Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1975. Graduate, Core Adult Program in Psychoanalysis, Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, 2013. Faculty, Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. 3 times President, Chicago Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology. Currently, Metro Local Area Representative, Illinois Psychological Association. Former supervisor at Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago.

My psychoanalytic approach is a combination of Ego and Self Psychologies. In psychotherapy I may use elements of other approaches to psychotherapy as part of treatment. In general I tend to be active rather than passive in my interactions with patients.

I’ve been practicing psychoanalytic psychotherapy with adults for the past 25 years. I received my PhD from the University of Chicago and trained at the Center for Religion & Psychotherapy, where I now practice and where I have previously been the Director of Training. My first book, nominated for a Gradiva award, has just come out in a revised edition entitled Race in Psychoanalysis: Aboriginal Populations in the Mind (Routledge, 2018). I enjoy working with people who may find themselves on the margins of the social mainstream, and I’m interested in the spiritual dimension—for better and for worse—of emotional distress.

I see clients once or twice a week, and am most influenced by the relational school of psychoanalysis. This form of therapy sees our symptoms as aspects of ourselves of which we may not be fully aware; aspects which are often holdovers from earlier stages in our emotional development, where we became stymied by particular challenges which were never fully resolved. In therapy we build a relationship of trust where we can encounter and put into words the emotional “stuckness” that our symptoms represent. This helps us better resolve and integrate our challenges, and thus better engage more fully with the world around us.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years experience in practice as a clinical psychologist. I received my B.A in Psychology from Binghamton University, and went on to earn my Psy. D. from the Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology at the University of Hartford. Following the completion of my doctorate, I completed a residency in psychology at the Institute of Living in Hartford, CT. I live and practice in Chicago, where I am a psychoanalytic candidate at the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute.

My clinical practice focuses on the psycho-therapeutic treatment of adults and families from a psychoanalytic perspective. Specifically, my areas of interest and expertise are the unique aspects of the psychology of men, couples psychotherapy and group psychotherapy. I have worked extensively with individuals who struggle with substance dependence in conjunction with other behavioral health disorders.

I am an adjunct and doctoral candidate at Loyola University Chicago, School of Social Work. My research focuses on patients’ experience of psychoanalysis. I am also a candidate in training at the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute.
I have experience both with people wanting to try therapy for the first time and those who have engaged in previous therapy and are now looking for an approach that focuses on long-term sustained change. Some patient’s find medication helpful. I work in consultation with psychiatrists when medication is indicated.

Every patient enters therapy with a unique set of needs. I tailor treatment to address individual needs and goals. In addition, I work with patients to manage distressing feelings and to understand the origin of problems. By working in this way therapy opens patients to a positive emotional experience which in turn transforms how patients live their lives. Therapy is an investment in the future and my commitment is to assist patients in living a life of vitality.
I work with patient’s with a range of issues from depression, anxiety, trauma and substance abuse. I specialize in serious mental illness with a particular focus on psychosis.

Faculty, Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute. I see individuals in long-term treatment. I am Self-Psychological, relationally oriented.

My adult residency in Psychiatry was at Michael Reese. My Psychoanalytic training was at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. I have been a faculty member of the Institute for approximately 30 years. I have a contemporary approach to psychoanalytic treatment.

I’m passionate about helping people and have been working in the mental health field since 1995. Before launching my private practice, I had the privilege of working at the Community Mental Health Council on the South Side of Chicago for eight years, including serving as Director of Outpatient Mental Health and Director of Training. Prior to that, I worked as intern and postdoctoral therapist at the Asian Mental Health Clinic and Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic (now called Child/Adolescent Ambulatory Services) at Cambridge Hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. It was inspiring to be part of clinics that were invested in serving underserved populations. At the same time, I longed to do in-depth work on a more personal level. In 2005, I launched my private practice where I offer psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. I help adolescents and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, abuse, relationships, loss, stress, low self-esteem, life transitions, inhibitions and illness. I have a special interest in working with diverse populations in a culturally sensitive manner. I enjoy giving people hope and helping them find their joy.

Therapy is a safe space for you to explore your past and present so you can move towards a better future. So often, the issues and feelings we need to talk about most are the ones we express least. As a therapist, I’m here to listen to you in a confidential, objective and nonjudgmental way and help you gain insight into what you truly want and need through the psychotherapy process.

I use an integrative approach that draws on various therapeutic strategies including psychodynamic/psychoanalytic therapy, interpersonal / relational therapies and cognitive behavioral therapy. I can tailor our psychotherapy work to best fit your needs and help you achieve your goals.

With more than 25 years of experience I enjoy working with people who are interested in better understanding the reasons for the problems and symptoms which are limiting their fulfillment in life. After earning my doctorate I worked in a community mental health center, taught graduate school, and opened a private practice in Wilmette. I have published and presented articles in national journals and conferences on the psychology of women, transference/countertransference,and therapeutic technique. I am very interested in the creative process, the arts, the interface of culture and psychology. In my free time I write poetry, enjoy walking my dog in the forest, cooking, reading novels, and outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking.

I believe that each individual is unique and that therapy/analysis works best when we can develop a trusting relationship where both patient and therapist can explore the emotional experience of the patient. Together we can begin to understand the sources of problems, symptoms, and roadblocks which are interfering in more comfortable and gratifying functioning in love, work, interpersonal relationships, and the creative process. My approach is essentially a developmental one, rather than theory bound. I am flexible in using what works for each person to deepen understanding and to facilitate growth in both psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.

I help people address a broad range of mental health challenges, but have a special interest in academic and work-related struggles. I believe effective clinical work requires continuous learning and have completed ongoing training in LGBTQ affirmative, trauma informed, and multicultural practice. I find contemporary self and relational psychology helpful in understanding what gets between people and their goals, and have pursued training in this area at several institutes around the country. Before becoming a psychotherapist, I led several education non-profits and oversaw public affairs for a University of Chicago public policy center focused on children and families.

After nearly two decades helping large organizations in the non-profit world make the changes they needed to feel more effective, I decided to help individuals because I think change is an enriching part of life. I like helping people overcome concerns that keep them from embracing change. Using supportive exploration, I will work with you to understand why you feel stuck and unable to move forward. As a social worker, I pay particular attention to the communities and cultures you live in, and I especially enjoy working with the special challenges faced by immigrant families.