about me
My Background & therapy style
My path to becoming a counseling psychologist took many twists and turns, including growing up in Salt Lake City, living and studying in Russia, hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire while a student at Dartmouth College, exploring human relationships with wilderness at the University of Washington in Seattle, and working to understand how men relate to others as part of my research at the University of Utah. However, throughout these experiences, I have always found myself drawn to understanding the ways in which people communicate, process their experiences, and cope with challenges. It therefore made perfect sense to me that I would become a psychologist. I enjoy learning how people make sense of the world around them and sharing the experiences they have throughout life. I love interacting with people on a deep level and understanding how their own meaning-making processes are facilitating or hindering their functioning.
My life experiences and exposure to many different types of cultures and people have convinced me that much of what leads people to feel dissatisfied or unhappy in their lives is a lack of 
meaning. Of course, we are all faced with life events that contribute to unhappiness, but we still often struggle with how to work through those challenges in a productive way that adds satisfaction to our lives rather than takes it away. My psychology practice is devoted to helping individuals, couples, and families discover how to live more satisfying, fulfilling, and rewarding lives, even in the face of difficult life circumstances. I focus on raising personal awareness so that you may recognize and express your true self and values, allowing you to gain more satisfaction in your relationships, your career, and other important parts of your life.
My specialization in the relationships men have with the people they care about also grew out of personal experiences. Throughout much of my life I often found that the way I wanted to interact with others was at odds with how I knew others expected me to act. I never really became aware of this conflict until I took a women's studies course in college, and I suddenly had my eyes opened to the many ways in which both men and women alike are socialized to behave in particular ways. Issues of men and masculinity became my passion during my graduate studies in psychology, where I explored the ways that social expectations can often negatively affect men's physical and mental health. Part of the reason for this is clearly related to some men's difficulty forming and maintaining close, supportive relationships. I remain passionate about these issues because I believe they are relatively neglected in our society. Having meaningful and caring relationships is important for everyone, and I want to help those men who may not have had the chance to learn the skills get the chance to experience closeness with others.
Education
Ph.D. from University of Utah, 2007, Counseling Psychology
M.S. from University of Utah, 2003, Counseling Psychology
M.A. from University of Washington, 2000, Human Geography
B.A. from Dartmouth College, 1995, Russian Language and Environmental Studies
Other Training and Experience
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Geriatrics, Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, 2007-2008
Psychology Internship, Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, 2006-2007
Substance Abuse Assessment, Assessment and Referral Services, 2005-2006
Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy, Aspen Grove Counseling, 2004-2005
Substance Abuse Therapy, University of Utah Substance Abuse Clinic, 2004-2005
Individual and Group Therapy, Valley Mental Health, 2003-2004
Individual Therapy and Assessment, University of Utah Counseling Center, 2002-2003