About Me
Years ago, I accepted a position at one of the premier universities in the United States.
And I was utterly miserable.
I hated the environment. It was fiercely competitive, with unrelenting hours, and way too much time isolated in an office. There was little time for anything but work. No time for rock climbing or jamming with other musicians.
On top of that, my partner was in Amsterdam, 3,000 miles away.
I woke up dreading the days and went to bed anxious. Conversations with friends were mostly about how stuck and unhappy I felt.
But who would walk away from such a prestigious, high-paying position? In the end, with the support of a wonderful coach, that’s exactly what I did.
Walking away from that job was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
It didn’t happen overnight.
I had to work with my fear of a drop in income and professional status, and of venturing into an uncertain future. I also had to tame my harsh inner critic, a shaming inner voice asking why I couldn’t handle the stressful demands of the new job.
I realized that I would happily walk away from the money, status, and certainty if I could create a life I loved waking up to.
Within a few months, I’d found a job at a great organization in Amsterdam that was looking for someone with precisely my background.
I rented out my home and was soon biking to work alongside charming canals, and having dinner every evening with my partner. And I had plenty of time for climbing and music.
Getting unstuck is about facing the fears that hold us back.
It’s about clarifying the changes we want to make. And it’s about creating a plan to get from where we are to where we want to be.
Are you ready to create a life you love waking up to?
Why work with me?
- A PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan
- A licensed clinical psychologist for 20 years
- A professor of psychology for 12 years
- Writer of a popular blog on PsychologyToday.com on mindfulness and mental health (and on the mental health of refugees)
- A certified yoga teacher, with a focus on vinyasa flow and yoga for athletes
- Developed a mindfulness-based mental health intervention for refugee parents in the Middle East
- Author of two books and numerous professional articles
- An avid rock climber, a passionate swing dancer, a writer, and a guitarist. I have worked in war zones and refugee camps, and written extensively about the impact of war and chronic stress on mental health.
- I have faced my own fears. Not just the external fears that arise when working in war zones or climbing a cliff 200 meters above the sea, but the inner demons: a fear of failure, of what others might think of me, of facing old pain, of hurting others, or exploring uncharted waters. I have undertaken my version of the journeys my clients take. I understand their fear, and I know the freedom and vitality that lies on the other side of it.
Take the first step
Book a free 20-minute consultation to find out how we might work together.