More About Me

Yes. I have been licensed since 2009. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas (Lic. # 65758) and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State (Lic. # LH60653467).

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Healthcare Administration.

In general, I think building a safe, trusting and comfortable relationship is the foundation to facilitating meaningful change. My style is very casual and conversational with no taboos or anything that is 'off limits' to discuss. I believe that each person is unique and so are the challenges they are facing. Therefore, choosing how to approach those challenges has to be a collaborative effort that both me and my client agrees on - we are co-pilots of the process.

It is important that we have structure for our time together, that we have goals we are trying to reach, but also allow for flexibility and fluidity as new issues or areas for focus arise.

I am influenced by cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps us understand our thinking habits and how our thoughts, beliefs and interpretations either positively or negatively contribute to our sense of wellbeing and happiness. In other words, evaluating how we think in order to identify thought patterns that harm us and learning how to evaluate those thoughts for errors in order to bring us to a way of thinking that is closer to reality and producing a better emotional output.

I am also influenced by more existential thinking that helps us understand what our core values are (those things that are most important to us) for the purpose of evaluating if our life aligns with those values, or if there are misalignments that should be explored.

The challenges that client face can be extremely varied and unique to them. However, a couple of common issues that have come up often are:

• Challenges with self-esteem/self-acceptance/self-love

• Negative/Problematic thinking patterns

• Anxiety/Depression

• Lack of certainty about the future and who they want to be and do.

• Career dissatisfaction and misalignment

• Relationship issues

• Perception of lack of purpose or direction in life.

• Financial Stress

These are some of the common themes I have seen recently, but certainly not an exhaustive list.

I have a very open style and find it easy to connect with many different types of people. I tend to work well with people who are motivated to participate in their own change and growth. I also seem to do well with people who have felt different than others in some way or another and have expended a lot of energy trying to fit what they think they 'should' be rather than who they actually are.

Most of my clinical work as a therapist has been with the LGBTQIA+ community, primarily gay men. However, this is not to say that this is the only type of client I work with. You will find that I am very open and embracing of all varieties of people and believe in the essential worth/value of each one.