I received my B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and my Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. My graduate training primarily was in the the field of cognitive-behavioral therapy, although I have pursued additional training in psychodynamic theory and approaches.
I received extensive training in clinical hypnosis from Jean Holroyd, Ph.D. and Michael Diamond, Ph.D. at the UCLA-Neuropsychiatric Institute as well as training in guided imagery techniques from Marielle Fuller, a pioneer in the area of guided imagery for dynamic exploration. When Ms. Fuller retired from her work as the Neuropsychiatric Institute in 1990, I took over as faculty in charge of her guided imagery seminar for psychiatry residents, psychology interns and community psychotherapists. I have continued to facilitate the seminar and clinical supervision to date. In addition, over the past twenty years I served as clinical teaching faculty for the Southern California Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and have facilitated workshops for the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
Over the years I have developed an interest in the dynamic relationship between the mind and body, and the psycho-neurobiological processes involved in the body's ability to self-regulate, including the relationship between emotional/cognitive states and autoimmune processes. I have special interest in the use of clinical hypnosis as a vehicle for facilitating clients' greater empowerment and active engagement in their own healing processes.
I have always valued giving back to the clinical community and the larger public community as well. For many years I served on the board of the Los Angeles Society of Clinical Psychologists, including as its President. In addition I served for many years as teaching faculty for the Southern California Society for Clinical Hypnosis. Furthermore, over the past several years I have served as an associate clinical faculty member for the UCLA Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program in the School of Medicine, consulting on clinical cases and working with child patients with respect to psychotherapy, family therapy and clinical hypnosis.