I found adolescence and high school pretty damn miserable, even though I outwardly “performed” well. I cared deeply about things that others didn’t and was indifferent to what others found important. This left me feeling terribly alone, and I soon became profoundly depressed. This pushed me into a lifetime of exploration.

I pursued a dizzying array of personal growth approaches — self-development seminars with lousy coffee, spiritual pursuits (often in yurts; they’re always in yurts), and an overabundance of self-help and, worse, philosophy books. This led to a brief fantasy of becoming a monk at a Zen center, waking up far too early to stare at the floor for long periods. A few intensive meditation retreats cured me of this desire, though those were useful.

While many of these experiences were helpful, the approach was so scattered that it was hard to piece it all together. I was fortunate to have a family member who valued psychology and introduced me to long-term psychotherapy. This profoundly transformed my life and helped me integrate the various experiences I’d had. Fascinated by the field, I wondered if I could help others, so I began to work as an addiction counselor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

My own therapy and addiction counseling inspired me to pursue a doctorate at The Wright Institute. I immersed myself in cognitive therapies, mindfulness, relational approaches, and deepening my knowledge of addiction recovery. Alongside my psychotherapy studies, I continued exploring other paths – Buddhism, Indigenous Celtic spirituality, psychedelic medicine, and intensive group therapy. When I discovered the research, our clinic is based on, I knew I had found the key I’d long sought—a flexible, comprehensive, scientific model for understanding why we do what we do, how we get stuck, and how to get unstuck.

Given my extensive experience in therapy and personal growth, my passion lies in tailoring therapy with a holistic, open-minded approach while honoring its research foundations. I’m also dedicated to improving therapy and making it more integrative. I regularly teach and supervise therapy effectiveness, addiction treatment, and integrating therapy with spirituality.