About

My way into this work emerged as I was changed by personal loss and suffering. I had always felt called to be a healing presence for those most misunderstood and marginalized. So, I studied theology, philosophy, and Christian education and spent 12 years in church ministry. The most transformational seasons came through counseling individuals and couples seeking meaning and connection amid their suffering. Yet, I felt constricted by my role, unable to show up freely and fully for those needing serious mental health support and advocacy. When personal loss and crisis devastated the life I had tried to build, I knew the only authentic way forward would be to embrace the change shaking my foundations. Years of empowering therapy helped me return to graduate school and set a new course to be a therapist. Since then, my integrative approach has taken shape in a way that fits who I am today.

I give my genuine, nonjudgmental, empathetic yet challenging presence so you can be fully truthful with yourself, your partner, or others. We begin wherever you are. I let your experience in the here and now guide us to what’s most important to work through, whether that be past or present trauma, relationship distress, or anxiety. I see each session together as an opportunity to experience growth and change.

Then, you get to exercise your courage with new actions. I guide you into new communication, new contact with the experiences and emotions waiting for attention, so they’re not stuck in your mind-body, leading you to damaging behaviors. We can improve the way you relate to problems and get you out of old patterns with those you love. My clients have often come facing or surviving communication and intimacy problems, breakups and divorce, anxiety/depression from loss and trauma, and parenting struggles.

I am deeply committed to working for the liberation of oppressed people in the world. At minimum, this means both self-work and professional growth. I’m passionate about continuing self-examination of my identities and grappling with how they impact others. I recognize my being a white, able bodied, heterosexual, cisgendered male impacts how I live in the world and work with clients. I invite this awareness into my work, making space for you to explore possible ways you may have been “othered” based on an aspect of your identity. When necessary I may even take responsibility for ways I misunderstand you and work to reconcile as it impacts you. Professionally, I deepen my relational approach by regular education and training on racial trauma, affirmative LGBTQIA+ therapy, and multicultural therapy.

Every part of your experience is important to me, including race, faith, family, gender, sexual orientation! I am a proud antiracism and LGBTQIA+ ally and will gladly offer safe space to those wanting to integrate these aspects into the process of therapy. Our encounters in therapy may only be a small part of the cultural landscape. However, I strive to co-create unique liberating experiences with each client.