What's my background?

I first got involved in working with others as a peer counselor in high school, working with slightly younger kids. Later I received a B.A. in Psychology from Pitzer College. Also, I worked in sales and marketing for a number of years.

In 1987 I began to volunteer for the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic.

My training in substance abuse treatment there was excellent; in the late 80’s, the Haight Ashbury Free clinic was considered a world leader in this area, especially in meeting the needs of people with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health problems.   I returned to school for a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at San Francisco State University, graduating in 1994. I chose the MFT licensure route even though working in a substance abuse treatment setting because my experience was that people suffering from alcoholism and addiction almost always have additional mental health problems-- and because I believe that the greatest part of our happiness or misery in life come from how successful we are in our relationships. This starts in whatever family a person is born into and continues into adult life.

I worked from 2005 to early 2013 with adolescents and their families in a level 14 group home operated by the county of San Mateo, simultaneously working for the county at an outpatient clinic in Half Moon Bay.  Most of my career includes working alongside or supervising interns which has helped me keep a fresh perspective coupled with keeping up with research and teaching in the field.