In addition to my private practice, I provide consultations and short-term resiliency-based counseling to individuals and couples through a contract with the Konterra Group. The mission of the Konterra Group is to improve the heath and effectiveness of people working internationally — including media companies, international development NGOs and private sector contractors.
Konterra hires therapists whose professional backgrounds combine international work and counseling. Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in international development for 12 years. I was a program manager, conducted social research and did policy analysis for the World Bank, the UNHCR and international NGOs. I lived as an expat in developing countries for a couple of years after graduate school and travelled extensively during my career in international development — up to 7 months out of the year!
During this time, I experienced first hand the challenges of maintaining a positive work-life balance, nurturing a couple and a family, and fighting burn out. As a Senior Social Scientist and team leader, I had to manage cross-cultural dynamics and conduct research in societies undergoing dramatic societal change, civil unrest or recent conflict. To better understand the pitfalls of cross-cultural management, I sought out additional training in group dynamics and team leadership, and served on staff at leadership and organizational conferences in the Tavistock tradition.
As a therapist, I have been interested in how trauma (and secondary trauma) affects people and contributes to burn out, relationship issues, depression and anxiety. I was trained and worked at the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing which focuses on treatment of grief and trauma. I have earned specializations in mind-body psychotherapy (Core Energetics) and trauma- focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
As a dual national raised through high school in France, I work extensively with foreign nationals, dual national or bi-cultural individuals and couples in my private practice and with Konterra. I am comfortable working in both French and English.