I am a licensed clinical psychologist and have been practicing for over 25 years. I received my Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1993 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and completed my internship and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina where I stayed as a faculty member until 2003. I moved to Illinois in 2003 to join the faculty in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Rockford where I most recently served as a Professor and Assistant Dean of Research, directing the Office of Research. My past research focused on traumatic event exposure and post traumatic stress disorder including the development of the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale (MPSS) and Multiple Channel Exposure Therapy, a cognitive behavioral treatment for PTSD. The MPSS has been translated to at least 17 different languages and is recommended by both the American Psychological Association and the National Center for PTSD.
I have published over 50 peer reviewed articles and book chapters and have given over 80 presentations at national and international conferences in the field of trauma, mental health, addictions, and medicine. My work has also been featured in Self and People magazines and I have given numerous newspaper and TV interviews about mental health issues. I have received several awards for research, teaching, clinical work, and community involvement including the 2010 Rockford YWCA Women of Achievement, Professions Award.
Because of my interest in holistic health, Ayurveda, integrative medicine and functional medicine, I have done additional training in these areas, including two years of training in Ayurvedic Medicine through the Maharishi University of Management, a holistic health coaching program through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and training in integrative medicine through the Dr. Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona.
I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, burnout, and post traumatic stress disorder using an integrative approach to help you to feel your best. I also work with clients who may not be suffering from a disorder, but who don’t feel as good as they would like due to life imbalances, feeling stuck or major life changes, such as menopause or divorce. I can help you to pinpoint areas for improvement so that you can have a positive outlook and all the energy you need to accomplish your life goals.
I am an avid reader, write poetry, love to travel, and enjoy gardening, cooking and being in nature.
Associations
- American Psychological Association
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies