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About MeCounseling is a second career for me. I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University in the 1980s, and spent several years in publishing as a writer and editor while living in Chicago. My interest in mental health grew sharply after I read “The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing,” the classic book on obsessive-compulsive disorder. I found the content fascinating and tragic, and decided to shift my career in the direction of helping people to enhance their mental health. In 1996 I took a position with the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (now known as the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance). While there I wrote speeches and assembled the organization’s national newsletter. A few years later I decided to return to school for a master’s degree in social work with an emphasis in mental health. After receiving my degree, I practiced for six years on the staff of a community mental health center in Columbia, Missouri. In addition to working with individuals and couples, I led several therapy groups at the center, including groups on anger management, winter depression, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT teaches mindfulness and other skills to help people manage intense, painful emotions. In 2006 I opened my own practice, sharing space with three other professionals. My practice is devoted to people who feel “stuck,” helping them to move forward and achieve greater fulfillment in their lives. My specialties are depression, anxiety, and anger. My approach is based in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which examines the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Recently I began teaching a master’s level class on CBT at the University of Missouri. I have been married for nine years and my wife and I have one child. In addition to my other roles, I am privileged to spend a large part of each week as a stay-at-home dad. My professional qualifications include:
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