I help my clients to notice, name and experience the present moment, which is extraordinarily helpful in reducing problem emotions and in transforming life experience. My practice with individuals focuses on the treatment of anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues and spiritual concerns. Many of my clients are couples who want more satisfaction and happiness in their lives together.

My psychotherapeutic philosophy is founded in Narrative Therapy, which assists clients to externalize problems and construct new ways to live life. This work complements Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, emphasizing mindfulness-based skills to help people to manage extreme emotions. My work with couples draws upon the work of John Gottman and, like most of my work, is skills based, practical and transformative. All of my work emphasizes an individual's ability to explore and rely on his or her inherent wisdom.

I am the Clinical Director of New Perspectives Center for Counseling, where I teach and supervise MFT interns. I designed and implemented the NPCC mindfulness-based training program for MFT interns at NPCC.

Contact

415 249 9277
kate@mindfulnesstherapy.org

I begin work with my clients in a pragmatic way, with a focus on their immediate goals. This first step in therapy often involves helping my clients to learn and internalize new skills so that they can reduce anxiety and depression and learn to manage their emotions in a satisfying way. As new skills develop, my clients and I work together to help to transform their lives.

I have deep respect for the collaborative relationship between therapist and client. My clients are the experts on their own lives and problems and I am a consultant who can help my clients to change. I am excited by the facilitation and exploration of new and creative life stories grown from a client's innate strengths and intuitions. My professional expertise and authority, in combination with my clients' knowledge of themselves, helps them to live their lives in more satisfying ways. My work is deeply influenced by a "shamanic," nature-based psychological perspective and I sometimes use visualization, sound and rhythm in the treatment process.

Part of my practice includes work with people with diagnoses that produce severe emotion dysregulation: Borderline Personality Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorders, Major Depression and Anxiety Disorders. These problems are sometimes evoked by past trauma, which is addressed in the treatment plan. I work with these clients using my expertise as a DBT therapist, informed by existential, Narrative and nature-psychology practice, which help to create new ways to have a life worth living. I also work with DBT in a DBT Skills Training group setting. The couples in my practice include people with ordinary relationship problems - conflict, communication difficulties, sexual difficulties, mediation needs, parenting issues and so on. I also specialize in working with couples whose relationship is affected by one or both partner's struggles with depression, anxiety or emotional dysregulation, including BPD.

Degrees and Training

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Practicing psychotherapist since 1993
• Private Practice since 1998
• Clinical Director, New Perspectives Center for Counseling
• MFA, San Francisco State University
• MA, Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies
• Associate, DBTSF
• Intensively trained DBT Therapist
• DBT Skills Training Group Leader since 2002
• Professionally trained in Hakomi Counseling Practices
• Trained in Gottman Couples Counseling Approach
• Intensive training in Gottman Couples Counseling to begin in May 2006
• Member, California Associate of Marriage and Family Therapists
• Member, San Francisco Chapter of CAMFT
• Trained Shamanic and Narrative therapist
• Artist, dancer and parent