About Me

I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and went to Calvin College for my undergraduate degree. I attended Wheaton College for my doctorate in Clinical Psychology. I recently completed an internship at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I conducted psychological and neuropsychological assessment, provided psychotherapy to individuals and couples, and consulted with community organizations. My dissertation is focused on helping couples through periods of disillusionment, meaning the difficult times when spouses want to give up on their relationship after realizing that their partner is not going to fulfill their expectations. More personally, I have been married to my wife Heather since 1999 and we have one son, Aidan.

 

Counseling Style

My approach to therapy varies because I try to form a unique relationship with each client that is responsive to that individual's needs. My assumption is that we develop patterns of relating to others in our past that impact our present relationships. Unhealthy relational patterns affect how we think about ourselves and respond to others, which leads to experiences of depression, anger, anxiety, etc. So I typically focus on how your current problems come in the context of these relational patterns. As your therapist, I will offer you a safe place to be real, offer my professional observations so you can be more aware of how your relational patterns contribute to your struggles, and encourage/challenge you to develop new ways of relating to others so that you feel more whole as a person and connected to others.

 

Specialties

I particularly enjoy working with adolescents and adults in individual therapy, as well as strengthening couples in marital therapy. I also welcome conversations about spirituality in the course of therapy. Additionally, I enjoy offering psychological assessment as a way to both celebrate who people are and assist them in areas where they struggle. In particular, I assess for such things as ADHD, intelligence, learning disorders, and severe mental illness.

 

Hobbies and Interests

When I have some free time, I enjoy reading, watching movies, doing Sudoku, playing soccer, and hiking/backpacking/camping.

 

Favorites

My favorite music is classic rock and the blues, and you can often find me listening to U2 and Eric Clapton. My favorite movies include "The Shawshank Redemption," and various movies with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. My favorite tv shows include "24," "Lost," and "The Office." My favorite books include Nouwen's "Compassion," and Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Silmarillion." And my favorite places to backpack include Mt. Rainier in Washington, the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, and Telluride in Colorado.