I am a clinical social worker with my own private practice since 1986. I always knew I would be a psychotherapist. Even in my high school yearbook, under future profession, it said "psychiatric social worker." From the age of 13, I worked at summer camps for disturbed and developmentally disabled children. I always wanted to learn what made people tick. I was especially interested in learning how to alleviate psychological suffering.

At college, I worked in the therapeutic nursery school on campus, and studied child development. My first career was in teaching young children, and I went on to graduate study in this field. My first Masters Degree was in Early Childhood Education.

Studying how young children function is a good way to understand adults, since all of us have been children. I have come to understand that we don't lose the children we have been when we become adults. Instead, our adult selves evolve logically from our childhood development. I believe that we continue to grow emotionally and psychologically as adults, right up until death--that is, unless something stops us. Sometimes, things happen that are so bad, that our energy for developing skills and talents gets diverted. Then, all we can do is form "defenses," that is, ways of protecting ourselves, so that we will not be so vulnerable again.

Often, that is when people come to my office. They feel the need for psychotherapy when they "feel stuck." They don't know why, but they are not having fun, or enjoying their relationships or their work. They just don't feel happy. Sometimes it is worse than that. Sometimes people feel miserable and have felt that way for ages. They are burdened by repetitive bad thoughts and feelings about themselves, and feel worthless too much of the time. My job, as I see it, is to unlock the mysteries, and help my patients start their healthy adult development again, right where they left off.

M.A.:Early Childhood Education, New York University—1972
NY State Certification to teach grades K through 6

M.S.W.:Clinical Social Work, Columbia University—1977
Concentration on psychotherapy with individuals - children,
adolescents and adults.

C.S.W.:Certification of Social Work practice by NY State—1977

"R": Letter conferred to clinical social workers in private practice to permit insurance reimbursement of patients—1985

Post-Graduate Certification in Psychotherapy:
Women's Therapy Center Institute —1991

Hypnotherapy Training: Park Slope Center for Mental Health—1995

EMDR Training (levels 1 and 2): EMDR Institute—1998

Certified EMDR Practitioner: Conferred 2000

L.C.S.W.: Licensing by NY State (new state designation) to practice Clinical Social Work in private practice—9/04

EMDRIA (EMDR International Association)

Brooklyn Psychotherapist Network

Monthly EMDR peer group

Women's Therapy Center Association

Jewish Board of Family Services, Staten Island: EMDR

St. Ann's School: EMDR, for neuroanatomy class

Brooklyn Psychotherapist Network: EMDR

Women's Therapy Center Institute: EMDR

Frontiers In Psychotherapy Program: Brooklyn Cable TV