New to Grow
I support people from all walks of life, including military, veterans, first responders, teens, adults, and seniors. I understand how overwhelming it can feel to reach out for help, and I want to support that first courageous step. I am a husband, and a father to three grown children. I have led youth groups with middle school and high schoolers. My wife and I have been through the foster care process and then adopted. I am familiar with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). I do not treat RAD but I do support parents and caregivers of children with this diagnosis. I worked as a counselor for ten years prior to licensure listening to people sharing their pain and challenges. After licensure I worked as a medical social worker with patients and family members of chronically ill before becoming a therapist.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
First I will ensure you understand some important preliminary information. During our first meeting we will get to know each other a bit. It may seem like a lot of questions, but these are important in understanding your background, the scope of the problem and what you hope to accomplish. At the end of the session we will come up with goals that support the changes you want to make.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths is working with a broad range of diverse clients. I have worked with teenagers through seniors in their eighties and one over ninety years old. I consistently further my training to continually grow and best serve my clients. EMDR is my preferred modality when it is clinically appropriate. It feels very different for clients, because it is not "talk therapy." I have witnessed powerful and life changing results.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My clients come from many different walks of life, with diverse backgrounds. Many of my clients have had significant anxiety, or depression, and feel overwhelmed. I work well with clients that are open to learning and trying things they have not done before that will report back if they worked or not. I have worked with many clients that are stable and benefit from a coaching style to reduce stress, and create achievable goals to reduce stress.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use this method to help clients accept unwanted thoughts and emotions. Identifying what is most important, helps clients to then make goals and take steps towards their values despite challenges.
EMDR
I am trained in EMDR. As an EMDR therapist, I can share it is different than talk therapy. I use EMDR to help clients revisit, process, and work through difficult memories without having to talk through the difficult personal details. It can be used for negative pervasive thought patterns and challenges with depression, anxiety, PTSD, complex trauma, phobias, and more. It can be intense and often results in powerful changes.
Strength-Based
I seek to incorporate a person's strength's into their treatment. What people enjoy doing, what they are good at, and what works for "them" can be very different from person to person. What is right about you?
Faith based therapy
I have education in Christianity and experience as a military chaplain. I value the importance of spirituality and yet am sensitive that not all clients believe what I believe. I am comfortable talking about spirituality and how faith may play a role in healing and coping.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing or MI is non judgmental collaborative approach that is centered on the client and their commitment to change. It helps them evaluate their desire their motivation to change and come alongside a client rather than to be directive.