Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Our first session focuses on establishing trust, safety, and clarity. The goal is to understand who you are, what has brought you to therapy, and what you hope to achieve. I begin by inviting open discussion about your life experiences, the stressors you are managing, and the areas where you feel uncertain or blocked. The session moves at a steady and intentional pace, creating space for reflection and understanding rather than pressure or expectation. My approach is grounded in attentive presence and observation, allowing both of us to identify patterns, strengths, and challenges that will guide our work together. During our initial session, I focus on building genuine rapport and connection. Strong rapport forms the foundation for effective therapy, allowing you to feel understood and supported while we explore what matters most to you. I listen carefully to how you describe your world, your relationships, and the way you communicate. Together, we begin to identify both internal and external patterns that affect how you think, feel, and respond to others. I also begin helping clients strengthen communication skills early in the process, since clear and confident communication is central to emotional regulation, relationship improvement, and personal growth. The first few sessions are designed to establish direction and purpose. We explore the underlying themes influencing your thoughts and emotions and begin shaping goals that are both realistic and meaningful. I ask thoughtful questions that clarify rather than diagnose, helping you articulate what has been difficult and what kind of change you want to create. By the end of the session, we will discuss practical next steps and outline the structure of ongoing work together. Therapy is a collaborative process that evolves at a pace that fits your readiness and goals. Many clients describe the first session as grounding and clarifying. It provides a sense of stability as you begin the process of understanding and healing. I integrate multiple evidence-based approaches, including CBT, DBT, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and other scientifically supported treatment modalities proven effective in addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. My work combines psychological insight, behavioral science, and emotional intelligence to help you better understand your thoughts and emotions, build communication skills, and develop greater confidence and resilience. Before becoming a psychotherapist, I built and led a successful real estate investment and property management company for more than two decades. That experience taught me discipline, accountability, and strategic thinking, qualities that translate directly into how I approach therapy. I also draw from personal experience as a husband of more than thirty years and a father whose children attended a top-ranked American university. These life experiences have shaped my perspective on commitment, communication, and the ongoing work of building relationships that thrive. Outside of the therapy room, I hold a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Judo. Years of training and teaching in these disciplines have shaped how I approach balance, humility, and continuous improvement. Martial arts teach focus, patience, adaptability, and respect—principles that mirror the process of therapy. Both require discipline, awareness, and a willingness to engage discomfort as a pathway to mastery. I often draw from these philosophies to help clients cultivate steadiness, clarity, and self-control, especially when developing emotional and interpersonal strength. In our first sessions, you can expect a calm, professional, and thoughtful environment. I listen carefully, help you organize your experiences into a coherent narrative, and assist in identifying what is within your control and what is not. Together, we begin shaping the tools and perspectives that will support meaningful progress. You will leave the session with a sense of direction, and a clear understanding of how the process will unfold. As therapy progresses, exploration becomes intentional practice. We move beyond symptoms to examine beliefs, emotions, and behaviors that influence your daily life. I help you learn to regulate emotions, build confidence, communicate effectively, and strengthen your internal sense of stability. My role is to provide structure and perspective while challenging unhelpful patterns and reinforcing growth through accountability and reflection. What we begin in the first few sessions becomes the groundwork for transformation. Collaboratively, we will explore how past experiences influence current emotions and choices and develop strategies that promote emotional steadiness, effective communication, and self-awareness. My goal is not only to provide relief but to help you create a balanced and fulfilling life rooted in clarity, confidence, and purpose. Therapy with me is active, challenging, practical, and deeply collaborative. It draws from psychology, education, and lived experience to help you strengthen insight, communication, and emotional resilience. The first session marks the beginning of that work; a deliberate step toward understanding, stability, and lasting personal growth.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

