All about me
I'm a writer, social worker, educator and mom. I've worked with people experiencing a range of personal challenges and life transitions for over 30 years as a counselor, mentor, consultant, researcher, and professor.
I'm currently a tenured professor at California State University, Fullerton. I am also a clinical therapist at Dee's House, a substance abuse treatment center for women located in Huntington Beach, California. Dee's House is a boutique residential treatment center that serves up to six women by focusing not on what is wrong with them, but by using a trauma lens and exploring past hurts and future potential. We're a family and treat our clients with love and compassion, while using the most recent therapy modalities available.
Although my interests are varied, the one constant in all of my activities—teaching, research, counseling and writing—is my commitment to women and their increased well-being. I have written three academic books, several chapters and peer-reviewed articles, but my current endeavor is my upcoming self-help/memoir, "Aging Naked." While there's plenty of rigor and self-help packed into this book, I am writing it less as an authority and more as a struggling sister coming alongside other women in midlife who are also struggling.
I began blogging when my only son left for college, and despite having a fulfilling career, and a pretty active life, I was ill-prepared for the vacuum his departure created in my life. I blogged about empty-nesting, about being in my 50s, of my desire to find love again. I blogged about letting go of shame and fear, learning how to embrace life, and myself. I blogged about feeling lost, and wanting more, of setting down my masks and getting real, of learning to live more authentically and transparently. And that is when Aging Naked ™ was born.
Blogging (and lots of therapy) helped me realize that I want more out of life—more joy, more creativity, more freedom, and a lot more humor. And it also helped me to realize that I want less—less compartmentalization, less role-playing, less fear, less shame and absolutely less wearing of façades. Blogging helped me realize that I am on an Aging Naked ™ journey. My wish for everyone, particularly women, particularly middle-aged women is that they too can age (emotionally) naked, with more passion and fewer masks.
On a more personal note I am the mother of one grown child (sounds like an oxymoron but it's not inside my head) who's happy and healthy (whew). I live in a rural area in Orange County, California (yes, we do have rural areas!) with lots of fruit trees and one tiny poodle named Abby. When I'm not writing, teaching, researching and counseling, I'm working on my meditation practice (Google "monkey mind), spending time with friends and reading good books.
I'm also working on my fourth book, called (you guessed it!): Aging Naked: A Book for Middle-Aged Women.
I'm currently a tenured professor at California State University, Fullerton. I am also a clinical therapist at Dee's House, a substance abuse treatment center for women located in Huntington Beach, California. Dee's House is a boutique residential treatment center that serves up to six women by focusing not on what is wrong with them, but by using a trauma lens and exploring past hurts and future potential. We're a family and treat our clients with love and compassion, while using the most recent therapy modalities available.
Although my interests are varied, the one constant in all of my activities—teaching, research, counseling and writing—is my commitment to women and their increased well-being. I have written three academic books, several chapters and peer-reviewed articles, but my current endeavor is my upcoming self-help/memoir, "Aging Naked." While there's plenty of rigor and self-help packed into this book, I am writing it less as an authority and more as a struggling sister coming alongside other women in midlife who are also struggling.
I began blogging when my only son left for college, and despite having a fulfilling career, and a pretty active life, I was ill-prepared for the vacuum his departure created in my life. I blogged about empty-nesting, about being in my 50s, of my desire to find love again. I blogged about letting go of shame and fear, learning how to embrace life, and myself. I blogged about feeling lost, and wanting more, of setting down my masks and getting real, of learning to live more authentically and transparently. And that is when Aging Naked ™ was born.
Blogging (and lots of therapy) helped me realize that I want more out of life—more joy, more creativity, more freedom, and a lot more humor. And it also helped me to realize that I want less—less compartmentalization, less role-playing, less fear, less shame and absolutely less wearing of façades. Blogging helped me realize that I am on an Aging Naked ™ journey. My wish for everyone, particularly women, particularly middle-aged women is that they too can age (emotionally) naked, with more passion and fewer masks.
On a more personal note I am the mother of one grown child (sounds like an oxymoron but it's not inside my head) who's happy and healthy (whew). I live in a rural area in Orange County, California (yes, we do have rural areas!) with lots of fruit trees and one tiny poodle named Abby. When I'm not writing, teaching, researching and counseling, I'm working on my meditation practice (Google "monkey mind), spending time with friends and reading good books.
I'm also working on my fourth book, called (you guessed it!): Aging Naked: A Book for Middle-Aged Women.