About & FAQs

"What is your training and background?"

I received my MSW (master's in social work) from Smith College School for Social Work in 1980. The focus of my training was studying psychotherapy theory and practice, keeping in mind the social and economic environments in which people develop.

I received my BA (bachelor's) in Psychology from Antioch College/West in 1977. During this part of my training I spent extensive time interning on an in-patient psychiatric ward. In the 1980's I worked in a mental health clinic providing psychotherapy.

In the 1980's I also began working at what I do now, i.e. having a private practice providing therapy.

"What license do you hold?"

I was first licensed by the State of California as a MFCC, now called MFT (marriage and family therapist) in 1982. Shortly after this time I obtained LCSW status (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). I now practice as an LCSW.

"What is an LCSW?"

To obtain this license one must have a master's degree in social work and receive 3200 hours of post degree supervision in clinical work over a 2 year period. One must also pass a qualifying examine which when I took it was comprised of both oral and written components.

"What is clinical work?"

Working with people therapeutically in a variety of settings is considered clinical work. In my career I have done "clinical" work in a variety of settings including in-patient hospitals, out-patient clinics, substance abuse clinics, and for the last 20 years being in private practice.

"I thought social workers worked mostly with welfare clients."

Just as there are different kinds of doctors, there are also different kinds of social workers. Many people don't realize that social workers provide more psychotherapy than any other discipline in the United States.

"Do you have a theoretical orientation or follow a particular line of thinking regarding therapy?"

While it's true that most clients care more getting help with the their issues than knowing to what school of therapy their therapist subscribes, some people would still like to know. I come from a humanist tradition, which means I care about my clients. Within that humanist tradition I received training in psychodynamic theory in graduate school. That means that I was taught that how people are raised, for good and for ill, has an influence on the way they experience the good and the ill in their current life. Within the psychodynamic tradition I have extensive training in Control Mastery Theory. This theory holds that individuals and couples come to therapy wanting to master their problems. If you would like more information go to www.sfprg.org.

"What other relevant experiences do you have?"

• 1) I have supervised master's and doctoral students for many years.
• 2) In 1996 I gave a talk to a California state-wide annual meeting of Social Workers entitled, "The Influence of Post-modernism in Psychoanalytic Thinking and Practice."
• 3) Member of The San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group as well as part of its supervising and teaching faculty.

For further information see my professional interests and services section.