Be all that you want yourself to be. Contrary to what you have been told, it really is possible to become the person you would like to be.
Personal counseling with a National Certified Counselor (NCC) may be your best path to successfully dealing with the variety of distressing issues the world presents to you each day or which you create for yourself. Seeking qualified counseling assistance for psychological, emotional, and relationship issues should be just as common as going to your personal, well-trained, and experienced medical professional for physical discomforts. The question is not which distressing issues you are dealing with, but how you are dealing with those issues.
Working with a trained therapist in a non-threating environment, one-on-one or as a member of a small group, from a relaxing environment of your own choosing via a confidential online discussion that becomes for you a “safe place to land” can greatly accelerate personal progress in achieving your desired personal relationship objectives. Those who find themselves in potential life-changing events such as death of a loved one, breakup of a relationship, loss of employment, family or other significant interpersonal issues may truly benefit from professional counseling.
I base my client work on various therapeutic principles with the objectives of not repeatedly re-plowing “old ground” and not focusing on the past, but working to help my clients find answers that will work for them today and in the future. My counseling style centers on my clients’ needs and desires rather than trying to impose my recommendations on their lives.
I also recognize that some people’s needs exceed my knowledge and experience. In such cases, I refer the client to more qualified counselors or other professionals.
I am proud to serve clients throughout the State of Texas.
While winding down a highly successful career working with individuals and their families as a Certified Public Accountant, I chose to turn my attention from the financial and tax issues of my clients to their psychological, emotional, and relationship issues to which I was so often exposed as their CPA.
I hold a PhD in accounting and taxation and have served as a tax partner in a “Big Eight” accounting firm, tax partner in a mid-sized local firm and worked for many years as a solo tax practitioner. I have also served as a full-time graduate school faculty member, an adjunct graduate tax faculty member at two different universities and authored and taught volumes of significant graduate level tax continuing education material. I was active in accounting and tax professional societies and am a past-president of the Dallas Estate Planning Council.
Having had enough “number crunching” and tax fun, I retired as a CPA after 45 years of intensive practice.
Well prior to my retirement, I returned to the University of North Texas and obtained a Master of Education degree in family counseling. I am classified as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board of Counselor Certification (NBCC). I also hold a certificate in Conflict Resolution from Texas Woman’s University, am trained in collaborative law, have served as a mediator or co-mediator in family conflicts and personal injury cases, and am a past-president of the Denton County Collaborative Professionals.
I am experienced in dealing with client issues of anxiety, depression, panic, burnout, grief, self-esteem, family relations, trust, divorce, blended families, anger, substance abuse, interpersonal communications, adolescent adjustments, bereavement, same gender relationships, adultery, social anxiety, emotional abuse, and other interpersonal relationships. Many of these I have experienced in my own life. In my practice, I follow the Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) philosophy of counseling. I am proud to serve clients throughout the State of Texas.
“I am the proud father of Ryan and Dustin and grandsons Reilly, Aden and Louis.”
Certification by the National Board of Counseling Certification (NBCC) is the premier individual certification for the counseling profession. Certification as NCC demonstrates to colleagues and the public as a whole that the counselor has voluntarily met very high national academic, personal, ethical, and continuing education standards for the practice of counseling.
One who is credentialed as NCC is an individual who holds an advanced university degree (Masters or Doctorate) leading to practice in one of many healing arts and who meets the rigorous requirements of NBCC. The college or university programs from which the counselor received his or her degree must, themselves, meet all the following curriculum requirements of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP):
In addition to the coursework listed above, NCC licensure also requires the completion of a supervised practicum experience, sometimes referred to as an internship. The practicum must consist of at least 300 hours with a minimum of 100 hours of direct client contact. This practicum requirement is distinct from post-graduate supervision, which is necessary for licensure in Texas as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). This post-graduate requirement consists of 3,000 hours of professional supervision within an 18 consecutive month period.
In addition to the above, a Board Certified NCC must also satisfactorily complete a comprehensive national examination prepared and administered by NBCC and graded by practicing professional counselors and counselor educators.
(The following information is taken entirely from Mayoclinic.org; retrieved February 17, 2022)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of talk therapy (psychotherapy). You work with a mental health counselor (psychotherapist or therapist) in a structured way, attending a limited number of sessions. CBT helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way. CBT can be a very helpful tool ― either alone or in combination with other therapies ― in treating mental health disorders, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or an eating disorder. But not everyone who benefits from CBT has a mental health condition. CBT can be an effective tool to help anyone learn how to better manage stressful life situations.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to treat a wide range of issues. It’s often the preferred type of psychotherapy because it can quickly help you identify and cope with specific challenges. It generally requires fewer sessions than other types of therapy and is done in a structured way.
