He holds graduate degrees in anthropology and social work (Smith College School for Social Work). He did his postgraduate training in child development and psychoanalysis and adult psychoanalysis at the Cleveland Psychoanalytic Center (Cleveland Psychoanalytic Center, accredited by the American Psychoanalytic Association (Psychoanalytic Association) and the Hanna Perkins Center. He is a clinical social worker, applied anthropologist, and psychoanalyst, whose research focuses on mental health practice, mental health case management, psychiatric medication, and the roles that stigma and shame play in the social and psychological dynamics of practitioner. He specializes in psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.