My desire to work as a counselor is derived from a sincere desire to serve and assist people. These desires were instilled in me by observing the actions and attitudes of my father who was career military, and my mother who owned a childcare center. They both instilled the importance of caring for and assisting others as I moved through life. Based on their role models, my military service, and my work in pastoral ministry I gained a greater insight into the importance of people working together to create better lives and better life situations. As such, I decided to become a counselor because it provided me with an opportunity to assist others to grow, learn, and pursue their dreams and hopes as I continued to grow, learn, and pursue my own dreams and hopes.

The one thing I wished all clients knew is human beings are communal by nature and design, and we all have strengths and weaknesses that manifest at various times in our life. As such, we prosper more when we work together to overcome challenges.

I chose to work at Thriveworks because I know counselors who I trust and respect that really enjoy Thriveworks’ work environment, professionalism, and care of clients. After investigating the company and interviewing with Thriveworks, I determined it was a good match for my personal and professional aspirations, and provided a great opportunity to serve clients.

I am inspired by people. More specifically, I am inspired by watching people face, address, and overcome their challenges through grit, determination, and hard work to achieve their goals and create better lives for themselves and/or others.

My primary objective in a client’s first session is to begin to establish a trusting relationship between myself and the client. In doing so, I strive to get to know and understand the client, what brought the client to counseling, what the client expects to accomplish from the counseling process, and the client’s thoughts on counseling in-general. Likewise, I try to provide the client with an opportunity to get to know who I am as a person, and as a counselor. As well as assist the client in exploring and understanding the counseling process, and the benefits and risks of counseling.

Prior to scheduling their first counseling session I would like clients to know I use a humanistic and person-centered approach that focuses on letting the client identify their needs, objectives, and goals. In doing so, I want clients to know that I am very open-minded, nonjudgmental, and accept and appreciate people for who they are and as they are.

In my time off I enjoy reading, motorcycling, horseback riding, traveling, and meeting new people.

One thing that defines me is I’m very eclectic and seldom meet a stranger who I cannot connect with on one level or another.