About Vicki

Education:

I obtained a bachelor’s degree (BA) at the University of Pennsylvania, including a year abroad at the Universite of Strasbourg in France. My graduate studies took place at the Universite of Montreal where I completed a Masters program in psychology (MA) and a Doctorate in clinical psychology (Psy.D.).

Work Experience:

Working in a variety of inpatient psychiatric hospitals, both as an intern and later as a therapist. While living in Quebec I was one of the founding members of a residential therapeutic community for treating schizophrenic adults. The National Film Board of Canada made a documentary film of our work there.

Later on I provided psychotherapy for heroin addicts enrolled in a Methadone Clinic in Worcester, MA. This has been influential in my subsequent work with individuals challenged by addiction. Subsequent experiences included working as a therapist at the Child and Family Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville, TN and at the DeSisto School for troubled adolescents in West Stockbridge, MA.

For the past two decades I have been in private practice in the Berkshires. For many years I also ran groups known as WOMEN, FOOD and ADDICTION.

Significant Influences:

My post graduate trainings include:

• Gestalt therapy training at the Gestalt Center in Knoxville, TN

• Core Energetics, a body-centered therapy taught by John Pierrakos (author of Core Energetics: Developing the Capacity to Love and Heal)

• Advanced training in Somatic Experiencing, a sensorimotor approach to trauma, with Peter Levine (author of Waking the Tiger and several other books)