(he/him)
I live in the Hampton Roads section of Virginia with my son and our dogs. I enjoy spending time at the beach or in the water somewhere, hiking, reading, and traveling. I have been a licensed clinical social worker for over 15 years and have worked in the field of mental health both, in-patient and out-patient, for over 25 years. I use a combination of Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)and Rational Emotive (RET) therapies to guide patients toward a greater understanding of themselves with the goal of emotional equilibrium or “balance.” The large military presence in Hampton Roads has allowed me to work with active-duty personnel and their families. I have successfully treated patients with depression, anxiety, Bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, and trauma histories.
We will spend our first session together reviewing your history, clarify my understanding of the challenges with which you are faced, and identifying realistic and achievable goals. I encourage patients to use this first session as an opportunity to consider the initial "fit" we have in our therapeutic relationship as well as their readiness for counseling. Many people are misled about what therapy "is" and "looks like." Counseling is problem solving, pure and simple.
I am not a traditional psychotherapist. I weave therapy into the conversation as I learn and understand you and the life circumstances that have challenged you. While I don't claim to be an "empath," my approach is both sensitive and respectful. I respect the therapeutic relationship and in so doing, respect the histories and stories that have made us who we are. I make a concerted effort to "walk" a few steps in your shoes.
I collaborate most successfully with persons willing to explore positive life changes. I encourage and welcome my patient's active participation in therapy: Participation is processing, the first key to change. Most of us dislike change, but if we approach change together, with a plan and motivation, we can succeed. Feeling overwhelmed at times in life, particularly given recent geo-political events, has become a new "norm" for many. We will identify your therapy/treatment goals in our first few sessions
Strength-Based
I believe every person has strengths or competencies. These assets are the easiest to engage in counseling. These skills are also more likely to be used by patients in their treatment.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
My approach to our varied struggles and challenges is rooted in the belief that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected and by identifying and challenging underlying irrational beliefs, we can achieve lasting change.
5 ratings with written reviews
December 3, 2025
I really liked Jeffrey's SHARP analysis; he gets to the kernel of the 'problem' or 'hangup' . Conversation flows and solutions and ideas as to how to move forward were presented and offered. A VERY productive session. THANK YOU.
July 10, 2025
Excellent communicator with tangible goals and candid mutual discovery
May 19, 2025
This is my second appointment with Jeff and he was really inspiring and uplifting despite me kind of having a set back since our last appointment. I feel like we really got down to solutions with sprinkles of humor that felt uplifting. I really appreciate his outlook on life.