My Philosophy

I became a marriage counselor because I believe almost all marriages are worth saving. Research indicates that most children are happiest when they are are able to reside with both of their parents. I am not neutral on divorce. My personal and professional bias is to keep marriages together whenever possible. For couples who determine that separation/divorce is their best option, I help them move forward in the most amicable, productive way possible. Toward that end, I make referrals to collaborative attorneys and mediators. Additionally, because I used to work in family court teaching parents how to parent throughout the divorce process, I help couples formulate a parenting plan  that incorporates best practices including: A Child's Bill of Rights in Divorce. 

For thirty years I have been  helping people achieve their personal and relational goals. I am a therapist, a court-trained mediator, and a life coach. I am an active, solution focused counselor. I have seen "impossible" things happen many times. While working as a divorce mediator I saw couples toss away their separation agreements and recommit to their marriages. I believe that with the right information and motivation, anyone can change themselves and their situations. 

Despite years of education and experience, I remain humbly committed to ongoing education about latest reseach and techniques on creating and sustaining healthy relationships

Working with couples requires specific education and training. I have a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology and an Educational Specialist Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. I also hold a PhD in Pastoral Counseling and I am happy to integrate issues of faith upon request. I use a number of theories and methods in my counseling based on the unique needs that each couple presents. I incorporate solution-focused strategies, structural family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotionally focused couples therapy,  and  Gottman tools and methods. For couples on the brink of divorce, I offer the cutting-edge option of Discernment Counseling. For those couples who have chosen to separate, I offer Closure Counseling to minimize conflict as they move forward.