I was born and raised in Colorado. The mountains and the outdoors have always been a big part of my life which is one reason I decided to move to Oregon. My wife and I have one child and we enjoy sharing the outdoors together as well as all the other fun things that Portland has to offer. Besides hiking and camping, I have many hobbies and a variety of interests including art history, architecture, woodworking, hunting, fly-fishing, bicycling, canoeing, gardening and mushroom hunting. I decided to go to graduate school in Denver to study my two interests at that time - psychology and spirituality. I enjoy traveling and studying other cultures and especially art and architecture. Recently I have been exploring evolutionary psychology which has expanded my knowledge and understanding of human behavior. My experiences form the background I draw from when trying to help other people who come to me with emotional or personal difficulties. Being able to help people is extremely rewarding and humbling at the same time.
As a mental health therapist, I practice cognitive therapy about 90% of the time because of its effectiveness and it is the basis for most forms of psychotherapy used today. Cognitive therapy helps a person change their perspective to help them cope better with their problems. A simple explanation of cognitive therapy is to acknowledge that your thoughts influence your emotions and behaviors. Therefore it is important to examine your thoughts and then come to a decision to change your perspective. This can be very helpful in treating trauma, depression, anxiety and addictions. I have also developed a program for helping parents deal with their children based on classes and trainings I have taken as well as personal experience. What I like best about working for Kaiser is the knowledge and experience I have to draw from my co-workers who include psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and other counselors. This multi-disciplinary approach is the most beneficial mental health treatment available today. Another benefit of being a part of Kaiser Permanente is the access to special mental health programs within Kaiser Permanente such as intensive group therapy, or inpatient care.
I thrive by exercising, staying active, eating healthy and socializing. I have a small child and a dog at home that keep me very busy and active (especially going for walks with the two of them!) I keep my mind active by learning, reading, conversing and creating. I love to travel and staying in touch with family and friends is important to me. Getting outdoors is a great way to relieve stress. Deep breathing and yoga also help me keep balance in my life.
