I was born in Pittsburgh, Penn. and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. I went back to Pittsburgh to enter Duquesne University as a psychology major and earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973. I earned my Master’s of Arts degree in clinical psychology from Radford University in Virginia the following year.
After this, I returned to Fort Lauderdale and was employed for several years by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation as a counselor for the severely disabled which included the hearing impaired; at that time, I became proficient in sign language. A large percentage of my clients suffered from spinal cord injuries. I developed a particular interest in that population and ultimately wrote my doctoral dissertation on “Depression and Adjustment to Spinal Cord Injury.”
I earned my Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova University in Davie, Fla. in 1984. I completed my internship at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, Va. where I focused on behavioral medicine, geriatric medicine, and marital and family therapy with veterans. I subsequently completed a post doctoral fellowship at Roanoke Valley Psychiatric Center in Virginia, doing individual and group therapy which included adults, severely troubled adolescents and teens, and extensive psychological testing.
Upon completion of my doctoral degree, I established a private practice in Virginia. I moved to Florida in 1991 where I have been in private practice ever since. I remain dually licensed in both states. I have devoted my career to working with individuals of all ages who come to me with some form of emotional distress or problems in living. I work daily to help people fully understand the cause of their distress or difficulties. I educate about the importance of healthy boundaries in all situations and guide them to find relief and workable solutions. To this end, I use family of origin therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and when appropriate, EMDR.
I’m currently writing a book about my therapeutic philosophy and techniques regarding the importance of healthy boundaries, specifically aimed at helping couples achieve emotional intimacy and the satisfying relationship they desire.