I have been working with families of children with feeding disorders for over 30 years. I’ve watched children take their first taste of solid food, overcome fears of choking, and sit at the table with their family for the first time. I will sit with parents in the stress of the moment and share tears of joy at the small successes.

I have worked in several hospitals across the country, using many different kinds of feeding techniques. Over the years, I have listened to what parents want, discerned what they need, and helped children succeed based on their strengths. I aim to empower parents to make these lifestyle changes at home around mealtimes, so they can enjoy eating with their families again. I use family-friendly strategies that are easy to implement and take family’s concerns into account. Our goal for children is that they learn to taste and try new foods, find their preferences, and participate in family meals.

In my 25 years as a licensed psychologist, I have worked with many different therapists in feeding, including occupational therapists (OT), speech therapists (ST), psychologists, behavior analysts, and special education teachers. Each of them taught me a different perspective for reaching children and their families. I am indebted to them for their teaching, the co-treatments, camaraderie, and support. I have learned that OT and ST get a wide range of training, but it tends to leave out parent education, problem-solving through psychosocial barriers, and dealing with challenging behaviors. I desire to work with collaborative teams to provide comprehensive care.