My Approach to Counseling

I work with adults, seniors, and couples. Successful therapy is based on a good therapeutic relationship. This relationship starts by creating a safe and supportive environment where, at your own pace, you can:

• Learn ways to change how you see and relate to yourself and the world
• Improve communication with others
• Identify what you need to thrive
• Rediscover your unique gifts
• Create and maintain healthy boundaries.​

Growing in any of these areas can help you create a goal-directed life that has meaning.

In my lifetime, how the client experiences the counseling process has changed dramatically. When I first started as a client, back in the late 1970's, therapy had single-point focus. That is the therapist was the expert and there were few outside sources of information.

How times have changed. Now clients, their families, and friends have access to Internet searches, (Dr. Google), social media, on-line specialized support groups, YouTube channels,  to name few sources. Also books and workbooks of all types are now available with click. Now, rather than therapy being limited to a single point of focus, many clients can cover a wide range of issues, and obtain information from a  variety of sources, over the course of therapy.

​As a Therapist, I have to be aware that clients have access to information from all these, and other, sources. While I cannot possibly keep up with all this (who can?) I am willing to talk about what you see, hear, or read, and together we can discuss what is relevant, and what it can mean for you and your therapy goals.

Clinical Specialties
I have specialized training and experience in the following areas: 

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Moral Injuries, and other trauma. I work with those in the military (active duty and retired), first responders, health care workers, and others. As part of treatment, I may recommend EMDR as a therapy modality and self-reported trauma inventories as a way to assess your level of symptoms.
  • If you want to know more about EMDR click  [here]
  • If you want to know more about moral injuries click [here]
  Problematic acting out with sex and porn. I am a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) from IITAP.com. As part of my practice I often use materials from Dr. Patrick Carnes, Dr. Rob Weiss, and many others.
  • If you want to take a self assessment click [here]
• Partners of people who have problems acting out with sex and porn. I often use materials from Dr. Stephanie Carnes and others. Dr. S Carnes developed a survey to assess situations when a betrayed partner has bonded with the person who betrayed them. 
  • If you want to take a self assessment click [here]
• Dissociative Identities (commonly known as Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID). Part of my treatment plan may include the use of workbooks, informational websites, and self reported inventories.
  • A dissociative self-assessment can be [here].

Other Areas of Focus
In addition to my clinical specialties, we can work together to explore areas covering:

• Relationships with yourself and others
• Relationship to money, career, or work
• Communication with spouses, partner, children, parents, boss, co-workers or others
• Grief or loss (including family member, friend or pet)
  
• Life or career transitions (including loss of employment or retirement)
• Anxiety or depression
• Spirituality
• GLBT

Telehealth and In-Person Options
During this time of COVID 19, I see most clients via video chat (I use Google Meet). 

For those who want in-person therapy, and I am OK with that as long as we wear masks. I have a Honeywell air cleaner in my office and our office wide HVAC system has a commercial grade air sterilizer. I have been vaccinated against COVID 19.

My Education and Employment History
Education

• Master in Counseling Psychology (MAC), Saint Martin’s College, Lacey, WA, 2006
• Master in Public Administration (MPA), Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1987
• Bachelor of Social Welfare, School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1985
• Registered Nursing, Associate of Science, Long Beach City College, Long Beach, CA, 1980.

Employment History

• Counseling practice established in 2006
• Mid-level manager in WA ST government for 23 years
• Registered Nurse (RN) in the hospital (specialized in oncology) and in a county jail
• Member of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).

Limitations on Treatment

• As a master's level clinician, I do not have the legal authority to write a prescription for medication
• I do not see clients under 21 years of age
• I do not conduct "one & done" sessions for the purposes of completing paper work, forms,  or related issues
• I do not write letters for "comfort" animals
• I do not conduct court ordered (legal) assessments.
• I do not offer court ordered anger management or domestic violence classes
• I do not work with sex offenders or those who have acted out with children.

Clients