People don't heal in isolation. We heal in relationship, and that's the foundation of my work.

Specialties

Depression - Anxiety - Relational Patterns

Shame & Self-Compassion - Identity & Meaning

Life Transitions - Existential Concerns - Grief & Loss

About

For a long time, I didn't have a word for what I was carrying. School felt meaningless and I changed degrees multiple times. I traveled to Africa and pursued international aid work. I loved it, but something was still missing. When I finally landed in psychology, it felt like someone handing me words for things I'd always sensed but never knew how to say.

I painted houses through both graduate degrees, and that work taught me as much as my coursework did. It's rarely what you're doing that matters most. It's how you're doing it, and whether it's connected to something meaningful.

I've come to believe that people don't heal in isolation. We heal in relationship. People walk into therapy wanting to fix themselves. What they often find instead is what was right about them all along. The work is about coming back to ourselves and living into something truer.

Clinical Approach

My work draws primarily from existential and relational therapy, and the two fit together naturally for me. Existential therapy takes seriously the questions most people are quietly carrying: What am I doing with my life? Why do I keep ending up here? What actually matters to me? Rather than offering answers, I try to create space where those questions can be explored honestly.

Relational theory shapes how I show up in the room. I believe the relationship between therapist and client isn't just a backdrop to the work. It's where a lot of the real movement happens. Early experiences shape relational patterns and how we connect to others. When those patterns get named within a safe relationship, new potentials in life open up.

Sessions with me tend to be direct, grounded, and collaborative. I bring myself into the room. Not as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone who believes in the impact this work can have.

Quote

“It is the synergy of ideas plus relationship that creates real therapeutic power.”

—Irvin Yalom

Who I Work With

My clients often appear to have it together from the outside. Some would even describe themselves as mostly happy. But underneath there is a quiet longing for something more, a sense that life could feel more meaningful than it does. They can't always put their finger on it, but that's why they're here. They want to actually understand themselves, not just feel better temporarily. When they slow down and check in with their gut instincts, they realize they've probably been carrying something heavy for a long time.

Outside the Office

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been a significant part of my own personal healing and growth. I recently competed in my first tournament. I stay active in other ways too — hiking mountains, playing soccer with my kids. I'm also writing a book and creating a music album. I don't know how long either will take, but sharing it keeps me honest. I'm a husband and a father, and those relationships are where a lot of my most important learning happens.

Training & Background

I like to say I took the scenic route. Multiple degrees, overseas travel, and two small house painting companies in two different states preceded my career in counseling. I hold a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology and a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Spring Arbor University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and clinical supervisor in Michigan. But I've learned more about therapy from being a client than from any book, and more about being a therapist from my clients than from anything else.

Connect

Podcast - Existential Psychotherapy: Exploring the Four Ultimate Concerns