About Dr. Carrie

I was born and raised in upstate NY. From a very early age I was fascinated by foreign languages, cultures, and places. After graduating high school in 1994, and interspersed with college, I started traveling the world. For nearly 17 years throughout my 20s and 30s I lived in numerous countries including 10 years in the United Arab Emirates. I also lived in Lebanon, France, Russia, Latvia, Turkey, and Singapore and visited many countries in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. I also learned 7 languages: in addition to my native English, I learned French, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Latvian, and a bit of Spanish. My childhood dreams of seeing the world and learning languages came true. I also had the goal of running a marathon and getting a PhD and I was blessed to do both. I ran the Dubai Marathon in 2007. It took me 4 hours and 14 minutes of non-stop running to complete all 26.2 miles. I completed my PhD in Psychology in 2011 which was basically a 5-year academic marathon! I also have a graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management from Harvard University, a Master's degree in Middle East Studies from the American University of Beirut, and a Bachelor's in International Studies from the State University of New York at Albany. I've also done various certificates at places like the Sorbonne in Paris, Moscow State University, and Istanbul University.

Part of my life’s story also includes having been married for 14 years to a surgeon from Iraq. We met and married in Dubai in 2008 and raised 4 children together – his 3 from a previous marriage and the one daughter we had together who was born in 2011. Going through my divorce was the most painful thing I ever experienced - my entire life shattered into a million pieces. But tough times strengthened my connection to God and He has blessed me beyond belief.

My life today near the end of my 40s is one of peace, gratitude, love, and hope. I’m a deeply spiritual person. I enjoy living a private and simple life. I love nature. I love to travel. I love to spend time with loved ones. I love raising my daughter. I love and believe in the work I do and want to spend the rest of my life using the gifts God gave me to help others. God is the center of my life. Everything else just comes and goes.

I also had the goal of running a marathon and getting a PhD and I was blessed to do both. I ran the Dubai Marathon in 2007. It took me 4 hours and 14 minutes of non-stop running to complete all 26.2 miles. I completed my PhD in Psychology in 2011 which was basically a 5-year academic marathon! I also have a graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management from Harvard University, a Master's degree in Middle East Studies from the American University of Beirut, and a Bachelor's in International Studies from the State University of New York at Albany. I've also done various certificates at places like the Sorbonne in Paris, Moscow State University, and Istanbul University.