(he/him)
When we begin our work together, the first thing you’ll notice is a "take your shoes off" atmosphere. I believe therapy works best when it feels less like a clinical exam and more like a candid, over-the-coffee-table conversation. This is a space for an honest, active partnership where we bypass clinical clichés to get to the root of what is actually happening in your life. We all carry an "internal blueprint"—a set of old scripts and historical templates that dictate how we react to the world. Often, we don’t realize these blueprints exist until we find ourselves hitting the same walls in our relationships, our careers, or our own self-perception. I work with individuals and couples who are ready to investigate these patterns and move toward real, observable change. The Approach My approach focuses on the connection between your history and your current actions, supported by the rigor of behavioral science. My background in pharmacology has taught me that while biology is vital, it isn’t the boss. The science shows us that our brains are profoundly social; therefore, the real work happens within the relationship we build together. We treat our sessions as a live map to identify and rewrite the ingrained habits that no longer serve you. The Impact The goal is to move you from a state of reaction to a state of grounded agency. We work to restore your capacity for intentional action and give you the clarity needed to be a deliberate, authentic presence in your own life.
Our first session begins simply with a "Hello" and a genuine effort to meet you exactly where you are. First and foremost, I listen. I provide a focused, welcoming space where we can map out the landscape of your life through a professional yet conversational dialogue. I am an objective partner in this process; I don’t have a personal agenda for the specific decisions you make, other than being entirely invested in helping you get where you want to be. The Structure of the Work During this first hour, we’ll discuss what brought you here and what you hope to change. I’ll also describe how we work together, which is rooted in a peer-level partnership. We generally address your challenges from two directions: The Immediate: We often start with the "real-time" friction points—the logistics of your current stress. If you are in a crisis, this is where we stay until you feel stable. The Blueprints: When the timing is right, we look at the underlying patterns that have been running in the background of your life for years. The Goal The aim is to make the "unconscious" parts of your life visible so they stop directing your choices behind the scenes. By the end of our first meeting, you will have a clear sense of our trajectory and how we will work together to turn internal friction into intentional action.
My greatest strength is the active, collaborative partnership I build with my clients. This isn’t a passive process where you talk and I simply nod. Instead, it is a joined investigation where we work together in real-time to identify the root of the challenges you are facing. I bring the precision of my scientific background to our work, creating a professional alliance dedicated to understanding the architecture of your life. A Grounded Perspective While I have decades of experience in the science of behavior, I use that knowledge primarily as a support to help us gain clarity on your unique situation. This foundation allows us to isolate the "friction points" in your daily reality with more accuracy. We don’t just talk about change; we collaboratively identify exactly where your history and your current habits collide, giving you a clearer, more practical path forward. An Observant, Peer-Level Partner I excel at providing a candid space for perceptive individuals—professionals, creatives, and anyone who values an intellectual match. I am an objective, observant ally. My strength lies in helping you move from a reactive state to one of grounded, intentional agency. Making the Invisible Visible By looking at the patterns that usually run beneath the surface, we identify the "internal scripts" that have been directing your choices. My strength is in helping you translate these deep habits into a shared shorthand you can actually use to live a more satisfying life.
I work most effectively with perceptive individuals and couples who are looking for a candid, present, and deeply relational partnership. My approach is designed for those who feel a sense of internal friction—perhaps a disconnect between their professional high-performance and their personal sense of self. While I frequently work with the medical, legal, and academic communities in Kalamazoo County, I welcome anyone who values a therapy space that is both observant and profoundly human. We will likely be a strong match if: You value a "clinical shorthand": You are looking for a therapist who understands the high-pressure cultures of medicine and academia and can meet you as a peer in the room. You are navigating a significant turning point: Whether you are facing a career shift, a relationship transition, or a change in identity, you want a space where those challenges can be explored with both curiosity and professional depth. You seek a "grounded" connection: You aren't looking for a passive listener or a cheerleader. You want an active, relational partner to help you identify the patterns that have stalled your progress. Our work is a collaborative investigation where we utilize the relationship itself to transform internal tension into a reclaimed sense of personal agency and intentional action. I provide an identity-expansive, affirming environment for all, including those navigating nontraditional relational structures and diverse lifestyle expressions. My thirty-year background in behavioral science informs a sophisticated, multi-layered perspective on the intersection of biological patterns and relational dynamics, ensuring a rigorous yet compassionate clinical experience. Beyond the clinic, my own practice of groundedness is rooted in the observant world of "cinema crop" photography and the disciplined endurance of road cycling—pursuits that favor a focused, atmospheric perspective on the "wide-angle" transitions of life.
