In my practice I combine my passion for healthy living and my background in psychology to guide others to successfully nourish their bodies and their lives.

My Education

My graduate work in Developmental Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University provides the underpinning for much of my health counseling work. Through my studies at Columbia I came to understand the impact our childhood has on our development through adolescence and into adulthood. It still amazes me how our childhood experiences influence seemingly unrelated adult behaviors. This realization led to coin a phrase I use constantly when working with clients who struggle with food: “It’s not about the cookies!”

Prior to Teachers College I graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University in psychology where I earned Departmental Honors for original research in gender development.

My Training

I received my training as a Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s cutting-edge Health Coach Training Program.

During my training, I studied over 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willett, Chair of Nutrition at Harvard University; Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.

My education has equipped me with extensive knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and preventive health. Drawing on these skills and my knowledge of different dietary theories, I work with clients to help them make lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results.

My Athletic Career

In addition to my academic pursuits I have been an athlete my entire life. Currently I hold a third-degree black belt in Seido Karate-do. As a way to give back to the community I taught children for 10 years. I am also certified to teach women’s street self-defense by the American Women’s Street Self Defense Association (AWSDA) and conduct workshops on a regular basis. During my college years I played Division I volleyball at the University of Iowa.