My greatest strengths emerge from the integration of lived experience, advanced education, and a disciplined commitment to human development. My life has included significant early challenges—trauma, bullying, dropping out of high school, and a period of homelessness. Those experiences became the foundation of my resilience and gave me a deep understanding of pain, perseverance, and transformation. They shaped my empathy and fueled my determination to study how people heal, adapt, and rebuild their lives with purpose and direction. For more than two decades, I served as a leader in the real estate industry, founding and developing a successful investment and property management company from the ground up. That work demanded focus, strategy, and endurance. I learned that perseverance is not simply about surviving hardship but about transforming adversity into clarity and strength. The same principles that guided my success in business now guide my approach to therapy, education, coaching, and leadership. My work helps clients move from crisis to stability, from confusion to confidence, and from survival to mastery. My desire to understand the mind and facilitate lasting change led me to pursue higher education with unwavering focus. I began with an associate degree in EMT Paramedics and went on to graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree, followed by an MBA, a master’s in Counseling Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctorate in Learning Sciences from the University of Miami. Each degree added depth and dimension to my practice, allowing me to merge psychology, education, and behavioral science into a unified and practical framework for growth. My academic background informs every session, but it is my real-world experience that keeps the work grounded, pragmatic, and results-oriented. As a licensed psychotherapist specializing in trauma-informed care, I use evidence-based and individualized methods to help clients heal, regain stability, and build sustainable emotional balance. My approach is calm, structured, and collaborative. I create an environment where clients can explore their internal world safely, uncover the roots of distress, and develop tools for self-regulation and resilience. My clinical work draws from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, EMDR, motivational interviewing, and other scientifically supported modalities. What distinguishes my approach is the integration of science, empathy, and disciplined reflection—each session combines insight with practical application to create measurable and lasting change. I also worked in emergency medicine as a certified EMT-1A and licensed Paramedic (EMT-P). That experience taught me to remain composed, focused, and decisive under intense pressure. Working in high-stakes environments reinforced the importance of clear communication, rapid assessment, and calm presence—skills that directly inform my clinical work. In the therapy room, those same principles translate into steady guidance during moments of emotional overwhelm and the ability to hold space while helping clients regain internal control. My background as a business professional and entrepreneur adds further depth to my perspective as a clinician and coach. Leading and managing a successful real estate development and management company taught me that accountability, communication, and strategy are not only essential for business success but also for personal growth and relational health. I understand the pressure of leadership, the emotional cost of responsibility, and the challenges of maintaining balance in demanding environments. This experience allows me to work effectively with executives, professionals, and high performers who seek clarity, direction, and emotional stability while sustaining excellence in their personal and professional lives. In addition to my clinical and business experience, I hold black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and in Judo. These disciplines have profoundly influenced my philosophy as a therapist. Years of dedication, training, and teaching have reinforced the importance of focus, humility, self-discipline, and respect. Both martial arts and therapy demand consistency, patience, and the ability to remain centered under pressure. I often apply these principles to the therapeutic process, helping clients strengthen self-awareness, emotional regulation, and internal balance. My greatest strength lies in bridging multiple disciplines—psychology, education, business, emergency medicine, and martial arts into a uniquely, highly qualified, and cohesive approach that fosters clarity and transformation. I help clients identify patterns that keep them stuck, cultivate awareness of their emotions and behaviors, and replace reaction with deliberate, values-driven action. The work is not only about healing the past but also about developing the emotional precision and cognitive flexibility required to move forward with purpose. I believe that growth is both an intellectual and emotional process. Insight without application is incomplete, and emotion without direction lacks stability. My role is to help clients integrate bolstering self-awareness and understanding while applying nurturing to foster personal growth. Therapy with me is active, structured, and grounded in respect and trust. It challenges clients to think critically, communicate clearly, and act with intention. What stands out about my approach is the balance between compassion and precision. I bring the perspective of someone who has lived through hardship, rebuilt from the ground up, and studied human behavior at the highest academic levels. I understand that true change requires both emotional honesty and disciplined effort. My work is dedicated to helping clients restore confidence, achieve balance, and build lives marked by clarity, purpose, and fulfillment.