CBT is a useful tool to address emotional challenges. For example, it may help you:
Mental health disorders that may improve with CBT include:
In some cases, CBT is most effective when it’s combined with other treatments, such as antidepressants or other medications.
In general, there’s little risk in getting cognitive behavioral therapy. But you may feel emotionally uncomfortable at times. This is because CBT can cause you to explore painful feelings, emotions and experiences. You may cry, get upset or feel angry during a challenging session. You may also feel physically drained.
Some forms of CBT, such as exposure therapy, may require you to confront situations you’d rather avoid — such as airplanes if you have a fear of flying. This can lead to temporary stress or anxiety.
However, working with a skilled therapist will minimize any risks. The coping skills you learn can help you manage and conquer negative feelings and fears.
Psychotherapist is a general term, rather than a job title or indication of education, training or licensure. Examples of psychotherapists include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, licensed social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychiatric nurses, or other licensed professionals with mental health training.
Before seeing a psychotherapist, check his or her:
The key is to find a skilled therapist who can match the type and intensity of therapy with your needs.
Cognitive behavioral therapy may be done one-on-one or in groups with family members or with people who have similar issues. Online resources are available that may make participating in CBT possible, especially if you live in an area with few local mental health resources.
CBT often includes:
At your first session, your therapist will typically gather information about you and ask what concerns you’d like to work on. The therapist will likely ask you about your current and past physical and emotional health to gain a deeper understanding of your situation. Your therapist may discuss whether you might benefit from other treatment as well, such as medications.
The first session is also an opportunity for you to interview your therapist to see if he or she will be a good match for you. Make sure you understand:
It might take a few sessions for your therapist to fully understand your situation and concerns, and to determine the best course of action. If you don’t feel comfortable with the first therapist you see, try someone else. Having a good “fit” with your therapist can help you get the most benefit from CBT.
Your therapist will encourage you to talk about your thoughts and feelings and what’s troubling you. Don’t worry if you find it hard to open up about your feelings. Your therapist can help you gain more confidence and comfort.
CBT generally focuses on specific problems, using a goal-oriented approach. As you go through the therapy process, your therapist may ask you to do homework — activities, reading or practices that build on what you learn during your regular therapy sessions — and encourage you to apply what you’re learning in your daily life.
Your therapist’s approach will depend on your particular situation and preferences. Your therapist may combine CBT with another therapeutic approach — for example, interpersonal therapy, which focuses on your relationships with other people.
CBT typically includes these steps:
Identify troubling situations or conditions in your life. These may include such issues as a medical condition, divorce, grief, anger or symptoms of a mental health disorder. You and your therapist may spend some time deciding what problems and goals you want to focus on.
Become aware of your thoughts, emotions and beliefs about these problems. Once you’ve identified the problems to work on, your therapist will encourage you to share your thoughts about them. This may include observing what you tell yourself about an experience (self-talk), your interpretation of the meaning of a situation, and your beliefs about yourself, other people and events. Your therapist may suggest that you keep a journal of your thoughts.
Identify negative or inaccurate thinking. To help you recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that may be contributing to your problem, your therapist may ask you to pay attention to your physical, emotional and behavioral responses in different situations.
Reshape negative or inaccurate thinking. Your therapist will likely encourage you to ask yourself whether your view of a situation is based on fact or on an inaccurate perception of what’s going on. This step can be difficult. You may have long-standing ways of thinking about your life and yourself. With practice, helpful thinking and behavior patterns will become a habit and won’t take as much effort.
CBT is generally considered short-term therapy — ranging from about five to 20 sessions. You and your therapist can discuss how many sessions may be right for you. Factors to consider include:
Except in very specific circumstances, conversations with your therapist are confidential. However, a therapist may break confidentiality if there is an immediate threat to safety or when required by state or federal law to report concerns to authorities. These situations include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy may not cure your condition or make an unpleasant situation go away. But it can give you the power to cope with your situation in a healthy way and to feel better about yourself and your life.
CBT isn’t effective for everyone. But you can take steps to get the most out of your therapy and help make it a success.
(The above information is taken entirely from Mayoclinic.org; retrieved February 17, 2022)
