I am trained as a therapist, sociologist, and teacher of mindful self-compassion, and was a faculty member at Skidmore College for 25 years. My teaching and research focused on family relationships and transitions, academic cultures, emotions and social psychology. You can find more details about my credentials and background here.
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My career and life experiences inform how I help people navigate their academic, professional, and personal challenges. In consultations and presentations, I offer mindful self-compassion as a resource for working with self-judgment and stress and enhancing creativity.
About my work
What is self-compassion?
Many people struggle with criticism and harshness toward themselves. As articulated by Kristin Neff, cultivating the skill of self-compassion involves responding to our own mistakes, flaws, and hardship as we would to a friend.
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Practicing self-compassion is easier said than done, especially in academic environments that emphasize rigor, critique, and evaluation. If we aren't hard on ourselves, will we be motivated toward achievement and excellence? The answer based on empirical research is that self-compassionate people are more likely than others to bounce back if they don't meet their own standards. As Kristin Neff notes, self-compassion nurtures people toward reaching their full potential.
Workshops
I offer brief online workshops designed to introduce self-compassion as a resource for navigating obstacles to self-expression and challenges in work and relationships, especially in the context of academic culture.
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Faculty and staff members, administrators, students, and retirees can all benefit from bringing more compassionate perspectives to the norms and expectations of academic life.
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Feel free to consult with me about whether I can be of service to you.