About Me
My Story
My own personal recovery from drug addiction began in 1984 when I was introduced to the concept of addiction as a treatable disease, and also to 12-Step programs as a viable path of continued recovery. While personal recovery is not a requirement to being an effective counselor, shared experiences and feelings often help establish rapport and trust.
1984 also signaled a decision to give up my career in construction and return to school, eventually leading to my certification as a substance abuse counselor. I was eventually certified by CAADAC, now known as CCAPP, and also by NAADAC as a Nationally Certified Addiction Counselor. Moving to Oregon in 2024, I was certified as a CADC III by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board (MHACBO).
My Qualificiations
Over the years I have been blessed to work alongside many great people at some excellent programs. I have worked in hospital-based treatment at the New Beginnings Program at Ojai Valley Community Hospital and also at the Saint John’s Hospital Chemical Dependency Center in Santa Monica, CA.
I have worked in a psychiatric hospital setting at Vista Del Mar Hospital in Ventura, CA, and in 1993 co-founded the Genesis Program in Ventura, an intensive outpatient program where I served as the Program Director for 25 years.
My desire to reduce administrative responsibilities and return to actual counseling led me to start a private counseling practice in 2007, working with not only substance abusers, but also with their family members.
In 2019 I was certified as a Biblical Counselor by the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). For those who desire it, this has allowed me to add Biblical references and prayer to the evidence-based practices I already use.
In 2020, I added Telehealth services to my practice, offering the convenience of online counseling. This initially served to expand my geographic limits far beyond Ventura County and continue to be relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now is the service that I provide exclusively. I use an encrypted platform to guarantee the confidentiality of my clients.
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