Get to know me

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

Starting counseling can feel like a big step. For some people, it comes after months or even years of thinking about it but never quite reaching out. For others, it happens in a moment of crisis or when life suddenly feels heavier than they can carry alone. Either way, walking into that first session can stir up a mix of emotions: hope, anxiety, curiosity, or even fear of the unknown. Our first session is about creating a safe, respectful space where you can be fully yourself. My role is to listen, understand, and begin to see the world through your eyes. Most of our first meeting is focused on me getting to know you as a person. And when I say “getting to know you,” I don’t mean just collecting a list of dates, diagnoses, or life events. Those details matter, and there are forms to capture that information. But what I’m really interested in is you. What makes you tick? What experiences have shaped who you are? What does it feel like to walk in your shoes? I want to understand not only what you’ve been through but also how you see yourself, others, and the world around you. Every person has a unique lens - a way of interpreting and responding to life - and my goal is to enter that perspective with humility and curiosity. My hope is that you’ll walk away from that first session feeling like someone truly listened and tried to understand you at a deep level. Why You’re Here, and Why Now Another important part of the first session is talking about what brought you here. People usually don’t come to counseling “just because.” There’s often a reason - sometimes a very specific one, like a recent argument with a spouse or a struggle with anxiety that has become overwhelming. Other times it’s more general, like feeling stuck, directionless, or weighed down by habits or doubts. I’ll ask questions like: What prompted you to reach out for counseling at this point in your life? Why did you choose me, specifically, as your therapist? What are you hoping to gain from our work together? These questions aren’t just for my benefit. They’re for you too. Sometimes saying out loud, “Here’s why I’m here, and here’s what I want,” is the first step toward clarity and change. We’ll also look at what’s helped (or not helped) in the past. Maybe you’ve been to therapy before and found parts of it useful and other parts frustrating. Maybe you’ve tried to make changes on your own with mixed results. Knowing what hasn’t worked is just as important as knowing what has. I

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

When people ask me who I work best with, I usually answer in four groups. Over time, I’ve realized these groups share a lot of common threads: faith that matters (even if it’s wrestling faith), a desire for responsibility and freedom, and the longing to live with integrity in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction. 1. Young Adults Standing at the Crossroads I love working with young adults. Especially those navigating the big questions of life: What do I believe? Who am I becoming? Where am I headed? These are the years of choosing a career path, wrestling with faith, making decisions about dating and marriage, and setting life goals that will shape your future. Maybe you feel pressure from family or culture and don’t want to disappoint anyone. Maybe you’re questioning your faith, not because you want to throw it away, but because you want it to be real and not just inherited. Maybe you feel torn between the freedom you crave and the responsibility you know you need. I understand the weight of those choices, and I want to help you slow down, think clearly, and make decisions that align with both your values and your future hopes. We’ll talk honestly about relationships, faith, career paths, and how to build a life that matters. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. 2. Men Who Want to Step Up Another group I work well with are men — husbands, fathers, leaders, protectors — or those who want to become that kind of man. I’ve seen too many men either shrink back from their responsibilities or carry silent burdens that eat them alive. Maybe you’re wrestling with anxiety or depression, weighed down by stress at work, doubts about faith, or fears about where our culture is headed. Maybe you’ve turned to things like pornography, alcohol, or endless scrolling as a way to numb out. Deep down, you know this isn’t who you want to be. As a husband and father myself, I know the challenges men face. The world doesn’t always encourage us to be strong in the right ways. But your wife, your kids, your community — they need you to step up. Counseling doesn’t make you weak. It helps you face your struggles head-on so you can stand tall, respect yourself, and lead with integrity. Together, we’ll work through the shame, the fears, and the habits that hold you back. We’ll talk about what it means to be strong and loving at the same time, courageous yet humble, free yet responsible. You don’t have to settle for passivity or defeat. 3. Couples Who Fe

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