My Approach to Helping

More Info About My Practice

I am licensed in New York State as a Mental Health Counselor and certified as an Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Nevada. I have over 25 years as a clinician, a training supervisor, and an expert at case and care management. I utilize cutting-edge, evidenced-based, and eclectic clinical and instructional techniques in motivating clients to consider and practice behavior change while perpetuating the human service field through training, instructing, and mentoring aspiring counselors.

My career experience includes roles as a project and care coordinator striving for excellence through time-limited solution-focused interventions, strategic planning, and results-oriented actions including proven program coordination abilities through interaction with key community leaders and stakeholders.

I specialize in the use of and train other human service and medical providers in motivational interviewing techniques and evaluation through using DiClemente and Prochaska's Stages of Change model.

My specialties in the Human Services field include supervision and mentoring aspiring counselors and social workers, clinical and systemic interventions, treatment planning, providing services to individuals with co-occurring addiction and behavioral health issues including tobacco addiction. I also have significant expertise in providing treatment, case management, and supervision of individuals referred from the legal system and state parole boards, especially those clients who are adjudicated or convicted of sexual offenses and other violent and non-violent crimes. I have invested time and experience in working with amateur and professional athletes in maximizing their mental capabilities to excel on the playing field.

I also lead workshops, training sessions, and taught undergraduate college courses on co-occurring behavioral health assessment and diagnosis, tobacco cessation and treatment, and the usage of resiliency and humor in the treatment milieu.

I earned a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from the Canisius College of Buffalo NY. I am a member of the American Counselor’s Association and the New York State Counselors Association.

How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist

I've dealt with my own issues in regards to my depression, anxiety, and anger management issues. I've also dealt with being bullied in school and in the workplace. I've even made a bad choice or two in my life. As a professional athlete I struggled with issues surrounding preparation and performance which impacted my sports career at that time. Luckily I found a woman in my adolescence who herself became a nurse and a counselor and eventually encouraged me to go into the human services field and become a counselor. She has been with me through thick and thin and has provided me some incredible mentorship in the past 25 years I've been in the field. It takes an abundance of strength, fortitude and courage to unpack all that stuff we go through and put it on the table so that we can explore hopeful, helpful, and life-changing solutions to forge forward in becoming the best that we can be. I encourage you to bring your baggage to me and allow me to help you sort that out!