And so it begins…

Sigmund Freud’s apartment, Vienna

Welcome to my blog! I’ve been fighting the tiny narcissist inside of me to start a blog, but he has finally won- yes, he’s a man.

I am a licensed forensic psychologist who resides and practices in the Southern California area.  I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in LA and I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere in the world (Okay, maybe Port Douglas, Australia but that’s for a later post!). Most of my day to day work includes working with those who are rehabilitating back into the community after prison or with individuals and their families when they are facing potential prison sentences.  Needless to say it’s some pretty heavy stuff, but intriguing every day and I wouldn’t trade that either! I do forensic assessments, group treatment and individual therapy, as well as research and training.

While in grad school, my dissertation chairperson asked a group of us who were working with the same data if we would be interested in presenting our findings at a conference in Adelaide, Australia.  As you can image, I didn’t have to think twice for such an opportunity.  I was a newlywed and my husband and I knew it would be an adventure we’d never forget. That trip sparked a love for international travel and a desire to stay connected with the most current research in my field.  Continued learning excites me for the future of understanding human behavior and motivates me to help clients become better versions of themselves while staying connected to leaders in my field.

My aim with this blog is, first and foremost, to bring my travel adventures to a wider audience.  I love being inspired by other travel bloggers and living vicariously through them when I am in between trips (OMG, isn’t Instagram the best for this?).  I also want to pass on the ways in which I have been able to do this while working, raising a family, and doing so responsibly.  I imagine as my blog grows, this will take the form of tackling academic/ professional topics like ‘how to present at an international conference’ and practical travel tips such as ‘how to bring your toddler on a ten hour flight without everyone going crazy.’  I’ll bring you honest experiences, no matter good or bad.  

I look forward to interacting with you and taking you along to distant lands!