Presentations & Consultation

In addition to clinical practice, I am available to speak and provide presentations and trainings to the public, clinicians, schools, and organizations.  Currently, I develop presentations, workshops, and trainings on various aspects of couple relationships (communication, sex and intimacy, “fighting well,” and developing a “couple bubble,” transitioning to new parenthood), eating and body image (intuitive eating, breaking out of the diet mentality, body positivity, size acceptance), perinatal psychology (navigating infertility and loss, transitioning to new parenthood), trauma (body-oriented approaches to psychotherapy, structural dissociation, integrating EMDR and IFS), and mindfulness.

If you are interested in a topic I have not mentioned, feel free to contact me to discuss your interests.  I am happy to create custom presentations.  I also provide consultation to clinicians and institutions on issues related to couple relationships, eating disorders, mindfulness, and trauma.

Eating Disorders, Body Image, and Culture

I am a passionate advocate for understanding the impact gender, sexuality, race, class, and social position have on experiences of embodiment and challenging normative cultural conditioning which reinforces body image dissatisfaction, size discrimination, eating disorders, dieting, and other forms of self-harm.  I have worked extensively with teens and young adults to raise awareness of cultural norms, media messages, and systems of oppression which perpetuate feelings of bodily disconnection and discontent.

Couple Relationships

I am deeply interested in the experiences people have in couple relationships of all kinds.  My doctoral research* explored the contributions of partners' attachment styles and tendency for mindfulness (the process of paying attention, fully and without judgment to the present moment) to how partners negotiate and respond to conflict in their relationships.  This research included perspectives from individuals who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual and included the experience of individuals in monogamous, open, and polyamorous relationships.  By invitation, I have spoken about my research and work with couples at training programs in university and hospital settings and have been featured on local public radio.

*Ormiston, A. (2011). The role of attachment security and mindfulness in relationship satisfaction and responses to relationship conflict. Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA.

Selected Presentations

Including the Body in Treatment: An introduction to Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.  A presentation at Counseling and Psychological Services at San Francisco State University. San Francisco, CA.

Deepening the Work in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.  Guest presenter at California Pacific Medical Center, Psychiatry Department. San Francisco, CA.

Conceptualizing Couples Treatment: Theory, assessment, and intervention.  A multi-session seminar presented at the Psychological Services Center, Alliant International University. Oakland, CA.

Complex Trauma and Attachment in Psychotherapy.  A presentation at the Psychological Services Center, Alliant International University. Oakland, CA.

Mindfulness, Conflict, and Connection in Couples.  An interview on Sexploration with Monika, a sex-positive feminist radio talk show.  San Francisco, CA.

Introduction to Psychodynamic Theory.  A presentation at the Psychological Services Center, Alliant International University.  Oakland, CA.

Beginning Treatment with Couples.  A presentation at California Pacific Medical Center, Psychiatry Department.  San Francisco, CA.

The Legacy of Childhood Trauma and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.  A paper presentation at Psychiatry Grand Rounds, California Pacific Medical Center.  San Francisco, CA.

Education into Action Media Literacy and Body Image Workshop.  Presented on behalf of About-Face at multiple locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Media Impact on Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Eating Disorders.  A workshop for the Barnard College Pre-College Program in partnership with the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia.  New York, NY.