About the Author

From the time I was a small child, I have been interested in other cultures.  Growing up, I had a set of story books with tales of children in other lands. I used to pore through these endlessly, trying to imagine myself in the lives of these other children, working out what was the same and what was different between us.  That fascination carried through to adulthood, and has woven through my work from the beginning.  I lived and worked with the Navajo, in Africa for the CDC, and with Alaska Natives, Mexican, and Pacific Rim cultures.  I have always looked across a broad spectrum for what connects us as human beings, as well as the differences in each culture that add spice to the basic recipe.

My first degrees were in Psychology and English, from Emory University, and as I began to understand how much of our life trajectory is influenced in the womb and at birth, I began my study of midwifery, returning to Emory for a nursing degree, and then on to Yale University for a master’s degree and licensure as a Certified Nurse Midwife.

I have always been in awe of our bodies…how they are made and how intelligent and capable they are.  I have spent my career helping to support and empower women to trust their bodies and work with its natural intelligence.  I have found if women understand why something is happening, and how their body is trying to help them toward health by doing what it is doing, that this gives back a measure of control.  It becomes clear that something is not just happening to us, but that we can work with our bodies to help it achieve its goal, which is always optimal health.

I have spent my last two decades working with women in the menopausal transition.  Working deeply with women during this time of life strongly reinforced my view that, just as with the other hormonal transitions we make in our lives as women, menopause is both positive and purposeful, and is forcefully shaped by our early experiences, our histories and how we experience ourselves as women. 

I hope you find support and direction for your journey here.