My Story
You could say I was born to be a therapist. Between my birth family and step-families, there were enough psychological issues to keep a team of counselors busy for years. However, growing up in the emotional minefield of a blended family came with its benefits. I developed a keen sensitivity to other people’s moods. I also discovered how to manage my own stress and stabilize myself when others’ emotions got off balance.
Having witnessed the debilitating effects of mental health challenges firsthand, I know how difficult mental disorders can be for a family. I know what it’s like to see a loved one struggle with depression and fear that he or she will never be able to live a normal, productive life. However, I also know that it’s possible to live independently despite having a disability. I’ve been working with people diagnosed with chronic mental health challenges and physical handicaps for years, and I have found that everyone is capable of living out their dreams regardless of life’s challenges. My commitment to advocating for families living with mental health challenges goes well beyond my professional career. For years I’ve volunteered with the National Alliance On Mental Illness where I’ve run support groups for families. Having served as a member of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and the South Bay Eating Disorder Coalition, I’m also very passionate about helping people overcome anorexia and bulimia.
In my mother’s generation they called what we now know to be eating disorders “dieting.” I grew up watching as the women around me scrutinized everything they ate, meticulously counting calories and agonizing over numbers on the scale. For a young girl, it was distressing to see how much pressure women put on themselves to achieve a certain look. I hated seeing women not value themselves for other qualities, such as their intelligence, kindness and compassion, athletic ability and artistic gifts.
Like many teens in high school, I felt as though I was being viewed under a microscope. I worried about fitting in, agonized over the way other people saw me and was afraid of becoming overweight. Although I didn’t develop an eating disorder, I began to understand what it’s like to feel as though the whole world is looking at you. Given my experience, I’m sympathetic toward my eating-disorder clients, many of whom feel stifled even in adulthood. I now serve as an advocate for women and am devoted to alleviating the pressure women receive from media to obtain physical perfection. My sincerest hope is that women will come to see that they are so much more than a number on the scale.
Both in the therapy office and in my public life, I have served as an advocate for individuals suffering from mental health challenges and the families who care for them. Having worked in clinical settings, I have helped patients affected by the most severe forms of mental health challenges. I know from experience that everyone is capable of living a healthy, productive life regardless of the challenges they face.
