Therapist, Consultant & Speaker in the field of relationship and sexual health.
Now, take a deep breath. You’ve arrived at the right place at the right time. With courage and conviction, you’re about to embark on a journey that will lead to healing and greater relationship and sexual satisfaction.
Approach & Philosophy
Clients tell me that I bring a zen quality to much of my work and that I have an uncanny sense of understanding people, their emotions and motives. I balance this with a straight-forward, no beating-around-the-bush style of working with clients and couples. People come to me because they want something different in their lives. I’m here to support making that difference happen. My life experiences and training has culminated into an approach influenced by Buddhist psychology, the Work of Byron Katie; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as Gottman Method Couples Therapy. The latter of which is an empirically informed approach to healing couple relationships. Ultimately, however, I seek to personalize an approach that fits with your idea of how change could happen in your life.
Credentials
An important step in successful treatment is to choose a therapist who understands that sex and couples therapy are different than traditional individual psychotherapy. Both require a high level of unique training, skills and expertise, which is hard to find, especially in the Triad. Fortunately, you’ve found me!
Credentials at a Glance
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (FL & NC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (NC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (NC)
- AASECT Certified Sex Therapist
- Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator
- Certified Child Custody Evaluator
- Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
- Certified PCOMS trainer
- Certified Emotional-CPR Trainer
- Gottman Educator: “Bringing Baby Home” and “Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.”
Ok. Truth be told, I’m a credential junky! I hold a masters, specialist and doctorate degrees in marriage and family counseling from the University of Florida. (Go Gators!) In addition to being a licensed marriage and family therapist (NC 1101 & FL MT3251) and a licensed professional counselor-supervisor (NC S5025), I’m the only doctoral-level AASECT Certified Sex Therapist based in the Triad. AASECT, the premier certifying body for sexual health clinicians, and I affirm the fundamental value of sexuality as an inherent, essential and beneficial dimension of being human.
I hold several other credentials, as well. I’m a certified clinical hypnotherapist and hold certifications as a forensic mental health evaluator and child custody evaluator. I’m an approved Gottman educator for both the Bringing Baby Home and Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work programs. More, I’m a certified creativity coach through the Creativity Coaching Association. Most recently, I’m completing the final requirements for the certification as a Gottman Couples Therapist.
In addition, I’m a certified trainer through the Heart and Soul of Change Project–an organization dedicated to improving psychotherapy outcomes, as well as a certified trainer for Emotional-CPR, a program that reminds laypersons that they have all that is necessary to help others in emotional distress.
Finally, in 2011, I completed a post-graduate certificate in health care administration from East Carolina University. For a complete review of my education, training and experience, see my curriculum vitae.
I need credential-detox treatment!!!
Professional Affiliations
Staying current within the profession is a strong personal value. I hold clinical and professional memberships in a number of organizations, including the American Counseling Association (ACA), International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC), American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHC), Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, as well as AASECT.
Current Academic Affiliations
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University
- Contributing Faculty, School of Counseling, Department of Mental Health Counseling, Walden University
I’ve taught for several colleges and universities, including University of Florida, UNC Greensboro, Santa Fe College (Gainesville, FL), and Walden University on such topics as human sexuality, psychopharmacology, personal growth, psychopathology, marriage and family counseling, legal and ethical issues in mental health, and substance abuse. Currently, I hold active faculty affiliations with Wake Forest University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and Walden University.
Not only do I value teaching and being a member of esteemed organizations, I also believe in giving back to the profession. My articles have appeared in a variety of peer-reviewed journals (see Google Scholar) and I have presented at local, state and national conferences on topics such as ethics, sexuality, spirituality, social justice, fibromyalgia, and psychopharmacology, to name a few. More, I’ve appeared on FOX8, ShrinkRap radio and WFDD, the Triad NPR affiliate, as well as within print media, including Women’s Health Online Magazine and Men’s Health.
My Practice
My practice, which is located inside Cornerstone Psychological Services, is mostly limited to couples and/or sex therapy. I hold evening and weekend appointments, only. For the past 10+ years, I have served as the Director of Counseling Services at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC. Consequently, I’m also one of the few psychotherapists in North Carolina who has thousands of clinical hours meeting the specific needs of actors, writers, musicians, dancers, and visual artists. My private practice also includes these professionals.
The Private Life
I grew-up on welfare in central Pennsylvania and came from a family that had many of the problems associated with poverty. In college, the first in my family to go, I found that people felt safe and comfortable talking to me about their relationships and sexual histories. A biology professor told me that that was a gift and that I should pursue it. These experiences propelled me towards this career. I bring all aspects of my history to create a better life for myself and those whom I serve. I offer this familiarity, compassion and understanding to my many clients who seek to create a better life for themselves.
During down-time, I enjoys the arts, weight training, yoga, singing, reading, cooking and exploring my Scottish roots (and sporting my kilts). Currently, I serve as Vice President on the board of trustees for Unity in Greensboro, my spiritual home.
I genuinely look forward to serving you.