Who Am I as a Counselor

I have been a practicing counselor since 1988, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas since 1990, and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) since 1993. My training has covered both individual counseling methods and marriage & family therapy techniques. I also give workshops locally and nationally.

My Counseling Approach

I see counseling as a team effort where the counselor and client work together as equals with different specialties and areas of understanding. While I know a great deal about people in general, psychological issues, and methods of change, I recognize my clients as specialists in understanding their own lives, personal goals, and unique situations.

Our first task will be to define the issues, problems, and challenges you're facing in life. I will need enough personal history to understand the context in which these issues began, continue, and have their meaning to you. Then, together we will set appropriate, understandable goals. Finally, we will work to make changes and accomplish those goals. From time to time, we will review our progress and change goals and methods if necessary.

I believe that counseling success cannot be achieved by violating clients' personal, cultural, or religious values, or tricking clients into change. I do not discriminate against clients because of age, sex, marital/family status, race, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, physical disability, health status, or sexual orientation.


Confidentiality & Its Limits

I will treat with great care all the information you share with me. It is your legal right that our sessions and my information about you be kept private. I will ask you to sign a release of information form before I talk about you or send my records about you to anyone else.

There are legal limits to confidentiality and times when a signed release of information is not required. Here are some of the most common.

1. If you tell me about a crime that you or someone else has committed or will commit, I am required to report this to the police.
2. If you make a serious threat to harm yourself or another person, the law requires me to take steps to protect you or that other person. This usually means telling others about the threat.
3. If I believe a child has been or will be abused or neglected, I am legally required to report this.
4. My records and professional opinions involving family or group counseling are not legally private and can be subpoenaed. While I will do everything possible to maintain confidentiality, I will honor a subpoena for these sessions.
5. If you file a law suit against me, your records will no longer be considered confidential and may become part of the case.

Please remember that I cannot guarantee the confidentiality of emails or texts so I recommend you use them only for non-confidential communication such as setting appointment times, cancellations, reminders, etc.

To learn more about privacy, download my privacy notice here.

I am licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. Concerns and complaints about counseling may be referred to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, 333 Guadalupe St., Ste. 3-900, Austin, Texas 78701, 24-hour, toll-free system (800) 821-3205.