Introduction

I am delighted that you found your way to my website for this introduction to my clinical services, background, research, publications and specializations.

My approach to therapy is to facilitate your growth, to support you in transitions, offer you tools, guidance and knowledge as you explore insights, evolving roles, and new feelings. My goal is to assist you in examining the obstacles which prevent you from making meaningful changes, from learning, and from living your life more fully.

A variety of psychotherapy services are available at my practice. I see individuals, couples and small groups and present psychoeducational topics to the community.

I offer social skills groups for children and psychoeducational groups for adults. Inspired by the work of Michelle Garcia Winner, Carol Gray, Tony Attwood and others, and building on a foundation of teaching experience, I lead participants through activities that have been shown to improve social thinking and social behavior.

I serve as a volunteer advisor for Postpartum Education and Support (PES), a non-profit group working to help new parents. As a Community Emergency Rescue Team, or CERT instructor, I teach Disaster Psychology through the Cary and Raleigh Fire Departments and other regional groups.

Professional Summary

CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE: I am a Licensed Psychologist and a Health Service Provider-Psychologist (HSP-P) in private practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. I have worked with families in a variety of professional capacities for 28 years, and as the parent of three, including twins diagnosed with autism, I offer a unique family-centered approach that integrates developmental psychology with relationship-based psychotherapy.

TEACHING & HEALTH TECHNOLOGY: After graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Education (Art, Language Arts and multicultural emphasis), I taught among diverse populations in the United States and abroad (Native American, African American, Hispanic, Moslem, Jewish, and Asian). After receiving my masters degree from San Diego State University, I designed and led the production teams in the development of premiere award winning health education CDs and websites for Mayo Clinic, Hazelton, St, Jude Medical Hospital, Health Partners, Taking Control of Your Health (adults), and BodyLand/Time Life (children), and McGraw Hill's electronic Health and Biology textbooks.

MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY: I hold both a doctorate and a masters degree in Clinical Psychology, a masters in interdiscipnary studies focusing on the use of media in learning, as well as a techincal certificate in computer graphics.

TRAINING & RESEARCH: I have treated children and adults in community mental health agencies, schools, neuropsychological centers, and clinics. My research focused on infant development, multicultural learning, and depression & well-being among adolescents on the autistic spectrum. I have the honor of having trained with a focus on Autism and Parent-Infant Mental Health including supervised research in these areas with Dr. Henry Soper, Dr. Debra Bendell and Dr. Barbara Kalmanson. I have recently benefited from the mentoring of Dr. Barbara Still and Dr. Rosalind Heiko. See PRESENTATIONS and RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS to learn more.

INTEGRATIVE APPROACH: My practice style builds meaningfully on my prior skills as teacher, manager, researcher, artist, massage therapist, and designer of interactive technology-based health education. I offer solution-oriented and creative problem solving approaches that combine the art of psychotherapy with the clarity of a scientist.

Professional Affiliations

• American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Sandplay Therapists of America (STA)
• American Art Therapy Association
• Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders
• North Carolina Psychological Assocation (NCPA)
• NCPA Scientific, Academic, and Student Affairs Committee Member
• Association for Scientific Advancement in Psychological Injury and Law (ASAPIL)

Education

B.S. Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Double Major: English & Fine Art.

M.A. Interdisciplinary: Cognitive Psychology, Instructional Design, Media

Psychology; San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

M.S. Clinical Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA

Therapeutic Services Offered

• Individuals, Couples & Groups
• Children, Adolescents & Adults
• Psychological & Cognitive Assessment

COACHING GROUP FOR YOUNG ADULTS - Young adults have the opportunity to work together to meet new goals in education, career, and personal relationships. Call or email for information about the next group.

