psychiatric Institute, I was trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, individual and family therapy. I have been trained in hypnosis, trauma, and addictions. I have worked inpatient and outpatient facilities, with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families. I have been the clinical director of an adult 55 bed inpatient program, taught at a university, and worked in schools with children with disabilities. I have trained with native healers of North and South America. I have been a consultant and trainer for the State of Colorado in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Finally, I have re-committed to doing what I really love - being a therapist. I challenge others to become honest with themselves, heal the wreckage of the past and create the life the want.

Along the way, I was presented with teachers who insisted the way to be a good therapist is to do my own work.

I had the privilege to work with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. who blew the doors off my concept of healing. I thought I was going to learn about death and dying, and trauma. I did, but I also learned about life and living. My memory is that she said,

“Life is a school. We are here to learn lessons of a spiritual nature - big lessons, like forgiveness and love. When we’re done, we graduate, we rest, then we sign up for another course…”

Following Elizabeth, I have been devoted to the study of trauma and its impact on all aspects of our lives. I am committed to meeting people where they are, respecting their pain and coping strategies that have kept them functioning. Yet encouraging them to walk the road of recovery.

I had the privilege to work with Milton Erickson, M.D. who taught me about trance - much more than hypnosis - trusting the divine unconscious to go deep within and guide and direct us to healing.

I am well versed in addictions and recovery, and have great respect for 12 Step Recovery programs (AA, Alanon, etc.)

For the last 20 years, I have studied meditation and been taught to become one with my Divine self.

Most recently, I have competed extensive training in EMDR through the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (EMDR HAP) an arm of EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) to become certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing).

I am committed to a wholistic approach to healing and exploring all aspects of wellness.

my work is the culmination of my 50 years of experience.

Although, I have been trained and worked across the continuum of psychotherapies, I specialize in doing deep work on healing unresolved issues.

Therapy, for me, begins with identifying concerns or problematic issues, getting a sense of your history, or the bigger picture, and developing a road map for treatment.

We have many choices. We can continue in a more traditional manner: to talk, understand, and problem solve. However, I find utilizing EMDR or trance work to be extremely efficent and effective strategies. Trance work or “Going Within”, uses deep relaxation and visualization to reclaim and release the pain we carry, Deep work allows us to discover the wisdom and deep healing that resides in all of us.

EMDR is a technique with 30 years of research support. A full explanation can be found on the EMDR International Association webiste: EMDRIA. “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.”(EMDRIA)

I find EMDR or trance work to be incredibly powerful, efficient and effective tools. Both of these tools allow us to collaborate with our unconscious. Combining deep work with traditional therapy, that is, examining an issue for greater understanding and learning new behaviors can be very effective. Therapy is very individualized. Each person’s experience is unique.

Folks can make changes in amazing ways and be freed of troubling issues.

There are many roads to healing. It is critical that clients are informed in all aspects of therapy. It is critical that clients feel respected, empowered and know they have choice and direct their treatment.

It is important that individuals be good consumers and trust themselves when picking a therapist. Clearly, finding someone who has training, experience and is qualified is critical. However, just as important, is choosing a therapist who a good fit for them. Someone they can feel safe with. Someone who can lead them through the maze of their difficulty to a healthier, more functional, happier way of living.

I have an office in Colorado. I also work via telehealth.

Sessions are generally one hour. I am a provider for many insurance and government assistance programs, Medicare, Medicaid. I also work with many employee assistance programs (EAPs).

 
 
“Once a young woman said to me, “Hafiz, what is the sign of someone who knows God?” I became very quiet and looked into her eyes, then replied. “My dear they have dropped the knife. Someone who knows God has dropped the cruel knife that most so often use upon their tender self and others.”
— Hafiz, A Year With Hafiz, by Daniel Ladinsky
 
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RESOURCES: Books, Websites

Trauma

  • Getting Past Your Past,  Francine Shapiro

  • The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Von der Holk, MD

  • What Happened to You, Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, and Oprah, 

  • The Boy that Was Raised as a Dog, Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, and Maia Szalavitz

  • My Grandmother's Hands, Resmaa Menakem,

  • No Bad Parts, Richard Schwartz

  • Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent Isabel Wilkerson

Recovery 

  • Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition

  • Codependent NoMore, How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself, Melody Beattie

  • The Courage to Change: One Day at a Time in Alanon

  • Daily Reflections: A Book of Reflections by AA Members

Useful Strategies

  • Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear

  • The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

  • Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits that Help You Move Freely and Live Fully by Kelly & Juliet Starlett

  • Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

  • Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

  • The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Autism (In conjunction with Helen San https://helensan.com/)

BOOKS

  • 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching & Raising Children with Autism or Asperger’s. Arlington, Texas: Future Horizons, Inc.

