I began my private practice in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1988, and when I moved to Madison in 1990 I retained the name. I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, and I have worked in community mental health agencies, nonprofit social service agencies, and as adjunct faculty at the University of Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Edgewood College in Madison. I served my predoctoral internship on the child, family, and adolescent team at Oaklawn Psychiatric Center in Elkhart, Indiana. At Notre Dame, my major field was Counseling Psychology, my minor field was Developmental Psychology, and my specialty area was Family Therapy. I wrote my dissertation about Adult Children of Alcoholics.
My therapeutic approach starts with the family system and the developmental experiences within the family, with a strong focus on the neurocognitive, or brain-behavior, perspective. The approach at Elkhart Psychological Services is centered on and dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of the whole person as well as the whole family.
I have received post-doctorate training in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a well-researched treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I also have been trained in Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), therapies that provide rapid relief for emotional distress through techniques adapted from acupressure and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In 2012 I completed a master’s degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. This was a 2-year program based on the American Psychological Association guidelines for post-doctoral training in psychopharmacology and included training in the biological foundations of pharmacology, neuroscience, neuropharmacology, clinical pharmacology, professional issues and practice management, and specific treatment issues in pharmacology for different major diagnoses.
I have a general psychology practice and provide evaluation and therapy services for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I treat anxiety disorders (including PTSD), depression, impulse control problems, and I also have a lot of experience working with people with psychological and emotional difficulties that are complicated by substance abuse. I have specialized for the past 35 years in treating adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD or ADD), and evaluate adults and children for AD/HD. Treatment for AD/HD can consist of individual, couple, or family therapy as well as ADHD Coaching, for individuals or the whole family. Coaching can be accomplished in person, by telephone or internet, or on-site at the home or workplace.