About

Within strict limits, I bring my personal life to the therapy hour.  One of life’s surprises has been that I am an identical twin.  My life experience is grounded in relationship.

I have met some important goals and sometimes fallen short.  Like most of us, I have had unexpected losses in my family and have witnessed loved ones die.

I belong to a small book group dedicated to classical/modern fiction.  I am also a serious reader of science, philosophy, physics, history, nature, anthropology, and economics.

Some years ago, I converted to Catholicism and have always been concerned about poverty, hunger, and war.  I believe that caring for the larger community is important to individual growth. 

I have worked as a credentialed, professional photographer and am especially proud of my portrait projects on behalf of non-profits.  The “Pets for Vets” gallery is on display at the Veteran’s Hospital in San Francisco.  I also created a gallery for the orphans of The Village of Hope in Da Nang, Vietnam, which was used for fundraising.

I am married to my best friend, Nancy, and together we parent our adopted daughter from Guatemala.  Fatherhood and a long-term marriage have been the best decisions I have made in my life, by far.  We sail together, fish, enjoy chess and checkers, and play baseball with our Labrador. She doubles as the catcher and outfielder.

Mostly, we just like being in the same room together.  We are comfortable with who we are in good times and bad.

Education & Experience

  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist – PSY 7188

Education

  • Wake Forest University, B.A., 1971

  • North Carolina State University, M.S., 1973; Ph.D. 1975

  • Dorothea Dix Hospital, 1974-1975, internship

  • John F Kennedy University, 1977-1979, post doctoral studies and internship

Affiliations

  • American Psychological Association

  • California Psychological Association

Professional Biography

Originally from North Carolina, I am a licensed clinical psychologist who embarked on my psychotherapy career in California in 1979.

Here’s a glimpse into my professional journey and the experiences that have shaped my practice:

My post-Ph.D. journey began with specialized training in group psychotherapy at the National Training Lab in Bethel, Maine, from 1974 to 1977.  During this period, I also contributed as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Coker College in South Carolina, where, among other responsibilities, I provided group therapy for Vietnam Veterans battling PTSD.

In 1977, my path led me to California, starting with an internship at the Esalen Institute.  I eventually made my home in Oakland, joining the Institute for Creative and Artistic Development (ICAD) under the leadership of Eugene Sagan, Ph.D., a protege of Fritz Perls.  There, I delved into Gestalt psychotherapy and explored creative writing as a tool for self-development and patient care.

Between 1977 and 1981, I worked as a staff therapist at Phoenix House, Inc., catering to individuals and families within psychotic populations through an experimental treatment program.

My career from 1981 to 1985 was marked by my role as a staff psychologist at San Quentin Prison, where I was involved in coordinating and facilitating inmate treatment within a research program aimed at identifying effective treatment strategies for sociopathic personality disorder.

From 1981 to 1993, I worked as a field clinician for Occupational Health Services, specializing in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, and depression among policemen and firemen.  During this period, my efforts were recognized as I was rated the "Best Overall Psychotherapist" by clients.

I also served as a lecturer at U.C. Berkeley Extension from 1984 to 1990, sharing insights on the psychotherapy of depression and various personality disorders with fellow clinicians.

Engaging in volunteer work, from 1987 to 1990, I aided the homeless population in Berkeley, in coordination with the Berkeley Chaplaincy program.

My private practice began in 1979 and has been a constant through the years, enriched by the wisdom of extraordinary mentors:

- From 1977 to 1986, I intensively studied with Eugene Sagan, Ph.D., a figure in gestalt and humanistic psychology.

- Between 1985 and 1991, I was mentored in cognitive/behavioral therapy by the esteemed behaviorist Zol Garfield, Ph.D.

- From 1989 to 1997, I was under the tutelage of James F.T. Bugental, Ph.D., a celebrated leader in existential-humanistic psychotherapy.

- I learned advanced techniques for addressing stress and Type A behavior from Paul Bracke, Ph.D., an international teacher of existential-humanistic psychotherapy, from 1998 to 2006.

- Since 2008, I have collaborated with John Gottman, Ph.D., a globally recognized authority on relationship stability and divorce prediction, studying emotions, physiology, and communication.

I integrate all of my training and experience into my private practice, offering personalized care to individuals, couples, and families.