My Story
Understanding People in the Context of Their Lives
In 1990, while attending college in Olympia, Washington, I met a homeless Vietnam veteran named Michael who would unexpectedly shape the direction of my life.
Over time, we became friends. We listened to Janis Joplin records, talked about the joys and sorrows of being alive, and looked out for one another. He would sometimes buy me food, insisting that because I was in college, I "should be eating better." In return, our friendship gave him another reason to stay away from drinking.
I was young and didn't fully understand it at the time, but that relationship taught me something I have carried with me ever since: sometimes simply being present for another person can matter more than we realize.
Two years later, I began working as a community organizer in Seattle and eventually became an educator working with street-experienced youth. I earned my Master's degree from Portland State University in 2001 and began working as a therapist in Portland's homeless shelters.
Over the years that followed, my work took me into correctional facilities, HIV/AIDS services, street outreach, and transitional housing, where I eventually served as a clinical supervisor.
These experiences brought me into contact with people whose lives had been shaped by trauma, loss, poverty, addiction, displacement, and experiences of being misunderstood or unseen. They also taught me that there is rarely a simple explanation for why someone is struggling.
Experience changes the way we understand people
In 2013, I opened my private practice, where I've been able to bring together everything I've learned along the way.
My approach has continued to evolve throughout those years. I've become increasingly interested in the ways our histories, relationships, and unconscious patterns influence how we experience ourselves and the people around us.
One thing, however, has remained constant: I believe people need to be understood in the context of their lives.
A symptom doesn't tell the whole story. Neither does a diagnosis.
I'm interested in understanding the person behind both.
Outside of therapy
Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, especially with my incredibly inspiring wife, playing piano, speaking Spanish, and traveling whenever I have the opportunity.
I'm also writing a book exploring trauma and its long, often unconscious afterlife, how our experiences can continue to shape us long after the events themselves have passed.
Michael and I lost touch many years ago. I have no idea where life eventually took him, but I still think about him from time to time, and I remain grateful for what he taught me.
Helping others is not simply the work I do; it is part of what gives my life meaning.
If our paths cross, I hope I can be of help to you.