Welcome! I'm delighted you're here, and I genuinely hope you will find my website helpful and informative.
It's not unusual for people to ask me how I became a psychiatric mental health nurse and psychotherapist. Often that question is preceded by, "I don't know how you can do what you do; it's so sad." The answer is that I am inspired to go beyond the boundaries of the classroom or hospital to address trauma and loss in people’s lives, to connect with people where they are—on a boat with families crossing the Hudson River after 9/11, in a Louisiana shelter following Hurricane Rita, or in front of a computer screen supporting nurses struggling with the pandemic. Challenging yet rewarding moments have allowed me to grow and be more courageous in my work as a professional and a human being. My heart is filled with gratitude.
My journey as a healthcare professional began at Cornell Medical Center, followed by working towards master's degrees at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Rutgers University. I wanted to work directly with children and families; and needed the clinical skills. Finally, my path led me to the University of Pennsylvania, where I earned my doctorate. My post-graduate programs include the Prudential Fellowship for Children and the News at Columbia University Journalism School and a post-graduate certificate from the International Trauma Studies Program in New York City.
After graduate school, I began a psychotherapy and educational consulting practice focusing on children, families, and professional nurses. I was primarily concerned about those affected by trauma, loss, and violence, often in the aftermath of personal, professional, and national crises – 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the coronavirus pandemic, to name a few. I found I could make a difference during such tumultuous times.
In addition to my role as a psychotherapist for individuals, families, and groups, teaching is a big part of my professional life. My students inspire me, whether undergraduates in psychiatric mental health nursing or fifth-graders learning to tell stories using their cameras in the Literacy Through Photography program. My time in front of classrooms, both face-to-face and virtually, has allowed me to offer workshops, presentations, and webinars across the country to such diverse organizations as the Northeastern University School Health Academy and the US Air Force Jag School.
After 14 years on the faculty at Columbia University School of Nursing, where I was twice named a Presidential Teaching Award Finalist, I joined the teaching staff at the International Trauma Studies Program. This program turned out to be the training ground for the crucial work needed after 9/11. In 2002, the grassroots advocacy organization Families of September 11 invited me to join their advisory board and launch a K-12 curriculum to help students better understand a complex and frightening world. In addition to writing and consulting with Youth Communication, Evermore, and The New York Life Foundation, I am facilitating Virtual Schwartz Rounds for the New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well-Being Institute.
I am honored to hold membership in the American Academy of Nursing and was deeply humbled to receive the 2021 American Psychiatric Nurses Association Award for Excellence in Practice - APRN. I am the author of two books. The first, The Seasons of Grief: Helping Children Grow Through Loss, was a labor of love to guide children and families through healing after loss. My most recent work, Courageous Well-Being for Nurses: Strategies for Renewal, offers invaluable strategies to empower and renew those in the nursing profession. You can find both books at bookstores and online retailers.
While New Jersey has been my cherished home for many years, I have recently relocated to Southern California. I am reveling in the abundant sunshine, the majesty of the Pacific Ocean, and the busy weekends spent watching soccer and baseball games with my grandchildren.
Please let me know if you have any questions or inquiries. I’d love to hear from you!