I am a clinical counselor, private researcher, author, educator, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Registered Lactation Consultant (RLC) focusing on issues related to culture, psychology, and the family — particularly as they relate to breastfeeding and the needs of women during their reproductive and mothering years.

As one of a small group of mental health care providers in the world who are also IBCLCs, I have a strong interest in what I call lactational psychology. I am the founder and moderator of LactPsych, an international email discussion group for professionals working in this emerging field. I am a member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and am Certified in Acute Traumatic Stress Management. I sought these credentials because of my concern about the impact of traumatic birth experiences on breastfeeding, mothering, and maternal and child well-being. As a member of Mothering magazine's web site's Expert Panel, I answer questions about breastfeeding and maternal mental health. I speak professionally on breastfeeding, culture, parenting, and psychology. My website (www.lifecirclecc.com) provides information about my work, including access to many of my publications and resources useful for women in their roles as mothers. My work has been translated from English into Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Croatian, Hungarian, and Chinese. I am a member of the professional speakers bureaus of the International Lactation Consultants Association, LactSpeak, and the National Center for Crisis Management.