Selected Treatment Areas

• ADHD
• School Adjustment & Advocacy
• Psychological & Cognitive Assessment
• Social Skills -
• Parent Coaching
• Couples’ Communication
• Developmental Issues
• Autism & Aspergers
• Depression
• Grief & Loss
• Trauma & PTSD
• Anxiety & OCD
• Transition Support
• Pain Management
• Health Issues
• Weight Loss

For New Parents

• Postpartum Mood
• Depression & Anxiety
• Parent Adjustment
• Infertility
• Adoption

Is My Practice Right for You?

My practice builds meaningfully on my prior skills as a classroom teacher, manager, researcher, artist, massage therapist, and designer of award-winning interactive technology based health education. I offer solution oriented and creative problem solving approaches that combine the art of psychotherapy with the clarity of a scientist. As the parent of three, including twins diagnosed with autism, I offer a unique family centered approach integrating developmental psychology with relationship based psychotherapy.

Philosophy of Service

My goal is to assist individuals in examining the obstacles that prevent them from making meaningful changes, learning emotional skills, and from living life more fully. I offer a customized coaching model that builds on your values and goals. My approach to therapy is to facilitate healing and growth, to support transitions, offer tools, guidance and knowledge as individuals explore insights, evolving roles, meet behavioral goals, and discover new feelings.

Tools for Healthy Mind-Body Living

Tools For Healthy Mind-Body Living is the branch of my practice that integrates media psychology, research in multi-cultural learning styles and cognitive differences as well as behavior modification principles with current theories and best practices for the coaching of parenting and partnering. I will create individualized visual and customized audio support as well as other supports- to assist you in meeting your unique goals. The combination of my training as a psychotherapist and as a curriculum designer delivers the tool set you need to reach your highest potential in relief, healing or change.

I find that the fundamentals of sleep, eating, and time management are synergistically related to mental health and personal growth. Each effects the other, and for some individuals, art, music, and technology can also be utilized therapeutically to improve the quality of life and relationships. To support your healing, well-being and personal growth, I have carefully selected tools which have already been incorporated into my therapeutic and coaching model for many years. The items shown here are available at my office in Raleigh. What are you struggling to manage in your life? There might be a tool that can help.

Time Timer

In session, together we can talk about how to customize this time management tool for your unique needs and goals.

Sound Machine

Although experts can disagree on many topics, most of us can agree that children and adults alike function better with a good nights sleep. There are many devices on the market today that offer nature sounds and white noise. After researching sleep for Dr. Corrine Goodwin’s project, I have selected this device to support the clinical needs of the individuals and families in my practice. Innovative technology is utilized to create soothing, natural sounds that effectively mask out unwanted noise that may interfere with your ability to sleep, relax, meditate or concentrate on work or studies. This mother of five offers the following testimonial:

- Juli S, mother of 5

Original Published Work

Why Mentor?

In The North Carolina Psychologist, NCPA: vol 63 no1. 2011.

Special Difficulties of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Forensic Arena

In the Handbook of Forensic Neuropsychology, 2nd ed. New York: Springer/A. M. Horton & L. Hartlage (Eds.) Soper, H. V., & Pelz-Sherman, D. J., 2010.

Well-Being and MItigating Factors for Depression Among Adolescents with High Functioning Autism and Aspergers

Doctoral Dissertation: Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA, 2009.

Autism Assessment

In D. Sherman, Autism: Asserting Your Child's Right to a Special Education. San Francisco: Oxford Churchill Publishing, 2007.

Taking Back the Family Turf

New Beginnings, 2001.

Visual Communication in Electronic Learning Environments

Masters Thesis: San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 1994.

