Qualifications & Experience

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. I have been a licensed practitioner since 1982. I hold a BA in Psychology from San Diego State University and an MA in Marriage and Family Studies from United States International University.

My Call to Christian Counseling

While I was in a war zone serving in the United States Air Force, I helped begin a program to help other service members who were addicted to drugs. During that time many of these men said to me, “You are the only one who understands me.” That gave me direction and I decided when I was discharged that I would continue my college career and eventually become a therapist. I have been licensed now since 1982.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I lost my first wife, the mother of our children, to a very long illness. The Lord blessed me again and Cheryl and I were married in 2018. We have five grandchildren. I am a native of San Diego have surfed for most of my life. As a veteran, son, brother, husband, father, and servant of the Lord, I have taken some hard knocks in life – “we suffer but not as those without hope.” Through it all, people in general have come to describe me as one whom the Lord has formed into a gentle strongman.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• ADHD
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chemical Dependency
• Coaching
• Couples Counseling
• Codependency
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Family Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Marriage Counseling
• Men’s Issues
• OCD
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

Depression

So many people who describe themselves as feeling depressed feel alone or even isolated, because no one knows what they are experiencing. You can be very active, or not so active, laugh, or have outbursts of anger. You may feel unhappy or dissatisfied. Living with depression can sometimes mean “getting up and doing what needs to be done” – and sometimes not. As your counselor, I will listen intently to your story of depression and find where it takes a turn. I walk with you to where the road turns and ask you, “Is this the turn you were hoping for?” We will work together to implement therapeutic methods that will make a lasting difference in your life.

PTSD

Throughout my career I have worked with military veterans and survivors of abuse and other circumstances. I don’t see PTSD as a disorder, but an injury. It is a normal response to abnormal events. Many survivors have harsh expectations of themselves, ignoring the effects of the injury. This is the hard work – the “rehab.” You will find out you are not alone in your recovery and rehab. You can also have a very unique healing process that is your own, not someone else’s. In session, we will work together to find the techniques that work best for you.

Grief and Loss

Grief and loss will touch us all. Even though I have walked this lonely road, it may affect you quite differently. We know there are stages of grief and loss, but they are rarely cooperative and orderly. That is why it is so important to express with loved ones or a helper those thoughts and feelings we believe we shouldn’t have or believe we should be over with by now. Since this subject, especially among Christians, can be a subject that people have lots of opinions about, it is important and helpful to have the freedom to seek a therapist who can help you through the grieving process without judgment.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is a very difficult issue because the signs and symptoms show in so many different ways. Even though the occurrence of abuse and assault is high, it’s difficult to acknowledge or report. In therapy you can have the experience of being believed, validated, and honored for requesting help to recover from this type of injury.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

So many people experience this condition and never know, because their career or relationships can reward this type of behavior. Sometimes we call it perfectionism or ritualistic and we want to see it in our surgeons and others. Often the behaviors are unconscious and repetitious. Some symptoms are habits to be kicked, and some are masking unresolved issues. Some people can’t “not do” the thoughts or feelings they have that bring them to therapy. Through Christian counseling for OCD, we can learn to make healthy choices in new contexts.

I first listen to where my client is at developmentally and cognitively and assess their family role, attachments, and stage of life before determining which therapeutic orientations would work best and be most effective for their treatment needs. In most cases, I use collaborative, for real, client-informed, and outcome and solution-focused methods.

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Carlsbad – Tuesday & Wednesday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples, and Families looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 3.7% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.