the therapeutic relationship is a key to most successful therapeutic experiences. to anticipate how such a relationship may evolve is, at best, highly speculative.

there are no fail-safe means to ensure any therapist will be a fit. references from respected friends, from family members, from other professionals may be a useful avenue to finding a therapist. additionally one may access various lists of "credentialed therapists" through state licensing boards, insurance companies' lists of preferred providers, or various professional organizations.

during the initial appointment with a therapist, i would encourage you to ask whatever questions you may have to assure yourself that this therapist is one with whom you may develop a helpful working relationship. sometimes the therapist's background and training can be an orienting factor in choosing. below i provide you with some of my professional background.

i have been in the human services field for over thirty years, beginning during my college years when i worked in various summer wilderness camps as a guide-counselor with adolescents. i was intrigued with three professions as i surveyed my vocational options: pastor, teacher, psychologist.

my formal schooling reflects these options:

during my school-years, i worked in a variety of settings, either as part of my formal training or as a means to support my life. among these work-experiences were: intern chaplain for dying patients in a hospital setting, student teacher in an inner-city school, hospital orderly in a public hospital, therapist at a drug detoxification center, organizer of humanistic psychology conferences, mental health worker in a residential adolescent treatment center.

prior to entering private practice in 1983, i held four different professional jobs:

for the past twenty-five plus years, i have been in private clinical practice in anchorage. i am a licensed psychologist in alaska.  i am a member of the alaska psychological association.

my practice is with individuals, couples, families, and groups.