I have a general adult psychotherapy practice with a special interest in marital and family issues, especially the transition to parenthood and postpartum adjustment of women, men and their relationships. Working from a strong attachment orientation, I strive to help people meet the demands and deepen the joys of family life. I see marriage and parenthood as two of the essential developmental challenges of adulthood, offering unique opportunities for growth, healing and self-discovery. I see my work with parents as preventative in that I believe enormous psychological benefits come to children whose parents are happy, whole and self-confident and whose parents' relationships are loving and secure.

I am married, the mother of two teenage sons, and a longtime ally of the LGBTQ community.

Services provided

Individual psychotherapy and couples therapy.

In the context of a general adult psychotherapy practice, I am trained and experienced with the following issues of particular interest to visitors to this website:

--- postpartum depression and anxiety (in mothers and in fathers)

--- postpartum marital difficulties

--- emotional obstacles to successful nursing

--- conflict over returning to work versus staying at home

--- fertility challenges

--- parenting issues

--- resolution of difficult pregnancy and traumatic birth experiences

--- ambivalent feelings about motherhood/fatherhood

--- pregnancy loss

--- bonding difficulties

--- interfaith and cross-cultural issues

--- family-of-origin issues

Education

I earned my A.B. at Harvard (1978) and my M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1986 and 1996, respectively), all in psychology. I did my pre-doctoral internship in the U.W. Department of Psychiatry (1991-1992). My dissertation was on postpartum emotional difficulties in fathers.

Laurie can be reached at 608-256-6570 X3.

-- August 2, 2007