My Background
With the recent publication of my latest book, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child, I have continued my lifelong fascination with human psychological development and how much depends on the quality of our relationships.
Some lucky children grow up confident, competent, and at home in the world, loved into that self-assurance by parents who believed in them and showed them empathy and respect as human beings. I hope my newest book will encourage parents to think deeply about their child's experiences, while realizing that good parenting doesn't mean they have to do everything perfectly.
In Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, I answered a question that has intrigued me for years: why do so many of my psychotherapy clients seem so much more together and self-aware than their family members? Recognizing that many of my clients’ loved ones seemed very emotionally immature, I explored their hurtful impacts in ways that freed my clients to live their own best lives without being exhausted by these draining personalities. By understanding others' emotional immaturity, we regain trust in ourselves and escape the confusing effects of early childhood programming.
In my first book, Who You Were Meant To Be, I showed readers how to reconnect with their true self and rediscover a sense of purpose. I have devoted my professional life to helping people strengthen their emotional self-awareness, trust their own emotional guidance, and increase their energy for full living.
After obtaining Master's and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, I became licensed as a clinical psychologist and also served for many years as an Assistant Adjunct Professor teaching doctoral clinical psychology students. Over my thirty- plus years as a psychotherapist, I have specialized in adult psychotherapy and personal growth coaching, as well as decades of experience in doing personality and intellectual evaluations.
I came to clinical psychology from a background in art and literature. Beginning in college as a studio art major, I finally pursued an undergraduate degree in English, where I could analyze human desire and motivation endlessly. I enrolled next in graduate programs in clinical psychology, obtaining the training and scientific rigor to help people in therapy.
I love translating specialized academic, philosophical, and clinical knowledge into something that we all can use. Every day there is some new discovery or awareness I am eager to share with readers.
I work and write in the seaside city of Virginia Beach, where the ocean is an everyday reminder to expand the enjoyment of living.