Qualifications & Experience

I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwest University, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University, and I am currently a Ph.D. Student in Clinical Sexology and Behavioral Addictions at the International Institute of Clinical Sexology. I am also a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and member of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP) . While pursuing my master’s degree, I interned at Life Center Church as a mental health counseling intern. Prior to professional counseling, I worked as a Registered Behavior Technician and a Certified Behavioral Technician.

My Call to Christian Counseling

Exploring difficult questions and unconventional possibilities has always been a natural aspect of my personality. I am not sure how I got here, but I am happy that God has brought me to this career to encourage and build up others.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I have been married to my wife since 2018. I am very analytically and creatively oriented, and have a passion for life’s biggest questions. Naturally, I have a deep interest in music, philosophy, theology, and the natural and social sciences. I am a man of hard questions and an open mind. Though I once struggled to find my faith, God taught me to embrace skepticism and critical thinking to deepen my faith in Him and the Scriptures. I am particularly interested in understanding design patterns and motifs within the Old Testament, and I am absolutely fascinated by Jesus and what He is doing in the lives of others.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Coaching
• Couples Counseling
• Depression
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Marriage Counseling
• Men’s Issues
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Personal Development
• Phobias
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss

Sex and Pornography Addiction

If you are reading this, you are likely already entertaining the idea that you may have an addiction. As renowned addictions therapist Dr. Patrick Carnes wrote, “For all addicts, a moment comes when they realize they have a problem.” Welcome to the first stage of recovery.

Symptoms of sex and porn addiction include a particular focus on repetitive sexual activities, numerous unsuccessful efforts to reduce repetitive sexual behavior, and continued repetitive sexual behavior despite negative life consequences or deriving little or no satisfaction from the sexual behavior itself. Addiction is often accompanied by lying and secrecy. In our sessions, we will work to identify the needs attempting to be met by the addictive behavior, formulate new and effective behaviors to meet these needs, and establish reliable and stringent accountability practices for maintaining sobriety. We may also explore the tension that can accompany sex and porn addiction and faith: Can someone be both an addict and a follower of Jesus?

Anxiety Disorders

Common anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Symptoms of anxiety include increased worry, restlessness, tension, irritability, headaches, flashbacks, abdominal upset, or muscle tension and can often lead to an inability to do the things you find important or be around the people you love.

Severe anxiety is often rooted in past trauma. These traumatic experiences can train the mind to be hyper-alert as a way of self-preservation from future potential traumas. Research strongly supports the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy against anxiety disorders. In our sessions, we will work to identify the underlying fears and progress gently and strategically toward conquering those fears. We may also explore the tension that can accompany anxiety and faith: what does it mean to trust God, yet feel anxiety?

Infidelity and Affairs

Infidelity tears the floor right out from under any marriage. Affected spouses are left with feelings of shock, naivety, resentment, hopelessness, or numbness. The offending spouse may feel fear, shame, self-hatred, self-naivety, numbness. While it may seem that there is no hope for marriage after betrayal, with Christ, there is always hope of restoration.

In our sessions, we can explore the causes of the affair, how to live honestly, how to live out forgiveness, how to rebuild lost trust, and how to view each other as spouses. We may also explore the tension that can accompany infidelity and faith: What does it mean to show forgiveness to an unfaithful spouse? How could a true Christian ever engage in such a hurtful action? What does godly restoration actually look like?

Marriage/Relationship Issues

It is inevitable that any relationship involving two partners will encounter tension. Relationships last by the way tension is resolved, not by the absence of tension. Life is very challenging and not everyone is wired to react to challenging problems the same way. When deciding how to approach problems with our beloved spouses, it can often feel as though the other person is selfish, mean, or has simply checked their brain at the door.

While it may seem impossible to effectively communicate and compromise with our spouse, God designed marriage as a perfect reflection of Himself and the church. In our sessions, we can explore how to live with someone who is just as imperfect as yourself, how to communicate with someone who thinks differently, and how to keep the romance and the passion alive with someone who always seems to leave their dirty dishes on the coffee table. We may also explore the tension that can accompany stereotypes of marital roles and faith: what does it mean for a wife to submit to her husband? Is a husband also expected to submit to his wife? What does it mean for each partner to love and submit to one another? What if your partner is not submitting back?

Spiritual Development

Living as a Christian can be confusing. God promises us His very presence, His peace, and His joy, yet our experience of life is almost always one of pain and suffering. The flesh is indeed weak, but we forget how willing the Spirit really is. In our sessions, we can explore what it means to be a follower of Christ. Is Christianity just a religion that teaches us to behave morally? How can we be sure it is even true? What are we to do with all of our doubts? Why do terrible things happen to those who love God? Why is the Bible sometimes so boring and hard to understand?

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):

• Puyallup – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
• Online (WA only) – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals and couples 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 Mental Health Counselor, some 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 2.97% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.