Research

Academic ~ Educational ~ Consumer

• Designed correlational multi-state study of well-being, depression and engaging activity among children/adolescents diagnosed with autism (2006-09). The map to the right illustrates locations of participants in the Autism study (states in blue).
• Investigating sleep disturbances in targeted populations, ongoing, directed by Corrine Goodwin, PhD.
• Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders: Designed study, data collection, examination- retrospective video study in early signs of autism in infancy (2004).
• IVI of Minneapolis, MN: Usability research/product and services development for technology-based health education (1993-97).
• San Diego State University: Qualitative/quantitative study in human factors in learning (1990-94).
• Project Seed of California: Role of race of assessor in intellectual functions assessment (1984).
• Montessori of Santa Fe: Multicultural issues in preschool education (1983).
• Navajo Reservation: Designed and researched culturally specific testing among Navajo, Zuni, Hopi (1982-83).

Recent Presentations

Autism & Anxiety (With Dr. Katherine Johnson of UNC)

Autism Society of NC, Raleigh, NC
May 24, 2011

West Cary Regional Counselors Meeting: Introduction to Sandplay Therapy with Dr. Rosalind Heiko

Cary, NC
November 19, 2010

Disaster Psychology for CERT Team Members: A Thoughtful Review

Cary Fire Station of Cary, NC
October 14, 2010

Autism: Basic Review & What You Didn't Know You Needed to Know

Family Achievement Center In St. Paul, MN
July 14, 2010

Postpartum Mood Disorders and Breastfeeding: The Role of Family and Social Support

The 8th Annual Triangle Breastfeeding Alliance Conference
The Andrews Center, Wake AHEC, Raleigh, NC
May 13, 2010

Understanding Autism: Fundamentals for Professionals and Families

Integrative Therapy Institute, 2nd NEK Autism Conference
Lyndon State College, St. Johnsbury, VT
April 9, 2010

Autism in the Family: Basics and Beyond

Easter Seals of Vermont
April 8, 2010

Talk with the Professionals: Developmental Disabilities Discussion Panel - Autism & Adolescence

A Small Miracle, Raleigh, NC
March 20, 2010

Theory, Case Presentation, Practice and Experiential Training

Wake County Hospice
March 19, 2010

Sandplay Therapy Revisiting History, Theory and Fundamentals of Practice

North Carolina Association for Sandplay Therapy, Cary, NC
February 12, 2010

Autism, What You Didn't Know You Needed to Know

Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, with Dr. Henry Soper
January 23, 2010

Introduction to Sandplay and Sandtray Worldplay Therapies: Non-verbal Therapy, Symbolism, and Healing

Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, with S. Auguste Elliott, PhD
January 22, 2010

Sandplay: Introduction for Professionals

Regional Psychology Seminar, Chapel Hill, NC
November 15, 2009

Balancing Your Life and Your Life's Dream: A Project Management Perspective

Fielding Graduate University, Kansas City, MO, with Alex Wise-Rankovic, PhD.
August 1, 2008

Techniques for Training Leaders who Provide Information, Education and Support to Mothers of Multiples

La Leche League of North Carolina Area Conference
April 10, 2000

Autism & ADHD

WHO UNDERSTANDS?: Raising a child with High Functioning Autism can sometimes feel like an upside down inside out experience. As a parent raising two, along side a third child with ADHD, I get it. When my twins were diagnosed in 1999, I could have carried the books about autism at the local Raleigh bookstore under one arm. Today, I could not push the shelves that hold them all! I can help you sort through sea of possibilities to develop your own tools and style. Together we can create a plan with solid footing in research, but is not one-size fits all. As Tony Atwood points out, there is as much diversity of character on the spectrum, as there is in the rest of the population.

WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL?: Have you seen the book, Autism: Asserting Your Child's Right to a Special Education? Come in and take a look, I wrote the assessment chapter to help families navigate the school experience. Having been a teacher myself, I think kids should do more than just survive, they should thrive!

IS YOUR CHILD EVER MOODY?: My 2009 research examined well-being and depression among children and adolescents. They say it can take over a decade for research to get from the journals all the way to a family. I don’t think families want to wait that long.

