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About Me
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What led you to becoming a therapist?
I get asked this question often and my answer always sounds corny to me, but I
can't think of a less corny answer so I am sticking to it. Here it goes:
"It's what feels right."
I
know... I know, totally cornball right? But it's true. I've always been that guy who people talk and open up to.
Whether it be friends, co-workers or just some lady behind me in line at the grocery store. I guess I am just easy to talk to.
Maybe it's because I love to listen to other people's stories and I am always fascinated with how they think and feel about... well,
anything really.
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Why do you focus your practice on helping kids and teens? Isn't that difficult and scary?
Yes, sometimes
it can be difficult, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love working with kids and teenagers. They are growing and
changing so fast and they have so much potential. To be a positive role model for a kid in need is a wonderful privilege that
can last a lifetime.
I understand why many people are scared of working with youth, especially teenagers. There
is an inherent communication block between kids and adults and the block is different depending on the age and maturity of the child
in question. What separates me from others is that I know how to speak your kid's language whether your child is four, fourteen
or twenty-four. I understand how kids think, partially from my training and education, but also because I remember being young
and how I looked at the world... it was a little different than how I see things as an adult.
What I find to be scary, is to
be a kid in this day and age and feeling that no one understands me.
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What kind of training and experience did you receive before starting
your private practice?
I trained at several different internships before getting my license:
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Where did you go to school?
I earned my Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles.
Years before that, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts with an Acting Emphasis from California State
University, Fullerton.
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You were an actor?
Yes, I worked in the entertainment field for roughly fifteen years as an actor
and a few more years behind the scenes in television production. Most of my acting work was in commercials, yet I also performed
in many independent movies and plays. I was also very active in co-creating, producing and performing with a comedy improv
troupe in Los Angeles for over five years.
I find that many of the skills I learned as an actor and an improviser have
helped me greatly in initiating many creative approaches to my clients (especially kids). I think that it is important to positively
model creativity to children and teenagers in order to show them new ways to channel their emotions.
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Speaking of careers and jobs,
do you belong to any professional organizations?
There is an organization called California Association of Marriage and Family
Therapists (CAMFT) that I belong to. CAMFT works closely with the California Government State Board of Behavioral Sciences
(BBS) to regulate and ensure ethical conduct by therapists. I am a member of this association as many therapists are.
Locally, I
serve on one committe for the San Fernando Valley Chapter of CAMFT. The San Fernando Valley Trauma Response Team is a group
of therapists trained to work in conjunction with local police, fire fighters, medical response teams and The Red Cross in case
of a disaster in our community.
Previously, I served on the board as a the Chief Financial Officer (2008-2009), Member at Large
(2007) and the Pre-Licensed Member at Large (2006).
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I'd like to get to know you better. How can I do that?
Glad you
asked. Please feel free to call me (I'll actually answer the phone if I'm available) or email if you prefer. Just go to
my Contact page to get all my info.
Sometimes picking up the phone to call a therapist can be uncomfortable... especially
if it is your first time. I am very easy to talk with and I'll take the time to listen to what you have to say and respectfully
answer any questions that you may have. Not only is that part of my job... it's what I like to do.
Thank you for taking
the time to read the About Me page.
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