I have a career in leading conversations that focus on strengths and resources, enhance resiliency, lean on creativity, and create change. I do this in systems of many sizes in my practice as a consultant, coach and psychotherapist. My passion is working with groups of people committed to finding ways of working collaboratively to bring about social change.
I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Iowa and took two years postgraduate training in Couples and Family Therapy from the Menninger Foundation. One advantage of a social work education is that one learns systemic thinking and how to work with systems of many sizes. From 2007-2012, I studied collaborative organizational change processes, and particularly leadership, in a program offered by Tilburg University and the Taos Institute.
I have training and experience in the following practices, all of which are among my professional offerings:
- Collaborative organization consulting
- Relational leadership
- Leadership coaching
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Public Conversations Project
- Art of Hosting
- World Café
My teaching experience includes including the University of Southern California, Alliant University, and Phillips Graduate Institute in the Los Angeles area, and conducting workshops and trainings both nationally and internationally.
I have held the positions of Clinical Director of the Southern California Counseling Center, Clinical Director of the Valley Family Center and Director of Clinical Training Programs of California Family Counseling Center/Phillips Graduate Institute. I hold an ongoing position as a consultant to The Relational Center, where my work has included developing and leading public dialogues, training students in organizational development, and supervising psychotherapy trainees.
I am an avid practitioner of tai chi as well as a Buddhist. I live in Salem, Oregon, with my husband and our three dogs.