EDUCATION

2001-2002 

Post-Doctoral Residency

APA accredited Post-Doctoral Residency

The Renfrew Center of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida

 

1995-2001

Ph.D.

APA accredited Clinical Psychology Program

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Degree conferred May 2001

M.A. received November 1997

Qualifying exam passed September 1998

 

2000-2001

Internship Program

APA accredited Pre-doctoral Clinical Internship

University of Miami Counseling Center

Miami, Florida

 

1998-2000

Certificate Program

Institute for Women’s Studies

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

 

1991-1995

B.S. with Distinction

Human Development and Family Studies

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

 

SPECIALIZED POST-GRADUATE TRAINING

 

May 2018         

5th Annual When It Takes More Than Two To Make a Baby: Basic and Advanced Skills

Advanced Training in Infertility and Mental Health

 

September 2016-May 2017

Fertility Counseling Post-Graduate Course

24 Hours of continuing education and clinical training in the field of reproductive psychology

 

May 2016

When It Takes More Than Two To Make a Baby: Basic and Advanced Skills

Advanced Training in Infertility and Mental Health

 

November 2014

PAI Training Workshop

Application of the PAI for use in the evaluation of egg donors and gestational carriers

 

January 2014

Perinatal Mood Disorders Training with PSI and 20/20 Mom Project

Advanced training in perinatal mood disorders identification and treatment

 

October 2007

Post-Graduate Course, ASRM Mental Health Professionals Group

Men and ART: The Missing Voice

 

March 2007

MMPI Training Workshop

Basic Interpretation of the MMPI-2

 

October 2006

Post-Graduate Course, ASRM Mental Health Professionals Group

Medical, Ethical and Legal Aspects of Infertility Treatment

 

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

 

November 2013-present   

Founder and Clinical Director, Palm Beach Women’s Counseling

Offering individual, couples and group therapy specializing in issues related to reproductive medicine and maternal mental health. Conducts psychological assessments of potential egg donors and gestational carriers. Provides psychoeducational consultation for gamete recipients and family building through gestational surrogacy.

 

August 2010-November 2013  

Director Psychological Services, OB/GYN Specialists of the Palm Beaches

Developed and implemented an integrative model for meeting the mental health needs of an OB/GYN practice. Working with patients experiencing a range of reproductive health issues, including infertility, pregnancy loss, post-partum depression and anxiety. Founded Share of the Palm Beaches, a free support group for families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth or NICU loss.  

 

January 2006 – May 2008

Director Psychological Services, Fertility and Genetics

Developed and established a comprehensive program of psychological services for a reproductive endocrinology practice. Met with all IVF patients for pre-cycle consultation, screened all prospective egg donors, gestational carriers and recipient couples. Worked with practice staff to discuss important issues of sensitivity and responsiveness to patient needs.  Developed and implemented a marketing strategy to bolster in- house egg donation program.

 

July 2004 - present

Psychologist- Private Practice

Worked with patients in a private practice setting focusing on reproductive health issues.  Included therapy and consultation for IVF patients, pregnancy loss and decision making for infertility treatment.

 

July 2002- July 2004

Psychologist- Community Behavioral Services

Worked with individuals, couples, families and groups in a private practice setting. Specialized in women’s issues, specifically eating disorders and reproductive health.  

 

June 2001-June 2002

Post-Doctoral Fellow- The Renfrew Center of Miami

The year-long post-doctoral fellowship provided the hours of direct clinical service necessary to obtain licensure in clinical psychology.  Individual, couple, family and group therapy was conducted in a women’s mental health treatment facility. Conducted intake assessments and followed clients’ progress throughout an eating disorders day treatment program, including providing therapy and managing insurance claims. Outpatient therapy was provided to individual clients experiencing depression, anxiety and personality disorders on an ongoing basis.  

 

August 2000- August 2001

Psychology Intern- University of Miami Counseling Center

Full-time, year-long program emphasized direct clinical experience, assessment, consulting and outreach programming. Conducted two intake interviews weekly in addition to maintaining a caseload of 20 individual therapy clients.  Crisis intervention training included one “II”(Immediate Intake) per week. Member of the University of Miami Coordinated Care Team for the treatment of eating disorders in college students. Worked together with a physician, dietician, social worker and psychologists to develop and implement appropriate interventions for college-age women with eating disorders.

 

July 1999-July 2000

Clinical Interviewer- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program

Involved in the recruitment of subjects for multiple ongoing clinical drug trials, including Major Depression, Social Phobia, PTSD, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Conducting diagnostic intake interviews of subjects using standardized clinical measures to determine their appropriate study placement. Trained to administer the HAM-D, HAM-A, Y-BOCS, MADRAS and SCID measures for screening purposes and weekly sessions tracking subjects’ progress.  Responsible for developing and maintaining a database management system tracking subjects during the recruitment and follow-up phase of their involvement in clinical trials.

 

June 1997- July 2000

Therapist- Emory University Psychological Center

Psychotherapy with individuals and couples is conducted at the Emory University Psychological Center with clients whose presenting problems range from adjustment disorders to serious mental illnesses.  Responsibilities include diagnostic assessments of children and adults. These include intelligence testing as well as more thorough learning disability and neuro-psychological evaluations.

 

May 1994- August 1994

Clinical Interviewer- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Mood Disorders Clinic

Contacted and screened prospective candidates for a double blind-clinical drug trial of bipolar disorder and major depression.  Administered structured clinical interviews, coded and scored data, and conducted follow-up sessions with patients following their treatment protocol.

 

 

OUTREACH/TRAINING EXPERIENCE

 

October 2017

Motherhood and Mental Health: Patient Education, Screening and Empathy

Workshop for the Turn the Light on Conference on the Well-being of Women and Families.

 

April 2017-present

Therapist trainings for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Maternal Mental Health Program

Provide training for therapists on the identification and treatment of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

 

September 2016

Grand Rounds, St. Mary’s Medical Center

Gave Grand Rounds entitled, “You Can’t Tell by Looking at Her” addressing the importance of education and screening for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

 

August 2000- April 2001

Coordinator, V-Day 2001 College Initiative for the University of Miami

Responsible for overseeing all aspects of the college initiative, a national program that seeks to raise awareness among college students of the problem of violence against women.  Recruited community groups to attend an educational reception where students received information and literature about issues related to women’s health. Directed the fundraising campaign to donate money to Safespace, a women and children’s domestic violence shelter.  Organized and led all planning meetings for the committee of students and faculty leaders who worked on this project.

 

Spring 2001

Intern, University of Miami Counseling Center

Assisted the Director of CANE CARES, Dr. Luly Casares, in planning all of the events for Eating Disorders Awareness Week at the University of Miami. Researched and obtained a National Collegiate Athletic Association grant to fund the keynote speaker, Ron Thompson, Ph.D., an expert on eating disorders among college athletes.  Worked closely with the Panhellenic council to develop a multi-faceted program promoting awareness and prevention of eating disorders among sorority women.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Psychological Association

American Society for Reproductive Medicine Mental Health Professionals Group (MHPG)

Task Force on Psychological Testing, ASRM MHPG

Postpartum Support International

SHARE  Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support

PLIDA: Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Association

SEEDS: Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association