As of 2011, I have maintained a solo practice in Seattle for 12 years. I’m 58 years old, a native of New York City whose path to Seattle went through Chicago (college), Boston and Los Angeles. I am a committed partner and a parent. Both relationships are a source of happiness, challenge and growth.
Practicing psychotherapy has greatly enriched my life, as has my own experience of being a client in individual and couples treatment. Therapy has frequently let me see my clients at their best; being a practitioner and a client challenges me to find my own.
Continuing Education and Professional Development
Education
In 1994, I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Southern California School of Social Work in Los Angeles. It was the nation’s first school of social work established west of the Mississippi. It’s perennially ranked in the top ten schools of social work in the annual U.S. News and World Report ratings. The School is known for excellence in clinical training.
Theoretical Orientation
My orientation is best described as “systemic”, which means based in systems theory. This approach is sometimes referred to as “family systems”, though families are just one application of this theory. I use systems theory developed by Murray Bowen, MD. It is really a theory about living systems; psychotherapy is but one context. (See Resources). I integrate a developmental perspective about people and relationships. This is a way of understanding if, and how, people “master” critical tasks in life. It lets us be specific about the process of maturity.
Couples Therapy Development
Like most other therapists or counselors, I work with individual clients (about a third of my practice), and develop skills in that area. But my ongoing training and development is heavily focused on couples practice. I believe this emphasis is necessary if a couples therapist is to work effectively in this area of therapy.
I spent 1997-99 studying & practicing with methods developed by John Gottman, Ph.D. From 1998 until 2004, I trained with David Schnarch in three week-long intensive workshops, plus three additional 1 and 2 day workshops*. I have also done a 6 month case consultation in 2010 with him. I consulted monthly for two years with his partner, Ruth Morehouse, Ph.D. I also consulted monthly with their colleague, the late James Maddock, Ph.D., for four years, and in two week-long practicums with Dr. Maddock and his wife, Noel Larson, Ph.D. Drs. Maddock and Larson integrate diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders with systems theory. In the last four years, I have added a focus on couples treatment methods of Esther Perel.
Additionally, I have maintained two peer clinical consultation groups with other advanced students of Drs. Schnarch, Maddock and Larson, for ten and four years, respectively. These meet monthly and quarterly.
Other Professional Activity
• As of July 2010, I am a Past President of the Board of Directors of the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work (wsscsw.org), after serving a two year term. I have been an active member for 13 years.
• In 2005, I coordinated the Veterans Outreach Program, which provides free & low cost therapy to veterans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their families.
• I am a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, a leading organization for critical incident response.
• I maintain continuing education in professional ethics, supervision, trauma, neurobiology and grief.
Clinical Social Work and Licensure
The LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) is the highest level of licensure for Clinical Social Work in Washington State. To learn more about this licensure, see Resources.
In the U.S., Clinical Social Work is the single largest profession providing private mental health services. It should not be confused with social work services provided in institutional settings, such as in hospital discharge planning, or in local government child/adult protective services, For more information, see “WSSCSW” in Resources.
* (References to ‘training’ with Dr. Schnarch are contractually required to be specific in nature.)