About Me
A highly skilled, caring professional for individual psychotherapy, couples counseling, short-term consultations
I am a licensed psychologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have a strong background in practical, evidence-based therapies, depth psychology, and the neuroscientific basis of worry and healing. Combining these enables me to provide a deeply insightful and scientifically grounded approach to healing from the stressors that take us out of balance. I enhance my professional expertise with my experience as a working mother, advocate for neurodiverse kids, and marriage partner. My practice includes individual psychotherapy and couples counseling. I also provide single-appointment consultations for education or for recommendations about OCD, parenting, or other areas where I have expertise.
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​Learn more about the variety of tools and approaches I use.
My research in OCD and shopping addiction
I have published original research on the underlying neuroscientific basis of—and effective clinical treatment of—obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and shopping addiction (otherwise known as emotional buying). I’ve given professional trainings on behavioral addictions, over-buying, OCD, and excessive worry. These were in a variety of venues including the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Department of Psychiatry, professional psychology conferences, and addiction treatment centers. My work has been featured in the BBC documentary “Buyology” about the psychology of shopping, and in professional journals and magazines.
More about me
In addition to my private practice, I enjoy making stained glass mosaic art, meditating, hiking and doing anything outdoors in nature. I’m also an American Canoe Association (ACA) certified stand-up paddle board (SUP) instructor. <LINK TO: page provided by Heidi>
Education
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Post-doctoral fellowship, Stanford University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Research fellowship funded by the National Institute of Mental Health at the Stanford University Adult Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Clinic, 1999–2002.
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Internship in Clinical Psychology/Neuropsychology, Palo Alto Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, 1999.
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PhD in Clinical Psychology from the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 1999.
Teaching
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Assistant Clinical Professor, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical School, 2002 – 2008; Clinical Supervisor for medical residents and psychology interns.
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Instructor, San Jose State University, undergraduate psychology, 2002.
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Instructor, San Diego State University, undergraduate psychology, 1996–1997.