My Professional Background

My professional background is diverse but the central theme. I started my career in 2013 working with autistic teens and adults along with their families. After that I worked in an adolescent substance abuse outpatient for about six years and this is when I discovered my love for helping people break cycles. Addiction is a cycle that drives our life, even when we don’t want it to. This is also when I first started to engage in true couples and family therapy.

Eventually I went to pursue my passion of working independently focusing on this goal of helping people break cycles. Cycles of anxiety, depression, addiction, arguments, self-defeating thoughts, and many more have been areas I have helped people with. My primary focus has been on helping couples that are caught in cycles that break down the relationship and disrupt connection.

My Educational Background

I started at Southeast Missouri State University. Originally, I had taken psychology courses as a passing interest but realized I enjoyed the subject. I double majored in Psychology and Criminal Justice. I went to pursue my Masters of Counseling at Lindenwood, which was much closer to home. I was able to work in the field while going to school. This helped tremendously since I do better with learning by doing. I could learn counseling theory and technique then go to work to practice it immediately.

My personal background 

I am a person of deep faith and a follower of Jesus. I am married and have two children. I am what very much a family man and enjoy spending time playing games, walking/hiking, and gardening with my family. My friends describe me as “nerdy”, funny, and talkative. My colleagues have described me as dedicated, creative, a leader, sensitive, and bold. My personal interest are books, role playing games like dungeons and dragons (I run a D&D therapy group you can learn more about here), board games, and gardening.