I have been a psychotherapist and art therapist for over twenty five years, and have worked with people of all ages and backgrounds during that time. I have worked with families and individuals, children and adults in many different settings. I have grown to appreciate that each stage of life has its unique challenges and each individual has his own particular set of experiences that greatly contribute to how they cope and who they are. I believe that life is a journey and that who you are can change many times along the way. As a therapist, it is my privilege to be able to accompany people on parts of their journey - to help them find strength, courage and resources when they are in pain and to share in their pleasure as they discover their own answers, gifts and are able to grow and change. And the gift I always receive is to be able to learn something new from each person I meet.

My background and professional training is as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Therapist and as an Art Therapist. Art Therapy involves the use of art as a way of facilitating communication, expression and self discovery. Sometimes words are all we need but other times art has the capacity to say or accomplish what words cannot, and can be a powerful tool. One does not have to be an artist in order to create and learn from the artistic process, so the goals of art therapy are different from the goals of making art for arts sake. Children and adults of all varieties experience the use of art to be a great way to express a feeling that they cannot easily put to words and the art therapist’s job is to help them communicate through their art.

My particular interest in Adoption is an outgrowth of both my personal and professional experiences. I know firsthand about how confusing and challenging it can be to be a member of the adoption triad. I also know how wonderful and rewarding it can be. I have worked in the Adoption Community for many years as an  adoption social worker who has facilitated hundreds of families in every aspect of the pre and post adoption process, as an educator, as the director of an adoption agency and as an adoption therapist. I have worked with children who have experienced traumatic pasts and uncertain futures and have counseled their foster and adoptive parents as well as their teachers and other professionals who struggled to help them. My double Masters Degrees are in Psychology, Art Therapy and Education, and I have worked in numerous schools, hospitals, mental health settings and agencies. I am familiar with the mechanics as well as the dynamics of adoption and I do not believe that there is one right answer or only one way of doing things. Theories come and go but people are not theoretical, they are real and they deserve to be treated as the individuals they are. My goal as therapist is to help my clients discover who they are and what they need to thrive and be the best that they can be.