I have provided counseling, intervention or evaluation services since 1976 in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Vancouver, British Columbia and the San Jose, California areas. Initially I worked as a pastoral counselor specializing in interventions and in the treatment of addictions. Later, I worked as a family therapist before I became licensed as a clinical psychologist. Additionally, I have worked for over 30 years as a chief operational officer of seven non-profit corporations, during which time I initiated, led and consulted with one of British Columbia’s most successful interdisciplinary community-based hospice societies.
As a clinical psychologist, I have emphasized 3 facets of psychological practice:
a) evaluations: neuropsychological evaluations for various brain injuries, diagnosis of learning disability, ADHD, gifted and autism/Asperger’s evaluations; pre-employment evaluations, adoption evaluations.
b) Therapy: using the Bowen Family Systems, the cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and prolonged exposure therapies, and (with couples) the Gottman Theory and Bowen theory models; for a variety of individual and family problems including: Effective Therapy for:
Addictions (alcohol / drug abuse and behavioral addictions)
Intervention in addictions
Anger management
Anxiety
Bipolar mood disorders
Children and adolescents
Court ordered counseling
Depression
Domestic violence
Family and couples
Grief recovery
Impulse control disorders
Internet gaming
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Personality disorders
Spiritual issues and development
Traumatic stress
c) Consultations and coaching for executives and work teams, including conflict resolution.
These approaches combine evidence-based and comprehensive models from which to approach and relieve human distress or maximize human functioning.
As a forensic psychologist, I have conducted evaluations and treatment on the civil side of the law for:
a) Disability
b) Child custody, parenting coordination, mediation.
c) Fitness for duty, pre-employment screening for public safety officers and candidates for ordination into the clergy.
On the criminal side of the law, I have provided therapy, evaluation and neuropsychological evaluations in 6 California State Prisons providing evaluative and therapy services in 4 maximum and medium security men’s prisons, 1 maximum security women’s prison and the N.A. Chaderjian Youth Facility. I have also provided treatment and evaluation services for youths, adult men and women who are remanded to treatment by county probation.
I Board-eligible through the American Board of Professional Psychology in forensic, clinical neuropsychology, clinical psychology and family psychology. I am qualified as an expert witness. I qualified according to California Rules of Court 5.225 and 5.230, to do brief focussed assessments and child custody evaluations with current domestic violence updates. I am also qualified to do parenting coordination and court ordered reunification therapy.
I have taught marital therapy, ethics, neuropsychology, human sexuality, research methods and psychological assessment in 6 graduate psychology programs in the South San Francisco Bay area.
I earned a Bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, with 3 majors, English, German and Biology. I earned a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary with a focus on pastoral care and counseling in addictions and a Master of Theology at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver School of Theology). I earned a Master of Science in clinical neuropsychology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in clinical psychology from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now known as Palo Alto University). My theoretical emphases in graduate school were; cognitive behavioral therapy, object relations therapy, and neuropsychological assessment. I successfully defended the doctoral dissertation on the relationship between defensiveness and elevations on the psychopathic deviation scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 in Viet Nam era veterans.
I trained in Bowen Family Systems Theory and Therapy at the North Shore Counseling Center, West Vancouver, British Columbia, the Programs for Bowen Theory, Sebastapol, CA and the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Washington, D.C. for a total of 7 years and worked within the Bowenian theoretical framework in organizations, and among families for over 30 years.
I developed interests in the field of positive psychology by earning a Certificate in Personal and Executive Coaching through the College of Executive Coaching. This has permitted me to explore the applications of psychological science in the competitive world of business and sports. I have been trained in conflict resolution with the Alban Institute.
My rich and varied background allows me to approach human dilemmas from a scientific, a humanistic, a culturally sensitive, and a spiritually available perspective as needed. My single-minded purpose has been to discover, awaken and develop the fullest potential and excellence in the persons, families and organizations where I have worked and consulted.
I currently hold memberships in good standing in the American Psychology Association, the California Psychology Association, the Santa Clara County Psychological Association, the Association for Family and Conciliation Courts, the Bowen Center Network and an Associate Membership in the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.