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A Needham psychologist said Monday she intends to run for state Senate against incumbent Scott Brown.

Brown, R-Wrentham, represents a district that includes half of Attleboro and all of North Attleboro, Plainville, Wrentham and Norfolk as well as towns in the Needham area.

Sara Orozco, a Democrat, said she has been concerned for some time about issues like health care and education and has decided to try to do something about them.

"I think I've finally gotten frustrated enough. I've decided to be part of the solution," she said.

Orozco said she has seen through her job as a psychologist how expensive health care has gotten and the trouble some people have getting access to it. "I am running because I believe this district deserves an active voice in the Statehouse and someone who will bring vision, commitment and tenacity to the job," she said in a press release.

Orozco said she will make a formal announcement sometime in the spring. In the meantime, she said she will be going around the district listening to the concerns of voters.

Brown has represented the district since March 2004, when he defeated Angus McQuilken in a special election to fill the unexpired term of Cheryl Jacques, who had resigned.

He defeated McQuilken again in the regular election in November of 2004 and then ran unopposed in 2006.

Prior to serving in the state Senate, Brown was a state representative and a Wrentham selectman.

Brown said he expected that someone would run against him, but he does not plan to campaign heavily until after the legislative session ends July 31.

The Senate is dealing with several serious issues right now, and Brown said he wants to concentrate on them.

Brown said he is happy to run on his record. Noting that Orozco wants to make health care a priority, he said he voted for and supported the passage of the state's landmark health care bill that has provided coverage to 400,000 needy families.

While Brown said he will be running on his experience, Orozco is new to politics. She said she has never run for an office before.

She runs a consultant firm providing psychological service to corporate clients. She previously worked at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Orozco said she has twin boys who attend Needham public schools.