Everything I do comes from my belief that every person has immeasurable value. Why I do what I do is to see that value recognized, appreciated, and demonstrated.
How I do that is to help each person achieve their fullest potential. There is immense power when a person is living to their fullest potential. Relationships change. Families change. Schools and workplaces change. Communities change. All because one person is recognizing their value and living it out to the fullest potential.
What I do is counseling. I give every person I meet with my fullest attention. I connect with them on an emotional level. I provide them the time, space and tools to examine their life experiences. I remain eternally hopeful that change, healing, and growth can occur. I teach skills to overcome challenges, develop healthy relationships, and live life to the fullest.
My Story
One of my earliest jobs was serving as the Program Director for a large youth and family Summer Camp. The responsibility the role required both humbled and overwhelmed me. I quickly learned that the only way the camp was going to be successful was for every staff member to be the best they could be in their specific roles. I understood that each person on staff brought their own unique story, passions, and skills that could benefit the camp experience. My main contribution was to encourage each person to be the best they could be for the benefit of the camp. The result was that the camp hummed with excitement, campers lives were immensely affected, and our staff thrived with a cohesive gratitude and appreciation for one another. I saw first hand what happens when everyone operates at their best. This experience had a tremendous impact on the way I approach my work. It established a fundamental vision for all that I do. From that moment I knew that I wanted to help people reach their fullest potential.
One of the first jobs I had after completing my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy was to provide on-campus counseling to students at various schools on the San Francisco Peninsula. The students I worked with faced challenges that were vast and complex. In this role I applied the same approach to working with the students in a way that conveyed respect in who they are and a belief in what they are capable of. I worked with parents and school staff to create a network of support for students that was creative and relevant to their specific needs. The impact we made was immediate and the change was infectious. Students began taking ownership of their education. Parents discovered new ways of communicating with their children. Students learned healthy ways to resolve conflicts. And the culture of the school improved. The impact was so valuable that by the end of the school year, the school administrators approved a district-wide expansion of the program bringing on-campus counseling to schools throughout the county.
After several years working on school campuses, I transitioned to focusing on establishing a thriving private practice with the Christian Counseling Centers. The heart of what I do in my practice is help people overcome hardships and successfully navigate life’s transitions. I partner with individuals to find joy and meaning in their work and relationships. I work with couples to find satisfaction in their relationships. I assist families to grow in love and support of one another. And I help children develop the skills to be responsible, respectful, and confident in all that they do.
I became a trusted resource in the Bay Area for offering excellent therapeutic services through the clients I served and the outreach I had with the community. I had the pleasure of leading conferences and speaking at events for schools, churches, and community health seminars. Some of the topics included the impact of technology on teens, parenting seminars, overcoming anxiety, and professional boundaries.
The time I spent working in schools continues to benefit me as I help parents and adolescents navigate various educational systems. I served as the Behavioral Specialist for a local Preschool and Child Development Center providing assessments for children, support to parents, and classroom management techniques to teachers. In the fall of 2016, I developed and launched a program that provided on-campus counseling to a local private school. The program was an instant success and provided a valuable resource to students and parents.
In 2016 I began to work with clients by meeting with them through online video conferencing. Known as telemedicine, or teletherapy; it is an expanding way of conducting therapy. It offers services to those who may have barriers preventing them from meeting in a therapist’s office. Online counseling provides all the benefits of traditional therapy but delivered in a traditional way. I am currently Licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California and Texas and can offer therapy services to people throughout both states.
I value relationships, creativity, humility, productivity, cooperation, adventure, and meaningful rest.
Remember that Summer Camp I mentioned earlier? That’s where I met my best friend and the woman I eventually married. We have gone on to have many adventures together, not the least of which include raising our son and daughter. They help me be the best version of myself.
Would you like to learn more? I love to answer questions. Reach out to me if there is more you’d like to know about me.
