Draft Psychotherapy

My Approach

I have been in private practice for more than 25 years, and currently practice in Laguna Beach, CA.  My office is located in a retreat like setting that is quiet and close to nature.  There is a labyrinth for mindful walking and places to sit to take in the beauty of spacious views. The setting itself encourages a calming and slowing down response. Additionally, my GoldenDoodle dog, Roy (pictured on the Home Page in this website) who is hypo-allergenic and trained as both a  Service dog and a Therapy dog, contributes to the therapeutic setting.

It’s been said that often, when we embark on a quest, we think that we may be coming to ‘get something,’ when in actuality, we are coming to ‘drop and release something.’  In my individual work with people, I aim to provide both a physical and emotional environment that feels safe and nurturing to stop, pause, listen, and explore.

My practice is informed by a variety of influences, including (but not limited to) a contemporary and relational psychoanalytic and psychodynamic perspective; my work as an artist and fine art photographer; and a mindfulness based meditation practice.  Given these influences, my work embraces both the world of the psyche as well as the larger world of social and existential issues and inquires.  I think of it as an exploration and integration of ‘how the inside gets out; and the outside gets in,’ such that we can carry more ease, authenticity, and freedom from unnecessary suffering.

Supervision and Consultation

I enjoy working with both individuals and groups  to listen, learn, expand, and ‘connect the dots’ between our own internally felt experience and what may be transpiring externally in our work.

My consultation and supervision style is both interactive and collaborative and parallels making this environment safe and inviting for people to ‘drop something’ in order to have clearer access to oneself.

Additionally, we make use of relevant readings that may deepen awareness and expand our understanding of both personal and interactional dynamics that play a role in the therapeutic experience.