What recovery taught me
I am the father of three adult sons and have lived in recovery for nearly 40 years. Recovery changed the way I understand myself, my relationships, and the purpose of my life. It taught me honesty, humility, accountability, and the willingness to keep growing. Those principles continue to shape the person I strive to be and the therapist I have become.
A different kind of work
After graduating from the University of Florida and completing research in substance abuse, I worked in advertising and financial services. My life has included parenting, professional responsibilities, and seasons of change and rebuilding.
When I moved into an entry-level role as a behavioral technician in a detoxification facility, I saw people confronting addiction, trauma, and despair with extraordinary courage. Walking beside them helped me recognize the work I wanted to do.
At 52, I returned to graduate school and earned my master’s degree in Professional Counseling. My training included more than 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience and 150 hours of clinical supervision in a center treating both mental health and substance use concerns.
Understanding the patterns beneath the struggle
I use evidence-based therapies, and I also care about the deeper patterns and beliefs that shape how we live. My thinking has been influenced by Carl Jung and James Hollis, whose writing explores aspects of ourselves we may not yet recognize. This is often called depth psychology.
In everyday terms, that means getting curious about a familiar reaction: what might be beneath the anger, what fear is driving the need for control, or what grief has been hard to face? My hope is to help you understand yourself with greater compassion and find more room to choose how you respond.
Honesty without self-condemnation
My reflections return to the importance of our words, our choices, and the way we treat ourselves and others. Taking responsibility for what is ours can sit alongside releasing what we cannot control. You can acknowledge pain, uncertainty, or regret and still take a meaningful next step.
Faith, on your terms
My Christian faith has been a steady source of wisdom and hope. For clients who desire it, I am comfortable integrating faith into counseling in a way that honors their beliefs and values. I offer the same compassionate, respectful care regardless of your spiritual background. Every client deserves to be seen, heard, and accepted.
Putting values into daily life
A goal and an intention serve different purposes. A goal describes something you want to do. An intention describes a quality you want to cultivate. Writing about that intention can be a way to connect reflection with an action you choose to practice.
That is the spirit of “little by slowly”: keep noticing, keep learning, and give the person you want to become a place in the choices you make today.