  • Asperger Syndrome and Social Relationships: Adults Speak Out About Asperger Syndrome
    by Genevieve Edmonds

  • Autism, Asperger's, and Sexuality: Puberty and Beyond by Newport, J., & Newport, M.

  • Autism: Now What? The Primer for Parents by Abby Ward Collins

  • Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome by Tony Attwood

  • Baker, J. (2008) No More Meltdowns. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc.

  • Buron, K. (2007) A 5 Is Against the Law! Social Boundaries: Straight Up! An honest guide for teens and young adults.  Shawnee, Missouri:  AAPC Publishing. 

  • Buron, K., Curtis, M. (2012) The Incredible 5 Point Scale: The Significantly Improved and Expanded Second Edition; Assisting Students in Understanding Social Interactions and Controlling their Emotional Responses. Shawnee, Missouri:  AAPC Publishing. 

  • Cardon, T. (2008) 10 Top Tips: A Survival Guide for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum.  Shawnee Mission, Kansas: AAPC Publishing.

  • Dubin, N.  (2009). Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety: A Guide to Successful Stress Management.  Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 
    https://books.google.com/books?id=QBgQBQAAQBAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

  • Garcia-Winner, M. (2008) Think Social! Santa Clara: Think Social Publishing.

  • Garcia-Winner, M. (2007) Thinking about You. Thinking about Me. Santa Clara: Think Social Publishing.

  • Garcia-Winner, M.(2007) Social Behavior Mapping. Santa Clara: Think Social Publishing.

  • Garcia-Winner, M., Crooke, P. (2011).  Socially Curious and Curiously Social. Santa Clara: Think Social Publishing.

  • Grandin, T. (2022). Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions. Riverhead Books. 
    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673207/visual-thinking-by-temple-grandin/

  • Higashida, N. (2013) The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen Year Old Boy with Autism. New York: Random House. (translated from the 2007 Japanese version).

  • Hoopman, K (2006) All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

  • I Have Autism: A Child’s First Look at Autism by Pat Crissey

  • It’s Not a Perfect World, But I’ll Take It by Jennifer Rose

  • Kim, C.  (2014). Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate: A User Guide to an Asperger Life.  Jessica Kingsley Publishers. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Nerdy_Shy_and_Socially_Inappropriate/rn_doAEACAAJ?hl=en

  • Kluth, P. (2010) You’re Going to Love This Kid: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom. Baltimore: Brookes Publishing.

  • Kranowitz, Carol Stock (1998) The Out of Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Integration Dysfunction. New York, NY: Skylight Press (also The Out of Sync Child Has Fun)

  • Kuypers, L (2011) Zones of Regulation. Think Social Publishing, Inc. socialthinking.com

  • Lucky Dogs, Lost Hats, and Dating Don'ts: Hi-Lo Stories about Real Life by Fish, Thomas R.

  • McAfee, J (2002). Navigating the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders. Arlington, Texas: Future Horizons, Inc.

  • Moyes, R. A. (2002). Addressing the Challenging Behavior of Children with High Functioning Autism/Asperger Syndrome in the Classroom. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 

  • Myles, B.S., Trautuman, M.L., Schelevan, R.L. (2004). The Hidden Curriculum: Practical Solutions for Understanding Unstated Rules in Social Situations. AAPC Publishing. 

  • Notbohm, E. (2005). Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew. Arlington, Texas: Future Horizons, Inc.

  • The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Advice, Support, Insights, and Inspiration
    by Patricia Rownaowski Bashe

  • Taking Care of Myself: A Hygiene, Puberty & Personal Curriculum for Young People by Wrobel, M.

  • The Facts of Life....and More: Sexuality and Intimacy for People with Intellectual Disabilities by Walker-Hirsch, L., ed.

  • What's Happening to Tom?: A Book About Puberty for Boys and Young Men with Autism and Related Conditions by Reynolds, Kate E.

  • What's Happening to Ellie?: A Book About Puberty for Girls and Young Women with Autism and Related Conditions by Reynolds, Kate E.