Primary Focus of Practice
Professional Experience
I have been a licensed Marriage and Family therapist since 1980 working in both the public and private sectors. My professional training focused on family systems, crisis intervention, behavioral modification, and cognitive therapy. I have also been trained in Christian counseling and my approach is to integrate Biblical principles into the treatment process. In my thirty-five years of combined experience, I have worked diligently with families and individuals in crisis, couples, and children/adolescents in private practice. I have also spent many years working in the child welfare, criminal justice and mental health systems.
I have presented workshops, seminars and courses on parenting and child rearing, stress reduction, couples communication, stages of marriage, coping with negativity, crisis intervention, substance abuse, managing change, loss and dying, and anger management. For a number of years I also provided training to Christian and secular schools on issues around child discipline, ADD, recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect, and parent-teacher communication.
Educational Background
BA San Francisco State University, 1967
MPA Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA, 1976
MA Univ. of San Francisco, Psychology: Marriage and Family Counseling, 1978
Marriage and Family Therapist license, California, 1980
Biblical Studies, California Bible School, Los Angeles, CA .1961-63
Professional Affiliations
American Association of Christian Counselors
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Sonoma County Association of Christian Counselors
Who Am I?
I was born and raised in San Francisco and have lived in Sonoma County since 1976. I have been married 39 years and have two adult daughters and two grandsons. I have known the Lord as my personal Savior since 1962, and I have always been very active in a Christ-centered church in many different capacities. I served in Vietnam in 1968-69, and I have worked with veterans on issues related to stress disorders, anger management and depression.
In my personal and professional life, I always seek to encourage and to model growth in the spiritual, psychological and social realms of daily living. In my office, I endeavor to provide a safe and caring environment where constructive change, growth and healing can occur. I believe that central to any real change is a very genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.