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal clients are individuals who are ready to move beyond temporary relief and make lasting, meaningful change. I work with people from all walks of life, top-level executives, mid-level managers, frontline workers, entrepreneurs, and students who are seeking deeper understanding, effective communication skills and boundary setting, emotional steadiness, and direction. What connects them is not occupation or background, but a shared commitment to growth. My clients want to move past superficial solutions and begin working at the level where real transformation happens. They are often high-functioning and responsible, yet feel drained, disconnected, or unfulfilled beneath their outward stability. Many come to therapy feeling anxious, uncertain, or burdened by patterns they cannot break. Some feel stuck between the life they are living and the one they know they are capable of creating. Others carry emotional wounds, trauma, grief, or persistent self-doubt that continue to influence their choices and relationships. I work best with those who are ready to engage in a process that values insight, honesty, accountability, and long-term stability. These individuals want to stop reacting to life and start responding with clarity and purpose. My clients are thoughtful and introspective. They tend to value directness and structure while appreciating a therapeutic space grounded in calm and respect. They may have spent years managing through willpower, perfectionism, or avoidance, and now recognize that those strategies no longer serve them. They come to therapy looking for something different—an approach that combines scientific precision with human understanding. Together, we create a structured yet compassionate environment where clients can examine themselves without judgment, strengthen emotional regulation, and reconnect with what gives their life meaning. Many of my clients are professionals accustomed to high expectations and sustained performance. They know how to lead, deliver, and adapt, but they often neglect their emotional well-being in the process. They may feel detached, restless, or guilty for not feeling satisfied despite external success. Therapy helps them uncover how stress, ambition, and emotional suppression can quietly erode fulfillment. I help them restore balance by developing emotional literacy, clarity, and communication skills that support both personal and professional growth. Through this work, clients learn to integrate intellect and emotion, allowing achievement and inner peace to coexist. I also work with clients who have experienced trauma, loss, or significant life transitions that have left them feeling unstable or disconnected. These individuals often struggle with trust, shame, or fear of vulnerability. They are tired of living in survival mode and want to feel safe in their own skin. Therapy becomes a place to slow down, regulate the nervous system, and process experiences that have long gone unspoken or unresolved. I work with purposeful intent to help clients heal from trauma and cultivate enduring emotional resilience. The process is compassionate, structured, and grounded in evidence-based methods that foster meaningful and lasting transformation. My clients also include individuals navigating complex relationships, those who want to communicate more effectively, set boundaries, or repair trust. They may be partners, parents, or professionals managing interpersonal challenges that leave them feeling misunderstood or emotionally depleted. Together, we work to replace reactive communication with intentional dialogue, integrating emotional intelligence and self-awareness into daily interaction. Over time, they develop the ability to engage more authentically and confidently, both personally and professionally. Some clients come to therapy seeking meaning and direction after major shifts in identity, career, or family life. These individuals are often reflective and driven, yet uncertain about how to move forward. They want to redefine success and build a life aligned with their values rather than external pressures. Therapy becomes a space to realign thought, behavior, and purpose. I help clients clarify what truly matters to them and develop the tools to live with consistency and integrity. Across all backgrounds, my ideal clients share a readiness for honest self-examination. They are open to feedback, willing to be challenged, and motivated to build resilience that extends beyond the therapy room. They understand that meaningful growth requires both reflection and action. My approach blends empathy with precision, creating a balance between understanding the root of emotional patterns and developing practical strategies for change. Clients often describe my style as calm, structured, and deeply collaborative. I work effectively with individuals who identify as high achievers or perfectionists, as well as those experiencing imposter syndrome who feel that no matter how much they achieve, it never feels like enough. Many of these clients present with chronic stress, self-doubt, and emotional fatigue from maintaining control and striving for constant excellence. Their drive for achievement often masks underlying anxiety, fear of failure, or a sense of inadequacy that success alone cannot resolve. In therapy, we examine the core beliefs that fuel these patterns and the emotional costs of relentless performance. Through this process, clients learn to separate self-worth from productivity, develop a balance between ambition and well-being, and build a more grounded sense of confidence. They begin to experience success as something internally aligned and fulfilling rather than externally validated or exhausting. Because my work draws from multiple disciplines, it resonates with many of my clients who value structure, purpose, and measurable progress. The same focus that defines my clinical work is reflected in my life outside of therapy, where discipline, education, and personal growth remain constant pursuits. My unique life experiences further inform how I help clients approach growth, with consistency, humility, and respect for the therapeutic process. In every case, I focus on helping clients strengthen emotional balance, develop clearer communication, and regain agency in their decision-making. The work is designed to create measurable shifts in awareness and behavior that lead to sustained well-being. Clients often describe the process as challenging yet deeply rewarding, an investment in their future self rather than a short-term fix. To learn more about me and my background, visit my website at www.mindfulfillness.org

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