My Story...

As a hang gliding instructor, my primary role was to encourage people to overcome their fear and take a leap of faith from the secure ground into the unknown. Now, I find that my primary role is still encouraging people to take a leap of faith into the unknown, but the difference is that, in psychotherapy, the “ground” is the security of our old habit patterns, and “overcoming our fear” is the courage it takes to leap into the possibility of a whole new way of being in the world, with all the unknowns and even risks that this entails. It seems that in order to live more fully and explore the bounds of our freedom, we have to let go of many of our secure but limiting habits and belief systems.

I combined this with intensive academic studying and conducting a series of pioneering research studies as I worked through my B.A. degree, my Masters degree, and finally my Ph.D. degree, all of them in psychology with an emphasis on somatic, humanistic, existential, and transpersonal perspectives. I translated my doctoral research on the recovery from psychosis and extreme states into the widely acclaimed book, Rethinking Madness.

During my career, I have been very active in my clinical psychology and psychotherapy/counselling training, working at a residential facility for those challenged by psychosis and other extreme states of consciousness; at a major medical hospital providing support for people challenged by serious physical and mental ailments, many of whom were preparing for the great unknown of death; in a community mental health clinic supporting individuals, couples, and families with a wide variety of issues; at a treatment center for those challenged with substance dependence; and here in this private practice setting where I’ve continued providing therapy for a wide range of challenges, with a particular focus on the recovery from various forms of trauma and its consequences.

I’ve assisted and led numerous workshops and trainings over the past 15+ years, with particular emphasis on therapy modalities that incorporate mindfulness and somatic (mind/body) approaches to various forms of acute and developmental trauma, and to psychological healing and wellness more generally.

I am originally from the United States, where I was registered in California as a Clinical Psychologist; and in early 2013, I shifted to New Zealand, where I also registered as a Clinical Psychologist and continued to provide various services within the health professions. I have recently retired from my work as a Clinical Psychologist, focusing now on a more flexible and holistic private practice where I continue to provide psychotherapy, supervision, consultation and professional trainings. 

See the many modalities I incorporate into my practice here.