About
I love connecting with others, immersing myself in different cultures, being in nature, and studying and learning about, art, consciousness and spiritual traditions. I studied philosophy and psychology at Boston University in the early 90’s, moved to San Francisco, then head further west to travel. In my early 20’s, I learned yoga in a remote location near the southern tip of Tasmania and immersed myself in Mahyana Buddhist meditation in Nepal. Both practices have been integral throughout my life.
In my mid 20’s I returned to the Bay Area to study Somatic Psychology at the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS). I was fortunate to have incredible teachers and mentors who continue to inspire my work today. I worked in Community mental health for 15 years. This taught me humility and reference for the impacts of intergenrational trauma and the relationships between the individual, their family and larger social environments. During this time, I experienced watched as consciousness medicines returned to mainstream, legal use.
I established my private practice in 2008. I co-founded The Oakland DBT (Dialectal Behavioral Therapy) and Mindfulness Center - a thriving and dynamic group that contiunes to serve the Community. A DBT treatment framework helps people who have not felt successful with standard therapy, including those with life threatening behaviors.
In additional to personal work, larger societal issues- Climate change and social justice - are important to me. I believe therapists have a responsibility to advocate for systemic changes that impact the well-being of their communities.
Consciousness practices and psychedelic experiences are synergistic, to growth work, and I am thrilled to be practicing psychology at a time when sacred plant and psychedelic medicines are being respected for their long standing roles. I studied with Polaris Institute and began integrating Ketamine treatment into my clinical practice in 2020. I am excited to watch other consciousness medicines come on line, including MDMA and Psilocybin.
I support my practice through my own learning and consultation, as well as living a balanced life with my husband, David Pepper, MD. We are active in our family life, our friendships and our communities. We also collaborate professionally, he is a family doctor, trained in psychedelic medicine, with a deep knowledge base in working with family systems and End of Life care. He is an active collaborator in my work with clients, both in regular and Ketamine assisted psychotherapy. Our latest project involves End of Life, and helping face the challenges associated with this transition.