Welcome!

Counseling is a space where you are invited to travel through the stories of your life with another person. Fundamentally, I believe that all problems are relational at their core. All too often, the pockets of our journey that have been traveled alone are the places where we have developed sophisticated ways of hiding and/or blaming others for our difficulties. As a result, it can be unnerving to invite another person into those places where no one knows the terrain. The decision to enter counseling is one of great courage; however, the result of the therapeutic work is so satisfying and fruitful.

My hope for our work together is that I would offer a safe place for us to begin to understand how you have been marked with both profound dignity and deep wounding. Through this process I have seen countless men and women grow and change in ways that previously they had little capacity left to even imagine. Often we find ourselves stuck in patterns of relating and we lose sight of our life’s potential for fullness and authenticity. I invite you to take the risk of stepping into the therapeutic dialogue with hope for yourself that there may be another possibility for your life.

Counseling Orientation:

My theoretical framework is multifaceted, but I work primarily from existential, object relations, psycho-dynamic, family systems and relational approaches. Basically what this means is that I believe your earliest relationships have deeply affected who you are today in ways that you are aware of and in ways that you may be unaware. I view our work together as an opportunity to stop and reflect on your life story so that you are more capable to choose the life you want to live.

In addition to exploring the issues that bring you to counseling, we will also look at your relationships with other significant people in your life. Our work will focus on the ways that you thrive in relationships and also the areas where you are hindered from reciprocity and enjoyment. We will work together to identify the hindrances and obstacles preventing you from living your most meaningful life. Your ability to be open and honest with me will greatly enhance the effectiveness of your therapy.

I work from a relational perspective. Briefly, this means we think together about what is going on within your heart and soul and explore experientially how these inner thoughts and feelings play a part in the moment-by-moment choices you are making. As you attend to your relationships, together we explore how key relationships (including ours) mutually shape experience. You are central, however, not my approach to therapy.

Furthermore, I believe that certain problems can have a biological component. In such cases, medical consultation will be advised. If at any point you have questions or concerns about our relationship or the direction of our work together, please feel free to address these with me.

Educational History & Experience:

University of Virginia, B.A., Religious Studies: Buddhism and Christianity
Mars Hill Graduate School, M.A., Counseling Psychology.

Over the past eight years I have worked with teenagers and adults in a variety of settings. I have worked with adolescents in the inner city, twenty and thirty somethings in Ireland and homeless adults here in Seattle. I have training and experience working in the following areas: anxiety and depression, ADHD, abusive relationships (physically, emotionally and sexually), vocational questions, life transitions and issues of addiction and other uncontrollable behaviors