I am a licensed clinical professional counselor. I completed my undergraduate studies in psychology at Manchester University in England and my graduate studies in counseling at the University of Montana. Before working as a counselor, I was a hospice Chaplain for 7 years, providing spiritual support and grief counseling to hospice patients and their families. I have also practiced mindfulness and meditation for thirty years within the context of the Buddhist tradition.

After completing my graduate schooling, I received supervision in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) from Julie Hergenrather, PhD, (previously director of the Northwest Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, now directing the prestigious Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research).

I have continued to seek trainings in innovative and effective new treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing (EMDR) and Sensorimotor training. I have also sought secular, psychologically-based trainings in mindfulness such as Mindfulness- based Cognitive therapy Greg Shanks – Missoula Mindful Counseling(MBCT) for depression relapse and Mindfulness- based Stress Reduction (MBSR). These trainings have helped me integrate my previous mindfulness training into my therapy practice.

MORE PERSONALLY…
I met my wife here in Missoula and we have a son and twin daughters. They join our dog in completing our family.

I love the way “sense of community” is no mere abstraction in Missoula, how it translates into real experiences, choices, and responsibilities: I love our access to the outdoors and to safe, local foods; our seasons, especially the long summers with the river as a playground.

I love the people here: new friends, professional colleagues, and fellow meditators. I feel grateful and privileged to do the work that I do in this wonderful place.