I obtained my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University in 1992 and my Master of Arts Degree in Marital, Family, and child Therapy from Chapman University in 1996. I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in California (2001), as well as Washington state (2018), working in the field since 1996. I am also a Nationally Board-Certified Counselor. I have held various positions in the mental health field, ranging from residential treatment facilities for children & day treatment school sites to outpatient mental health settings, and Private Practice.

     I have provided clinical supervision as well as administrative supervision to clinical teams and have also played a lead role in Utilization Review throughout my Agency work. I have had the privilege of providing clinical supervision to practicum as well as masters level therapists who are gaining hours towards their state licensure. I have been responsible for ongoing treatment planning for clients, clinical documentation, legal and ethical issues and chart compliance. I was also an adjunct faculty member at University of Phoenix in their Counseling and Therapy Master's Program. I have taught classes including practicum, law and ethics and advanced treatment planning.

     I have worked with clients presenting with concerns in the areas of; Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Trauma, Addiction, Recovery, LGTBQ+, families, divorce, custody, and parenting. As a psychotherapist and healing arts practitioner, I am extensively trained to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, couples, families, and groups to achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriages, family, and social adjustments. The treatment modalities I utilize are eclectic in nature and are tailored to the client's individual, developmental, and presenting needs of each client. 

I received my Master of Social Work Degree from Louisiana State University in March 2020. I also have a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Investigation from Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College, that I obtained in 2016. In the year of 2012 I received my Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College. I am also a Mental Health Professional and I have been working in the Mental Health field for 8 years now. I love working with individuals, groups, and communities to make change. I love being a Social Worker and I love the impact that I am able to make in people's lives.

I want you all to know that you are in a safe space and I am delighted to work with you. I have worked with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. I have worked as a Crisis Counselor with the state of Louisiana. I worked with the Wraparound Program in 2016 and currently work there as a full time Therapist in Tacoma with the WISe program. My focus is working with adults and adolescents by using the Cognitive and Dialectical Behavior Therapy model when working with clients just to name a few. Thank you for allowing me the chance to work with you. I look forward to great things, Byron.     

     I have worked with children, teenagers, and adults since 2003 as a clinician, mental health counselor, case aid, and school counselor. The companies I have worked for include Kitsap Mental Health Services, Crisis Clinic of the Peninsulas, The Washington Youth Academy, and the Moses Lake and Central Kitsap School Districts.

I hold a Bachelors degree in Human Services, Masters Degree in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Education. I have completed supplemental trainings in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Problem Solving and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). I was a school counselor for 9 years and worked in the Mental Health field 9 years before that.

     I believe in building trusting relationships that are client centered, solution focused, and relational with a nonjudgmental approach. I use play therapy to build relationships and develop rapport with my youth clients. One of my main goals is to help you identify not only what you are doing and thinking, but the reason and rationale behind it. The hope is that we can then figure out strategies and ideas to help you understand yourself and create goals and solutions. Most importantly, I want to develop a trusting

relationship with you where you could trust me and know that I care about your wellbeing. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than to see you grow, improve your quality of life, and to be a small part of

that success.

     I am a graduate of Pierce College, Pacific Lutheran University (1994, BSW), and the University of Washington, Tacoma (2004, MSW). I am a Tacoma native and have enjoyed engaging with numerous individuals and a variety of large and small social service agencies in Pierce County during the last 20+ years of Social Service employment. My experience includes veteran community outreach programs, Inpatient and Outpatient Substance Abuse treatment and Social Work interning at the PTSD program at VA Hospital at American Lake. Child Welfare Services in Tacoma for seven years, and Case-managing at a private foster care agency and later becoming the Program Manager. I wanted a change and to work more closely with clients and took providing in home counseling and parenting services to diverse families but found myself driving across three counties and spending more time in traffic than with clients. I am very excited to be working for and with individuals young and old, individually, and/or in small groups, and families at Alta Vista Integrated Life Services in Gig Harbor where I too live! 

     I often make the statement, “Social Work is not just what I do for a living, it best fits who I am”. My service delivery is client centered, holistic, and eclectic, utilizing many pieces from my vast array of theoretical modalities learned (addictions treatment, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Trauma Informed Therapy, Play Therapy, Level 1 Theraplay, Grief Therapy, to name just a few), always checking in for shared understanding of the problems and the proposed or desired solutions/outcomes. Therapy treatment will begin with a shared assessment of the clients’ needs and hopes for desired outcomes, and specific ideas of how we’ll get there, together.

     I have a Family and Marital Therapy Associate license. I received an M.A. in Psychology from Brandman University on the Joint Base Lewis McChord campus in 2018 and a Masters of Christian Education from Asbury Theological Seminary. I served in the Army as a Chaplain 2005-2015. I have also been a licensed teacher in several States and now hold an Elementary certificate in the State of Washington. Mental Health care is a commitment. Like other commitments success is linked to reaching goals and understanding the responsibilities and understand how each person involved will commit. As there are many different types of people, there are different approaches that can be utilized for the circumstances.  I believe that the person seeking help can grow best if the positive is the main concentration.  Additionally, people are never an island; Specifically with children, it is important that caregivers are involved and support change to maximize results will. 

     My primary approaches are solution focused and Play Therapy combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help in behavior modification and helping individuals change beliefs that are leading to unwanted behaviors. I also use Dialectic Behavioral Therapy that helps in emotion regulation, and in guiding better choices. Narrative Therapy/spiritual guidance, trauma-informed therapy, family/ couples therapy techniques guide communication. My approach often involves continuous evaluation of the participant and caregiver to find what is succeeding and what areas need to be adjusted. I believe all people are not perfect and so a major part of the growth of a person is when a family is willing to make changes together.