My Background & Training

I received my Masters of Counseling degree from the University of Colorado at Denver, and have specialized training in IFS (Internal Family Systems); Grief Training with the foremost expert, David Kessler; and Enneagram. I regularly work with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, men’s issues, relationship issues, parenting difficulties, and performance anxiety.

My work at People House has particularly defined me as a person and a therapist. I’m passionate about my work there with the Affordable Counseling Program, where I’m a supervisor to masters-level counseling students in the final phase of their training. The interns I work with offer affordable, holistic counseling to those who might otherwise be unable to experience the transformative power and support of professional counseling.

A Focus on Men

I love working with all kinds of people, but my skill set and professional experience give me the enhanced ability to especially help men.

More than ever, men both young and old need support to find a different narrative about what it means to be a man. While many men in our culture are stuck in an outdated social paradigm of masculinity, the rules are quickly changing.

For many years, I was a part of the men’s group The Mankind Project (MKP), which helped me redefine myself as a father, partner, brother, friend, community member, and as a man. MKP was a life-defining experience that redefined my integrity, my accountability, and the power of my word.

This understanding of and commitment to embracing a healthier masculinity has helped me go beyond my antiquated expectations for myself and helped inform my approach to counseling for men.

For any man reading this, I wish for all of us this transformation. If it was possible for me, I really believe it is possible for anyone. When we challenge the antiquated male social paradigm, we are rewarded with connection.

I have found in my practice that understanding men’s issues has been helpful for my female clients who are trying to understand the men in their life. Connection is the hidden gold we've been.

My Approach

What if your inner dialogue could be completely different? What if it sounded something like this:

“My life is truly good. I acquire information and skills about the things I am passionate about. I am fortunate enough to apply my knowledge in a job that I enjoy and I am well-compensated for my work. I am surrounded by people who do the very best they can every day. I have wonderful personal relationships that are supportive and nurturing.”

Does that sound too good to be true?

According to our ego, this inner dialogue is certainly unrealistic. But, that’s largely because the “essential self” is not a part of that psychological narrative in which we tend to live.

Perhaps, now, you are asking yourself, “What is our essential self?”

Author and professor of clinical psychology at UCLA Dan Siegel defines it as “...the ability to be aware that our thoughts, feelings, memories, beliefs and intentions are temporary and, moreover, that they are not the totality of who we are.”

Eckhart Tolle describes it further as “...a liberation to realize that the 'voice in my head' is not who I am. ‘Who am I, then? The one who sees that.’” Our Authentic Self is not the voice of personal opinions, judgments and preferences. It comes from a deeper place and with practice and time, we can learn to tell the difference between the misleading voice of our ego and the voice of our true self.

Finding Your Authentic Self

At the core of my practice is IFS therapy, which focuses on accessing and strengthening the Self as key to understanding and healing your inner system.

The Self is your core of calm, compassionate wisdom, always present beneath your various "parts." It's the natural leader within you, capable of healing and guiding your inner system towards balance. So with an IFS focus, we explore how the wisdom inside of you is capable of healing yourself.

This Self is not something you have to acquire; it's your natural state, often obscured by protective or wounded "parts."