Right after receiving my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2014, I began my professional career as a school-based therapist in a public mental health agency. I have worked primarily with middle and high school students since then and have thoroughly enjoyed helping my clients navigate the wide variety of challenges that come with childhood and adolescence. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, half of all lifetimes cases of mental illness began by age 14 and 75% of them began by age 24. Sadly, the average delay between the onset of symptoms and first intervention is eight to ten years. So many children and adolescents experiencing mental illness go under the radar and don’t get the treatment that they need until they are adults. I believe that catching early warning signs of mental illness in childhood and providing effective mental health treatment is critical for developing healthier communities. I was first drawn to Full Circle because of their shared passion for fostering a healthy community here in Hendersonville through the use of various outreach programs and holistic approaches to promoting wellness in the individuals they serve. I am very happy to be joining their team so I can extend that mission to the adolescents and children in this community as well.
While the bulk of my experience as a counselor has been with middle and high school students, I have also deeply enjoyed the work I have done with adults and younger children. I have worked with adults with a wide variety of mental health challenges in a Psychosocial Rehabilitation program in Asheville and in a Recovery Education Center in Brevard. I also worked for two years with elementary school-aged children in a program for children with severe behavioral problems in school. I consider family therapy to be an extremely important part of the work that I do with children and adolescents. With children especially, it is typically impossible to effect lasting change without also addressing the child’s home environment.
My approach to counseling incorporates a variety of modalities, since no two people’s journey into healing and recovery are exactly the same. I believe that trust is one of the most important factors needed in any therapeutic relationship. I am dedicated to ensuring that all of my clients feel comfortable, safe, and at ease when they meet with me. I believe that trauma - whether it is a major life threatening event, sexual abuse, or a developmental trauma like parental divorce - is at the heart of the vast majority of mental health challenges and I have consistently been amazed by the transformative power of trauma-focused interventions. In my approach to healing trauma I use a few different evidence-based approaches including but not limited to Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing (SE). I have also thoroughly enjoyed working with clients with dissociation issues such as Dissociative Amnesia and Dissociative Identity Disorder. I incorporate mindfulness into much of the work I do as well. I am currently a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS).
While I am often amazed by the power of counseling and the potential it has to open new doors in people’s lives, I believe counseling is only one tool for creating a full, meaningful, and healthy life. Spirituality, social connectedness, and physical health are also critically important for one’s well-being and I try to be intentional about helping my clients address those areas of their lives as well.
In my free time I enjoy hiking and spending time doing just about anything outside. I love hanging out around the house with my wife and two amazing twin daughters. Music is a really important part of my life and I have been in various rock and folk bands ever since I was in middle school. I love to travel and learn about other cultures. I love animals and I was vegan but my love for cheese prevailed in the end so now I guess I’m pretty much a vegetarian. I’m also big fan of all things dorky like Doctor Who and all those really time-consuming, complicated board games.
While the bulk of my experience as a counselor has been with middle and high school students, I have also deeply enjoyed the work I have done with adults and younger children. I have worked with adults with a wide variety of mental health challenges in a Psychosocial Rehabilitation program in Asheville and in a Recovery Education Center in Brevard. I also worked for two years with elementary school-aged children in a program for children with severe behavioral problems in school. I consider family therapy to be an extremely important part of the work that I do with children and adolescents. With children especially, it is typically impossible to effect lasting change without also addressing the child’s home environment.
My approach to counseling incorporates a variety of modalities, since no two people’s journey into healing and recovery are exactly the same. I believe that trust is one of the most important factors needed in any therapeutic relationship. I am dedicated to ensuring that all of my clients feel comfortable, safe, and at ease when they meet with me. I believe that trauma - whether it is a major life threatening event, sexual abuse, or a developmental trauma like parental divorce - is at the heart of the vast majority of mental health challenges and I have consistently been amazed by the transformative power of trauma-focused interventions. In my approach to healing trauma I use a few different evidence-based approaches including but not limited to Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing (SE). I have also thoroughly enjoyed working with clients with dissociation issues such as Dissociative Amnesia and Dissociative Identity Disorder. I incorporate mindfulness into much of the work I do as well. I am currently a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS).
While I am often amazed by the power of counseling and the potential it has to open new doors in people’s lives, I believe counseling is only one tool for creating a full, meaningful, and healthy life. Spirituality, social connectedness, and physical health are also critically important for one’s well-being and I try to be intentional about helping my clients address those areas of their lives as well.
In my free time I enjoy hiking and spending time doing just about anything outside. I love hanging out around the house with my wife and two amazing twin daughters. Music is a really important part of my life and I have been in various rock and folk bands ever since I was in middle school. I love to travel and learn about other cultures. I love animals and I was vegan but my love for cheese prevailed in the end so now I guess I’m pretty much a vegetarian. I’m also big fan of all things dorky like Doctor Who and all those really time-consuming, complicated board games.