About Me

I received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences Citation from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI in September 1975 and attended the Graduate School of Social Work at Wayne State University from September 1975 through March 1976 in the Psychiatric Casework Program. 

I earned my Master of Social Work in Integrated Practice from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work in June 1982.

 I became a first-year trainee at the Aquarius Center, a dual diagnosis (mental health/substance abuse) outpatient program at Arapahoe Mental Health Center, from 1980-1981. During my second-year field placement as a trainee at the JFK Child Development Center, University of Colorado School of Health Sciences in 1981-1982, I specialized in evaluating children with special needs concerns  (e.g., mental health disorders, developmental disorders, learning disorders).

JFK Child Development Center assisted families from the Federal Rocky Mountain Region. As part of this interdisciplinary faculty, I also provided case management, consultation, and couples counseling to parents and represented JFK at school staffing conferences for requested special needs services.  I continued working for Arapahoe Mental Health Center, on the Aquarius Center outpatient team after my 1st year training until 1989.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Colorado, and my license number 988011 was first issued in June 1984 as an LSW I and in 1987 as an LSW II (and as an LCSW in 1989). I am also a senior-level certified addictions counselor (CAC III) who first registered in 1983 with the registration number 1141. In 2021 the CAC III was renamed as Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS)

I have been in private practice in the Metro Denver area since 1982, providing psychotherapy and substance abuse counseling services to children, adults, couples, and families. I was an adjunct professor at the University of Denver Family Therapy Training Center from 1986 - 1998, providing group and individual supervision and training with graduate and postgraduate students for both family and marital/couples counseling.

I completed 40 hours of Divorce and Child Custody Mediation training in 1993 at CDR, Inc., in Boulder, CO.  In June 2005, I completed a 40-hour Child and Family Investigator (CFI) training certificate at Katz & Loizeaux Forensic Services and was the Substance Abuse Lecturer for the CFI training.  I am currently on the state (SCAO) CFI and PRE roster/registry as of November 2023 through December 31, 2028, after completing the new CFI/PRE training requirements.  . Since 2012, I have continued to be the substance use disorders subject matter expert and presenter for the CFI training certificate program offered by the State Court Administrator's Office (SCAO), including the recent training in November 2021.

I was a faculty member at Parenting After Divorce, Inc., working as a Co-Parenting After Divorce-Level I instructor for the state-mandated class, as well as, a Level II Co-Parenting After Divorce group skills co- facilitator for high conflict co-parents, from June 2003 through April 2012. I completed PC/DM (Parenting Coordinator/Decision Maker) certificate training with Christy Coates, JD, and Betsy Duvall, LCSW in 2008.

I have been serving on the Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee on Child Custody (MDIC) Board of Directors since 2007, and my term ends in  September 2025.  I served on the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (COAFCC) Board of Directors from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2014.

I was the state chapter president of COAFCC from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. I continued to serve on the Communications and Public Relations Committee as the co-chair and co-editor of the COAFCC Newsletter; and served on the Program Committee as well, through June 30, 2020.

I was nominated in July 2015 and continue to serve on the Colorado Supreme Court Standing Committee on Family Issues and currently also serve on the Child Focused Innovative Practices (CFIP) subcommittee since 2019.  I was invited to join the Douglas County 18th District Court's Best Practices Team on July 27, 2016 and continue to serve on this committee that will soon be the Douglas County 23rd District Court.

My mission is to provide personalized, high-quality services to adults, teens, and older children. I specialize in offering individual, couples, and family therapy services. My practice also includes alcohol and drug counseling, evaluations, and consultation for substance use concerns. Additionally, I give you access to a full range of mental health and divorce-related services. Please email me for more detailed information.