Training & experience. I have an MA in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling from George Fox University. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Oregon. I’ve facilitated around 50 relationship groups, including Marriage Preparation for engaged couples and Marriage Refresh for married couples.

Creativity has always been important to me. I have a background in art and architecture. I worked as a designer/builder for 20 years, and I’m a musician. Creativity plays a part in counseling, too — no two people or situations are alike. Your creativity (and mine) will be vital as we work together.

Lifelong learning. I study a lot. I take notes during counseling sessions and review them later. I research pertinent issues. I share about what I’m learning—including things you have taught me.

Language. It consists of words, figures of speech, tone, expression, and body language. I love decoding the messages in language and exploring new ways to say what we need to say.

Values. What you value is important. Sometimes your values get pushed aside—by you or by others. Values compete with each other and change. I want to help you clarify them to give you a better idea of what you can and want to do.

Faith. Faith is an important part of our stories. I'm a Christian. Your faith deserves to be part of the conversation. Lots to talk about here. Deconstruction can be scary. However, it’s not bad—it’s essential to your development.

Emotions. Many of us were taught to suppress our emotions and to mistrust people who are "too emotional." Actually, your emotions are relatively trustworthy, and they're important. Let's pay attention to what they're telling us.

Bicycles. I ride every day and bikepack every summer. Cycling is a way that I care for myself. Let's look at all the ways you care for yourself.

My Professional Disclosure Statement.

Creativity is vital to recovery.

That might sound as if I’m saying you need to be artsy. I mean creativity in a different sense: it’s the act of making (creating) and thinking in an imaginative, proactive way. It’s the opposite of passivity. It’s a pathway to change.

That said, I’m a little on the artsy side. I have art and architecture degrees. I love to draw, design, and build stuff.

Counseling is an art. No two people or situations are alike. So counseling doesn’t adhere to a formula. It’s a creative process.

I’ve evolved in my understanding of self care.

I used to confuse it with selfishness. I never wanted it to be said that I put myself ahead of other people. I wanted to practice self-denial. I didn’t understand that self-denial can actually be taken too far.

A wise professor taught me that self-care is different from selfishness.

A wise counselor pointed out to me that Jesus, who epitomized self-denial, modeled self care, too. 

And a wise person I live with (my wife) let me know that I’m a lot more fun to be around on the days I get exercise. 😂 She helped me to realize that caring for myself is synonymous with caring for her.

Today, I see self care not just as a way to feel better, but as a way to live and love better.

[continue on my blog…]

Recommended reading.

These are some of the books I refer to and recommend on a regular basis. I also frequently share articles connected to what we’re working on in therapy.

If you decide to buy something, I encourage you to patronize a local brick-and-mortar store such as Powell’s or Broadway Books.

About the fir motif…

I’ve lived in western Oregon my whole life, around lots of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees. I’ve felled and split fir trees for firewood and built houses and furniture with its lumber. I’m always seeing cones on the ground and picking them up.

I seldom see baby seedlings, though. Fir seeds don’t actually sprout very easily. They need certain conditions. We need certain conditions, too. I’m not suggesting that we need to be babied. Throughout all our life stages, we need to be both nurtured and challenged. As a counselor, I keep an eye on both.

Are you getting nurtured and challenged in the way you need?