Originally from New York City, I received my B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College of Columbia University and my M.S.W. from New York University. After moving to Montreal in 1985, I completed an intensive three-year couple and family therapy training program at The Argyle Institute of Human Relations where I am currently a teacher and supervisor of therapists-in-training.

In 2000, I co-founded of The Montreal Family Centre, a counselling centre located in downtown Montreal.

My interest in preventing problems in families led to my career as a parent educator. I've taught parenting techniques in numerous workshops at schools and community organizations, and since 1993 regularly presented at McGill University's annual parenting conference.

I'm an international guest expert on television and radio on issues related to mental health and emotional well-being, notably having appeared on NBC's The Today Show and been written about in Time Magazine and Maclean's. From 2001 to 2008, I was the resident family therapist on Global Television's morning news show, This Morning Live.

My first book, My Sister, My Self: Understanding the Sibling Relationship that Shapes Our Lives, Our Loves and Ourselves was published in 2006 by McGraw Hill. My second book, Runaway Husbands: The Abandoned Wife's Guide to Recovery and Renewal, was published in 2010 by Green Light Press.