My Qualifications 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 and family therapy techniques. I frequently teach at the graduate level and give workshops 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.

One our first tasks will be to define the issues, problems, and challenges facing you in your life. I will also need enough personal history to understand the context in which these issues began, continue, and have their meaning to you. We will then set appropriate, understandable goals.  As a specialist in your own life, your input and agreement on the goals of counseling are vitally important. Finally, we will work hard to make the changes and accomplish the goals we‘ve agreed upon. From time to time, we will review our progress and change our 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. If, at any time, you believe I am doing this, please discuss this with me at once.