About Me
I moved to California in 2003, leaving behind a successful outpatient practice and years of working in various eating disorder programs. Regardless of having an LCSW for 20+ years, in order to continue to have an outpatient practice I had to take the CA LCSW exams.
Fortunately my life experience has taught me how to persevere in order to survive the many obstacles that I had to overcome. I recall very clearly how my high school guidance counselor told me not to even think about applying to a community college because I would not be accepted. I think I shattered his narrow-minded belief that poor students can have goals and achieve success, especially in education. Happily I was accepted to Rutgers University in a equal opportunity fund program. I still had to take out loans to get through college and I did. I also thrived in College and loved to learn, especially social work, women's studies and psychology. To my heart's content I applied to, was accepted and received a full scholarship to attend Bryn Mawr College Graduate School for Social Work and Social Research.
Having this education enabled me to kiss poverty good-bye. I also decided I wanted to help others.
In 1985 I was part of the original handful of professionals that established the first free-standing
residential treatment center for women with eating disorders. Having worked with thousands of women and their families afforded me the opportunity and experience to learn how to treat people with this disorder. At that time there were very few articles and books on the subject; many people did not even know there was a name for what they were experiencing. My clients were my teachers.
Since, I have worked in various treatment facilities including an acute hospital for children, pre-adolescents and adolescents, an acute partial hospitalization program and an afternoon treatment program, where I was the Director, Manager and the Eating Disorder Specialist.
Currently I serve on the Board of EDRS, Inc (Eating Disorders Recovery Support).
We are responsible for planning annual eating disorder conferences for professionals, communities and people with eating disorders.
I am also the Social Services and Rehabilitation Manager at a Behavioral Health residential facility which treats people with chronic mental illness.
My therapy dog Chloe, a poodle mix, joins me at work and most of my outpatient practice. She is
very intuitive and knows when people need comfort.
I moved to California in 2003, leaving behind a successful outpatient practice and years of working in various eating disorder programs. Regardless of having an LCSW for 20+ years, in order to continue to have an outpatient practice I had to take the CA LCSW exams.
Fortunately my life experience has taught me how to persevere in order to survive the many obstacles that I had to overcome. I recall very clearly how my high school guidance counselor told me not to even think about applying to a community college because I would not be accepted. I think I shattered his narrow-minded belief that poor students can have goals and achieve success, especially in education. Happily I was accepted to Rutgers University in a equal opportunity fund program. I still had to take out loans to get through college and I did. I also thrived in College and loved to learn, especially social work, women's studies and psychology. To my heart's content I applied to, was accepted and received a full scholarship to attend Bryn Mawr College Graduate School for Social Work and Social Research.
Having this education enabled me to kiss poverty good-bye. I also decided I wanted to help others.
In 1985 I was part of the original handful of professionals that established the first free-standing
residential treatment center for women with eating disorders. Having worked with thousands of women and their families afforded me the opportunity and experience to learn how to treat people with this disorder. At that time there were very few articles and books on the subject; many people did not even know there was a name for what they were experiencing. My clients were my teachers.
Since, I have worked in various treatment facilities including an acute hospital for children, pre-adolescents and adolescents, an acute partial hospitalization program and an afternoon treatment program, where I was the Director, Manager and the Eating Disorder Specialist.
Currently I serve on the Board of EDRS, Inc (Eating Disorders Recovery Support).
We are responsible for planning annual eating disorder conferences for professionals, communities and people with eating disorders.
I am also the Social Services and Rehabilitation Manager at a Behavioral Health residential facility which treats people with chronic mental illness.
My therapy dog Chloe, a poodle mix, joins me at work and most of my outpatient practice. She is
very intuitive and knows when people need comfort.
