Hi, I’m Sophie.

I’m a psychologist and college professor specializing in eating disorders, body image, and the ways our relationships with food and our bodies can shape how we experience ourselves and our lives. My work is informed by both clinical practice and research, with a particular interest in how cultural messages about weight, appearance, and worth shape the way we see ourselves.

I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where I worked with clients experiencing a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, identity, and self-esteem. Over the course of my graduate training, I became increasingly interested in the ways body image and our relationships with food can intersect with so many of these experiences. I was particularly interested in how messages about weight, appearance, and worth can become internalized and shape the way people see themselves.

That interest became a central part of my clinical work during my doctoral internship at the Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center. There, I had the opportunity to work extensively with clients experiencing eating disorders and body image concerns, which deepened my understanding of these issues and solidified my desire to specialize in this area. I continued this work during my postdoctoral fellowship at Free Association Clinic, a group practice in San Francisco specializing in psychodynamic and existential psychotherapy. Working closely with clients navigating eating disorders, body image concerns, and questions of self-worth during these two stages of my training gave me a strong foundation for the work I do today.

Alongside my focus on body image and eating disorders, I have developed extensive experience working with women and with the emotional and psychological changes that can accompany pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the transition to parenthood. These experiences have further shaped my understanding of how our relationships with our bodies can change across different stages of life. I recently earned my Perinatal Mental Health Professional Certification (PMH-C), which includes specialized training in assessing and supporting maternal mental health and understanding the unique factors that can affect emotional well-being during this time.

I am also an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Dominican University of California, where I teach psychology courses and lead the Body Image and Stigma (BIAS) Research Lab. Through my research and work with undergraduate students, I study the ways that cultural and interpersonal messages related to body size and appearance can affect people's emotional well-being and relationships. I also write about these topics for a broader audience on Psychology Today, with the goal of making discussions about body image and eating more accessible and less stigmatizing.

I believe therapy works best when we can be genuine with one another and create space for curiosity, honesty, and reflection. My style is warm and engaged, while also giving you space to move at your own pace. I want therapy to feel like a place where you can be yourself, ask difficult questions, and develop a deeper understanding of your life and experiences.

Work with me