“Who is that masked man?”

None of us who are awake liked to be defined by our roles; nonetheless I think it would be prudent to cite a few of my life roles in order to get a sense of who you will be working with.

Roles that helped define me were: Single parent of three beautiful grown adult children, man, therapist, educator, coach, athlete, and outdoor guide.  

At the risk of shameless self-promotion, here is an outline of my education and work experiences.

• Master’s Degree in Counseling. – Professional License Track, from Highlands University, State University of New Mexico.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Holistic Health Education self-designed and state approved when Holistic Health was just getting traction.

• Special Education Teacher- Certification (NJ, OR, FL)

• I have Advanced and Basic Practitioner Certificates: Albert Ellis Institute for Rationale Emotive Behavior Therapy. Albertellis.org

• Reality Therapy Certification: William Glasser Institute wglasser.com

Adventure-Based Counseling Certificates: Project Adventure and the Association for Experiential Education Therapeutic Adventure Professionals. pa.org, aee.org (TAPG)

• Trauma Informed Treatment as per se – Dr. Gabor Mate’ and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s work. drgabormate.com, besselvanderkolk.com

 

Additional Certifications/Trainings:

Environmental Health Sciences Certifications @ Rutgers the State University of N.J.

Primary Health Care Certification @ Johns Hopkins School of Public Health & Hygiene

Disaster Response Crisis Counsellor- NJDRCC

NASM National Academy of Sports Medicine & W.I.T.S Certified Personal Trainer

Wilderness Medicine/Emergency Medical Technician

A passionate interest, and lifelong study of the works of Carl Jung as interpreted by Dr. James Hollis

Interest in study of indigenous cosmologies, and mythology as interpreted by: Michael Meade and Joseph Campbell

Study of men’s issues as interpreted by: Michael Meade, Sam Kean, Robert Bly, and Luis Rodriguez

 

My work experiences include –

·        Mental Health and psycho-social education in a wide variety of capacities and settings. School & Community Therapist in Bali Indonesia, Masters Level Therapist in two Florida agencies and one short stint in a rural hospital. Graduate school practicum on Native American Reservations, Counselor/Educator for incarcerated young adults and transition planning…

 

·        Counselor & Educator for over 35 years- (Environmental Sciences, Health, & Special Education). Masters Level Therapist in two agencies, and a small rural southern hospital. National & International counsellor/teacher Bali, Kenya, Myanmar and U.S: Public, Private, Therapeutic, Residential, and Outdoors Schools.

 

·        Camp Director five (5) years L.A. Y.MC.A. (At the time the largest and most diverse camping program in the U.S.) During which time I trained with Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership Schools, Wilderness Medical Associates, Project Adventure

 

·        Ocean Lifeguard 20 summer seasons

 

·         Seasonal Forest Ranger with National Forest Service – Oregon.

 

·        In my early years I worked in New Jersey Shore Bars as a doorman, and various construction jobs. As the country song goes- “Learned a lot about people there.”

All of these experiences, including: extensive traveling domestically and abroad, living and working overseas in various countries throughout the world, cancer, divorce, bankruptcy, raising three children alone, and a brief incarceration as a young man have provided me with the opportunity to see and learn a good bit. 

It is in the dark night of the soul where we find growth. Often, the mess is the message. It is from the wreckage of our lives that the opportunity to learn arises; provided we sift through the wreckage, learn, and extrapolate some meaning and wisdom. We can then walk with our woundedness with panache in our gait.

So, if you feel there might be some connection reach out, and schedule a meeting.