Anxiety
Couples Counseling
Life Transitions
ADHD
Addiction
Anger Management
Man
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Michigan
Arlo
Psychodynamic
My practice is rooted in Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, a model that understands our current internal friction as a product of our historical and developmental relationships. With over 30 years of experience in behavioral science and clinical practice, I move beyond surface-level symptom management to address the "structural patterns" that repeat in your professional and personal life. My background in behavioral pharmacology provides an additional layer of insight into the biological intersections of mood and behavior, allowing for a high-logic, comprehensive assessment. How I Use It in Practice In our sessions, I act as an active, observant partner rather than a passive listener. We utilize the therapeutic relationship itself as a live laboratory to identify unconscious constraints and rigidities that stall your progress. Instead of merely treating "anxiety" or "burnout" as isolated events, we investigate the underlying dynamics—the "why" behind the "what." This approach is particularly effective for high-functioning professionals and medical providers who find themselves stuck in unsatisfying relational loops or career transitions. We work to transform these internal tensions into grounded autonomy, providing you with the clarity needed to reclaim your agency and navigate life’s turning points with precision.
Couples Counseling
Relational Dynamics: An Integration of Gottman and Tavistock Frameworks In my work with couples, I utilize a high-logic integration of the Gottman Method and the Tavistock Model of Relational Dynamics. This dual-lens approach allows us to address both the surface-level communication failures and the deeper, often unconscious, structural patterns that stall a partnership’s progress. How I Use It in Practice We begin by identifying the specific behavioral "frictions" using Gottman’s research-based frameworks. This provides immediate, pragmatic tools to de-escalate conflict and restore a baseline of respect. However, we do not stop at symptom management. Using a Tavistock lens, we investigate the "couple-as-a-system," exploring how individual histories and identity-related tensions intersect to create rigidities in the relationship. The Result: Relational Agency My role is that of an active, observant consultant. We work to transform reactive cycles into a grounded, collaborative autonomy. This is a candid partnership designed for couples navigating significant life transitions, career-related burnout, or long-standing relational loops. The goal is to move beyond "getting along" toward a sustainable, intellectual, and emotional alignment that respects each partner's individual agency.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
My Tactical Approach: Integrating CBT and Short-Term Focused Therapy Experience and Strategy While my foundation is in long-term relational dynamics, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Short-Term Focused interventions as tactical tools for immediate stabilization. With a background in behavioral science and pharmacology, I view these modalities as "functional assessments"—identifying the specific cognitive loops and behavioral rigidities that are currently disrupting your daily agency. How I Use It in Practice In our work, CBT is not a standalone "checklist." Instead, it is integrated as a high-logic framework to address acute symptoms like anxiety, professional burnout, or reactive conflict. We map the mechanics of your thought patterns to identify where your internal narrative is out of alignment with your goals. By applying these short-term strategies, we create the cognitive "breathing room" necessary to do the deeper, psychodynamic work. This allows us to provide immediate relief from surface-level friction while simultaneously investigating the structural patterns that created the friction in the first place. The Result: Strategic Autonomy This integration is designed for the perceptive individual who requires a pragmatic, results-oriented starting point. We focus on transforming reactive behaviors into intentional actions, providing you with a clinical shorthand to navigate high-pressure environments—whether in the medical clinic, the boardroom, or personal transitions—with clarity and grounded precision.