My professional identities have ranged from therapist to advocate for victims of crime to corporate finance professional. I have firsthand experience as a first-generation college graduate as well as a former manager of a team of 26 individual contributors. I have been partnering with clients to achieve their goals as a therapist since 2012. In addition to drawing from my own experiences, I see counseling theory and techniques as tools that can be accessed depending on the needs of my client, with advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and relational theories.
MS - Mental Health Counseling, Emporia State University
Growing up as the eldest sibling from a split family with lots of trauma history and a brother diagnosed with autism, I often found myself empathizing with others going through tough times. People seemed to gravitate toward me because they felt like I was a safe source of comfort and sometimes guidance. I had a deep desire in college to help others in college and decided to explore mental health counseling as a career.
I play the piano, hang out with my pets (a dog named Addie and a kitten named Khaos), and spend quality time with friends and family as often as I can. I love to get outdoors and spend time near water or in the mountains whenever possible.
First thing I do is make my bed so that I kickstart the day with a small achievement. No matter what else happens that day, I end everyday knowing I achieved at least one task.
The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World by Alan Downs, Ph.D. This book was instrumental in helping me better understand myself as a gay man in my youth and continues to provide insight and provoke thought every time I read it. It has also been helpful for many of my clients.
I have a Mini Schnauzer named Addie and a Siberian kitten named Khaos. Addie's favorite thing to do is hunt for treats. I hide a treat somewhere in the house and tell her to "go find it". She gets really excited and frantically hunts for the treat! She also knows she gets three treats at a time, so if I only give her one or two, she knows and hunts and whines until she gets three treats. Khaos lives up to his name…he's a chaotic purr monster!
If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency or crisis and needs immediate help, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Here are some additional crisis resources.