Hi. Nice to see you here.

With over 30 years of experience as a psychologist, university professor and global trainer and consultant, I have spent much of my life working to support, educate and engage individuals, groups and organizations. My background is multifaceted, which means I have a wide range of knowledge, tools, resources and experiences to draw from when working with you.  After spending many years as a clinical therapist, I completed a PhD in International Conflict Resolution at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Yes, it is a country and a continent. For the last 20 years, I have worked with groups from NGOs to corporations to government bodies to community groups striving for social and organizational change. Covering a wide range of topics, we dive deep in both process and content to address challenges, strengths and visions. 

 Some things I do when I'm not sleeping...

​​professor of conflict transformation at multiple global universities    •   trained and licensed psychologist   •    published writer   •   international consultant  •  expert trainer  •  dialogue facilitator   •   skilled mediator •  experienced improviser   •   ​popular interviewee for radio, tv and newspaper   •  global traveler •  
 ​award winning  storyteller •  ​ intrepid adventurer
president of the applied improvisation network

Approach


In my training and facilitation, I use a variety of techniques incorporating interactive methods such as dialogue, experiential learning and improvisation. I create unique services to align with your  needs, visions and goals. 

My approach is dynamic, humanizing and incisive — even when wrangling with some of the world's most delicate situations. This makes me an unconventional and successful choice for addressing your community and organizational needs. I thrive on assessing and resolving high stakes, multi-faceted challenges and I will work with you to develop the best plan for your own unique context. ​ I bring compassion, humor, mindfulness, flexibility and the ability to read a room like nobody's business. I start where you are. One client has called me "The Group Whisperer".  

​And sometimes, just sometimes, we will have lots of fun.

I have lived and worked on every continent (ok, not Antarctica) and have wonderful partners and colleagues all over the world.
Sometimes I work alone, and sometimes I collaborate and team up with some of the best thought leaders in the field.
For any culture shift, I can assemble a magic network of people and techniques that can meet your organizational or community need. 

      Writing

I've done a lot of writing - some of it published, some of it sitting in leather bound books next to my bed. I have written journal articles and book chapters on many topics including conflict transformation, dialogue and applied improvisation.  I have also written poetry.

​My most recent publication is about dialogue and capacity building work with refugee communities living with historical conflict. Written with amazing colleagues and members of the refugee communities themselves, it is a testimony to resilience, reconciliation and rebuilding. You can purchase it here. Proceeds from the book will be used to further Dialogue work in Diaspora communities. 

I'd love to hear about your project

Is your business, organization or group ready to stretch and grow?
​From needs assessment to implementation, let's create a customized program that will work for you.