Curriculum Vitae
Darby Bonomi, PhD
Performance Psychologist
Education and Certifications
California Licensed Psychologist (PSY12925)
1992–present
Academy of Intuition Medicine®, Sausalito, CA—Master Certification in
Intuition Medicine
2013
San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis—Post-doctoral Certification in
Adult Psychoanalysis
1999
California School of Professional Psychology—Berkeley, CA–Ph.D. in
Clinical Psychology
1991
California Pacific Medical Center Adolescent Day Treatment Center and
Adult and Family Outpatient Clinic—Pre and Post Doctoral Training
1989–92
University of California, Berkeley—A.B. with honors
1985
San Francisco University High School
1980
Work Experience
Private practice in Sport and Performance Psychology, San Francisco and
Marin County, CA
2016–present
Consulting Psychologist to Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center,
Petaluma, CA
2014–2023
Clinical Supervisor, Community Institute for Psychotherapy, San Rafael,
CA
2019–2020
Consulting Psychologist to preschool educators and administrators, San
Francisco, CA
2010–15
Private practice in parent coaching, family consultation and
psychotherapy, Marin County
2010–15
Consultant to Aunt Ann’s In House Staffing, San Francisco
2012–13
Clinical practice in psychology and psychoanalysis, San Francisco
1990–2004
Faculty Member, San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis, San Francisco
2000–2010
Clinical Supervisor to psychology graduate students and psychiatry
residents (St. Mary’s Hospital, CPMC, Mt. Zion, UCSF), San Francisco
1995–1999
Chief Psychology Intern, California Pacific Medical Center Outpatient
Clinic, San Francisco
1990–92
Psychological Assistant to Dr. Marian Birch, San Francisco
1991–1992
Cellar Intern, Chalk Hill Winery, Healdsburg, CA
1990–91
Select Writing and Presentations
Unshrinkable: Why Strong Women Secretly Criticize, Diminish, and Thwart Themselves
… And How to Stop, published February 2026 by Cheval Press
Author Luncheon Speaker, Marin Country Day School, Corte Madera CA
Nov. 2026
Mental Fitness Tips for Equestrians, The Way to Go—Magazine of the National Snaffle Bit Association
May 2026
Reaching Your Elite Performance, Discussion with Philippa Portnoy at Columbia University Club, New York City
April 2026
Becoming Unshrinkable, Discussion with New York Times writer Sarah Maslin Nir at The University Club, New York
City
April 2026
What Judges Wish You Knew, USHJA InStride Magazine
March 2026
Sport and Performance Psychology for Equestrians, Workshop for the Michael Nyuis Foundation
Oct. 2025
Rediscovering Our ‘Why’ to Find Our Way, USHJA InStride Magazine
Sept. 2025
Navigating the Client/Trainer Relationship, USHJA InStride Magazine
July 2025
Mental Health Challenges of Show Riders: How Regular Competitors Stay Balanced, USHJA InStride Magazine
May 2025
Accessibility from Within: Why Many Riders Feel Disillusioned, The Plaid Horse Magazine
Feb. 2025
Sport and Performance Psychology Seminar—Clinics for Riders, Trainers and Parents, sponsored by USHJA for USEF
Pony Finals, Lexington, KY
Aug. 2024
Panelist, Equestrian Businesswomen’s Networking Dinner—Desert International Horse Park, Thermal, CA
March 2024
Sport and Performance Psychology Seminar—USHJA Gold Star Clinics—West, Desert International Horse Park,
Thermal, CA
Jan. 2024
Mental and Emotional Fitness for Performance—Clinics sponsored by USHJA for National Finals, Las Vegas, NV
Nov. 2023
Ride Every Step! Sport Psychology Seminar—Clinic sponsored by USHJA for USEF Pony Finals, Lexington, KY
Aug. 2023
Sport and Performance Psychology Basics for Equestrians—Clinics given to various barns and rider disciplines
2022–23
The Equestrian Resilience Webinar Series—Noelle Floyd/Equestrian Masterclass
Feb. 2021
Mental and Emotional Fitness—Get Ready to Ride, seminar held at various venues
2020
Mental and Emotional Prep for Optimal Performance, United States Hunter Jumper Association Emerging Athletes
Training Session
July 2019 and July 2021
The West Equestrian, Sport Psychology Column
2021–2023
Flying Changes Magazine, Sport Psychology Column
2020–2022
Leg Up Blog, various topics on mental health, performance psychology and overall athlete wellness
2018–present
Street to Stable Wellness Column
2018–2021
Eventing Nation/Jumper Nation, Sport Psychology Column
2020–2023
California Riding Magazine, contributor and regular columnist
2018–2020
Fear No Fear—Seminar on Coping with various types of fears, various venues
2018–19
Parenting Now: Setting the Stage for Emotional Health, Holy Family Day Home
2013
Parenting from the Inside Out—Spring, 2013 Seminar at Children’s Council, SF
2013
Working from the Inside out to Create Change—Seminar for the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis Preschool
Consultation Project
2009, 2010
Doctoral Dissertation: Melanie Klein—A Levinsonian Study of a Woman’s Midlife Transition (1990), presented at
American Psychological Association, Division of Psychoanalysis, Annual Meeting, New York
1992
Podcast Appearances
HorsePerson Podcast with Caroline Culbertson and Beth Behrs
Oct. 2026
“Girl, Take the Lead” with Yo Canny
Sept. 2026
PsychTalk with Jessica Rabon
Aug. 2026
Unscripted 2.0 with Jennifer Zimmermann
May 2026
Moments with Marianne with Marianne Pestana
April 2026
HorsePerson Podcast with Caroline Culbertson
Sept. 2025
StableConnections with Shonna Berk
April 2022
Equestrian Women B2B Podcast with Jennifer Wood
Aug. 2021
Memberships
American Psychological Association
American Association of Applied Sport Psychology
United States Equestrian Federation
Pacific Coast Hunter Jumper Association
California Professional Horsemen’s Association
Board Experience
United States Equestrian Team Foundation, Gladstone, NJ
2018–2022
Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Petaluma, CA
2014–2017
Megan Furth Memorial Fund, San Francisco, CA
2016–2022
Lone Mountain Children’s Center, San Francisco, CA
2004–2011
Hamilton Family Center, San Francisco, CA
2003–2006
Oakes Children’s Center, San Francisco, CA
1983–1985
Volunteer Positions
Schools of the Sacred Heart—Annual Fund Co-Captain
2019–22
Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Barn Ambassador
2017–present
Marin Country Day School—Docent Coordinator
2012–2013
Marin Country Day School Docent
2007–2019
Marin Country Day School Annual Fund Committee
2006–2011
Lone Mountain Children’s Center Annual Fund Co-Chair
2004–2007
San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis: Curriculum Committee,
Continuing Education Committee, Admissions Committee, Program Committee
1995–2004
Personal
Married 35 years to Tom Bonomi, three children (28, 25, 22)
Competitive equestrian, avid hiker, skier and animal mother
Updated July 7, 2026