My Approach to Helping

Are you feeling sad, confused or discouraged? Maybe you are having problems with your relationship. When it's time to talk with a professional I provide a safe and caring setting where we can take a look at what's going on, talk about how you are feeling and consider solutions that result in lasting change. It has been my honor to provide counseling and therapy services in North County since 1987, helping countless individuals, couples and families. When we work together, you will feel respected and cared for as we work together to develop a clear picture of what has brought you to the office. Therapy is designed to help you uncover your inner resources and begin to sort through how you may be self-sabotaging your best laid plans. We all hope to have stronger communication, clearer boundaries, more self-esteem and more securely attached relationships. Our work together is designed to help build these strengths with the goal of a rewarding and rich life.

More Info About My Practice

Many men find themselves in need of support and benefit from the chance to work with a male therapist. As an athlete, furniture maker, fisherman, businessman, father and husband there are many roles and aspects to a man's life I may be able to share that allow for a common foundation and sense of familiarity. Often, this can make it easier to discuss more difficult subjects, such as addiction, alcoholism, infidelity, sadness or depression, rage or violence, marital discord, professional concerns and more. It is not as commonplace for men to seek out therapy in our society. By providing guys a down to earth interaction that feels surprisingly "not like therapy", we can accomplish fantastic work together.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

Addictions strike at the heart of our lives, undermining all that we hold dear. Since helping to open Scripps McDonald Center in the 1980s, assisting individuals and families as they negotiate the challenges of alcoholism and addiction has been a cornerstone of my practice. Never has confidentiality and the importance of having a truly privileged conversation been so important. However, it is essential to start somewhere... so often the shame and embarrassment of the damage that has been caused keeps people from reaching out. This is the right place. If you are an old timer, looking for a different level of recovery or have never talked with anyone, give a call and let's talk for a few minutes. Family members frequently find amazing relief for themselves finally talking about their resentment and loneliness. Help is available.

My Role as a Therapist

Much of our lives we are reacting to various triggers without even realizing what they are or how the resulting patterns impact our lives. Learning how to respond to our needs and feeling in more effective ways results in healthier and more authentic interactions. In the short-term, we feel closer and more connected...less anxious, perhaps less lonely. As we build patterns of interaction that are stable, strong and reliable, we begin to genuinely trust one another at a different level. By developing a clear understanding of ourselves and who we are in our relationships, we can create truly secure attachments - the foundation of relational satisfaction.