IS THAT A COP?: As my children grew I heard more stories of unfortunate encounters (innocent) kids were having with law enforcment, and I became interested in prevention. That interest led to co-authoring Special Difficulties of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Forensic Arena (2010) which was published in Handbook of Forensic Neuropsychology, 2nd ed. New York: Springer Verlag. Socially safety is a life long goal. Until authority figures understand autism, we'll need to bridge the knowledge gap.

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Do you know a group that would like to learn more about autism? Audiences all the way from California through Vermont, and lots of places in between have enjoyed my autism talks. See Presentations to learn more. In April I'll be speaking at the Raleigh Autism Society on Anxiety and Autism.

To learn more about Autism, visit the Autism Society of America's website for comprehensive and credible information.

Sandplay Therapy & Handmade Miniatures

HISTORY: Sandplay is creative form of therapy with a long and distinguished history. In the 1930's London pediatrician Margaret Lowenfield developed a model for integrating the basic tools of sandplay: the tray filled with sand and the collection of miniatures. Dora Kalff, a Jungian analyst who studied with Lowenfield, developed Sandplay Therapy: a combination of Lowenfield's original technique and Jungian psychology. Sandplay Therapy, which is grounded in Jung's theories about psychology and symbolism, can be adapted for both adults and children. Sandplay therapy has become widely used in schools, hospitals and clinics and today is practiced all over the world.

I design and create Miniatures for Sandplay therapists and include a symbol essay with references. See the images on the right just below the completed sandtray. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing any of the following:

• rock gateway
• 1 inch cairn
• 2 inch cairn (all black, or multi-colored)
• Torah scroll
• fresh marshmellow
• roasted marshmellow on stick
• set of 4 bottles (message in a bottle, empty, black, and white)
• bottle of blood added to the set or sold separately

Stay tuned as more minitures will be added to this collection and will be for sale.

Sandplay is for individuals of all ages who seek healing or personal growth.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I began studying Sandplay with Dr. Jenaii Gold in Sonoma, CA in 2005 and continue under the mentorship of Dr. Rosalind Heiko and Dr. Dan Nelson. Together with Dr. Auguste Elliot, I presented Introduction to Sandplay & Sandtray Worldplay Therapies: Non-verbal Therapy, Symbolism, and Healing in California. Here in North Carolina I present on Sandplay history, theory and practice. Having participated in national seminars in Georgia, Colorado and California fuels my enthusiasm to offer Sandplay Therapy to you. Please see the STA website for rich and in depth information on Sandplay Therapy.

"The debt we owe to the play of the imagination is incalculable." - Jung

Raleigh Office

4917 Waters Edge Drive Suite 220 - 8 Raleigh, NC 27606 Phone: 919-434-1661 Fax: 732-453-1825 Email: dori@pelz-sherman.net

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Individuals, Couples, Groups
Children, Adolescents, Adults

Call or Email to schedule an appointment.

Groups: Social Skills, Parent & Coaching Groups

Groups are formed based on community interest and need. Contact me for details.

Public Speaking

See Presentations for a review of upcoming engagements and previous presentation topics that can be customized to meet the unique needs of your organization. Please contact me to learn more.

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Parent-Infant Wellness Care

HELP IS HERE: I understand the unique challenges faced by parents and those wanting to become parents. Your marriage, level of trust and self-confidence can all be disrupted during times of unexpected change, or expected and welcomed change. My unique family-centered approach is based on years of working with parents in a variety of teaching and therapeutic roles. I invite you to come to my office and learn more about the range of services I can offer to support the changes you seek, the decisions you face, or the healing you desire.

CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE: I obtained a Parent-Infant Mental Health Specialization supported by neuropsychology. This training prepares me to help you through the natural stress often experienced during adjustment to birth, loss, adoption, infertility, or the birth of multiples.

PUBLIC SPEAKING: I am availble for speaking to parent groups or birthing classes on a range of prenatal and postnatal topics.

For more information regarding reproductive health, and postpartum mood disorder symptoms, visit Mayo Clinic's website.