I have over ten years of experience as a professional counselor and twenty years of experience in full-time pastoral ministry. Needless to say, I love people and I find great satisfaction when my clients find success through personal and relational healing. Whether you’re looking for family counseling, couples therapy, Lifespan Integration, support for men’s issues, trauma recovery, solutions for relationship issues, anger management therapy, anxiety treatment, stress management techniques, grief counseling, or help with other concerns, I would be honored to walk with you toward God’s best for your life.
My Goal as a Christian Counselor
Each client has their own goals, and I want to help you achieve your goals. My primary aim as your therapist is to work with you to help you diminish the problems that you face and to help you become happy and healthy. I offer a variety of therapeutic methods to help you reach your goals and live the life God intended for you.
What I Offer in Christian Counseling
I offer a safe, friendly environment where you can feel free to share whatever is on your mind and heart without fear of judgment. In our first session, after briefly introducing myself, I want to hear as much as possible about your experiences, what has brought you to counseling, and what you hope to achieve. I will then work with you to establish goals and processes to help you achieve what you have come to therapy for.
My Approach to Christian Counseling
Through years of experience, faithfully examining the facts, searching for the truth, and seeking the right answers. I am convinced and believe that God and the Bible have our best interests in mind and that the only way to be truly happy is to be right with God; to know you are fully forgiven and that you live with a purpose that God has established for your life. In order to do this, you need faith in Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith; this is essential to fully living out what you were created to be. Faith in the guidance of Scripture will lead us to peace and blessing. It will never steer us wrong. There are many ways to help people approach a genuine relationship with God, but it is essential to being fully happy and healthy.
Qualifications & Experience
I have a BA in Psychology from Westmont College, an MDiv from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA, and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University in Draper, Utah.
My Call to Christian Counseling
When I was in full-time pastoral ministry, much of my time was spent working with congregants who were dealing with serious issues. I decided I needed more counseling training as a response to what God was putting before me in ministry.
More About Me/On a Personal Note
I love Alaska and have spent time establishing a home in Glacier Bay, Alaska. I love music, including playing the guitar and singing. I also love the mountains, watching sports, and learning how to cook new dishes. I enjoy fixing and improving homes and learning new skills. I also like riding motorcycles and flying.
Areas of Expertise/Specialties
- Abandonment and Neglect
- ADHD
- Aging and Geriatric Issues
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Chemical Dependency
- Coaching
- Counseling for Teens
- Couples Counseling
- Codependency
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Family Counseling
- Grief and Loss
- Individual Counseling
- Infidelity and Affairs
- Lifespan Integration
- Marriage Counseling
- Men’s Issues
- OCD
- Online Counseling
- Personal Development
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Premarital Counseling
- Professional Development
- Relationship Issues
- Sex and Porn Addiction
- Sexual Abuse
- Spiritual Development
- Trauma
Premarital Counseling
I began doing premarital counseling in 1991 and have worked with hundreds of couples planning to get married. I have also officiated hundreds of weddings. With premarital counseling, I like to use the Prepare/Enrich materials. Keep in mind that the process takes time, so don’t leave it for the the last week or two before you get married. I would say that couples who do premarital counseling have much higher marriage satisfaction overall and are less likely to have significant problems after they get married.
Grief and Loss
It would be unusual for a person to go through life without experiencing some grief and loss. However, when it does happen it is never easy and it requires a process of walking through the valleys and feeling the grief. I believe that most people will go through various stages of grief and come through it better and more accepting of what has been lost. I think we have to grieve the loss of what was or what we thought was important in order to accept the new realities. Grief is not just about death; it can also include what we feel when something important is taken away. Working through grief is a process, and I would be honored to walk through it with you.
Relationship Issues
Relationships are hard and you don’t have them without taking some risk. We often get hurt and learn to protect ourselves, but unfortunately our protecting can lead us to become passive aggressive, hurtful, and selfish. We can employ thinking errors and lack empathy. We can blame others and not see how we are separating ourselves from what we need in relationships just to protect ourselves. Good relationships lead us to much happier lives and more fulfilling times and purposes. Through relationship counseling, it is possible to strengthen your relationships and find practical ways to heal and grow.
Lifespan Integration (LI)
Lifespan Integration is a technique I have personally used in my life and have been trained on. I find it useful and effective to reconnect our feelings and emotions with the events that started them. It can help us become more congruent and gain a clear understanding of who we are and why we feel and think things. Lifespan Integration is also very useful in helping with PTSD and dealing with life events. The net effect is more permanent; after having processed through issues using Lifespan Integration, clients often find they experience more lasting peace.
Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.
Availability (by office location):
- Hansville – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Online (WA Only) – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals and couples looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.
Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.
Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.
