I am a psychotherapist in Pleasant Hill. I have been licensed since 1997 and practicing in Pleasant Hill since 1997. I have my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and I am licensed as a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. I specialize in treating children and teenagers. I also run an anger management group for teenage boys and help them focus on developing the social skills they will need as adults. I also work with parents on how to cope with their children becoming young adults and setting appropriate limits for their child's age.
I have appeard on several television shows and radio shows as a guest discussing teenage issues and parenting issues. I have also testified as an expert witness regarding teens and children in the Superior Court of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.
I consult with many of the school districts in the East Bay and I assist families with Individualized Educational Plans (IEP) for their children.
I believe in treating children and teens with respect but I also expect children and teens to show the adults in their lives the appropriate respect. I believe if parent and child openly and honestly express their feeling to each other most problems can be resolved.
I also work with high risk teens and children such as run aways, children with Bipolar, Autism, teens who are suicidal and abusing drugs just to name a few.
I was raised in Pleasant Hill and educated in the Bay Area. I went to De La Salle High School. I received my Bachelor's degree from U.C. Berkeley, my Masters from St. Marys and my Ph.D. from CSPP-Alameda.
In honor of World Mental Health Day this article discusses the stigma about mental health & the difficulty people have finding therapy
Over the years bullying has increased to the point of being an epidemic. Here is a way to stop it
This article discusses how dangerous cyber bullying is and can be
This article addresses the age long problem of teenagers keeping their bedrooms like a disaster zone and parents don’t know what to do
Many people assume we receive the best mental health care in the US. This is not true and many teens die due to lack of mental health care
This article discusses the issue of bullying and provides parents with ideas about what they can do if their child is being bullied
This article discusses how teenage boys are using guns in our area it’s not just in New York it’s everywhere. What will we do?
Divorce is a difficult situation for any family. It is can become even more difficult when extended family becomes involved. Here are tips
Many parents are unaware how often schools treat families seeking an IEP with abusive behavior. Here are some ways to help parents survive
Teenage domestic violence is a topic many people don’t discuss but need to. Teens need to understand dating abuse if we want to stop abuse
This article discusses a dangerous trend occurring with online gaming. It is called Swatting and it’s deadly
So many kids in middle school are sexual active that many middle schools are giving 6th graders condoms
This article discusses a drug which is dangerous because it sounds like candy and many teens may not be aware of what they are using
This blog provides a statement about marijuana issued by the US Surgeon General
This article discusses what kids in middle school must face today. Drugs, alcohol and sex not what you think about 6th graders facing daily
This article discusses why teenagers need parents to remain parents and not be their friends
This article discusses IEPs and the terms used in the meetings so parents can understand what the school is proposing from their child
This article discusses how teens use cough medicine because it is easier to get than LSD but can give the same high
Parents are aware of all the issues facing teens and the choices teens must make. However since teens aren’t fully mature trust is difficult
This article discusses recent research studies finding about how vaping negatively impacts teenagers health
