I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, and a therapist/coach of Self-Leadership using the Internal Family Systems Model.  I have worked in mental health and psychotherapy for eight years in a variety of settings and have trained closely with nationally renowned experts in the fields of individual and couples psychotherapy. I am co-author of research appearing in the journal Addictive Behaviors (2005).

Out-of-the-classroom training is important for any therapist to be effective and I have high standards for maintaining post-graduate, experiential training and professional review of my work throughout the year. I also think it is important that you know I am committed to maintain my own personal discipline of sitting regularly my own therapist. It always has the effect of stretching me, showing me how hard it really is to take the risk of investing in your own personal growth and also how deeply rewarding it is to stick with it.

I also consider myself fortunate to be married to someone who has been willing to labor with me--in the trenches of marriage therapy at times--to shape our relationship when it needs shaping and rest when it's time to rest. More than any degree or gold-star training ever will, the continuous act of attempting to love and be loved by one person challenges all of my best faculties and adds a fine point to so many of the relationship tools that I offer to others. All of it yields in me a steady crop of confidence, compassion, and hope for others who seek personal and relationship growth.  

An important asset I bring to my work is my awareness of how to flexibly respond to what you need by inviting your feedback and having a comfort with changing course when needed.

A therapy relationship is a weird animal. It isn't just personal, the way you usually have personal relationships, and it isn't just professional the way you normally have professional relationships. I am always glad to hear when someone has benefited from the professional aspect of our relationship such the tools we used to achieve a goal or make a difficult change. And yet I consider it the highest compliment to hear clients tell me they were able to sense in me my own humanness, care, and warmth.        

I share the the joys and challenges of marriage, parenting, and growing a garden with my wife of ten years. We also have two cats, one of whom could use her own therapist to help her manage her kitty emotions...any recommendations?