My Bio

A little about me…

THERAPIST / EXECUTIVE COACH / SPEAKER / AUTHOR

EXPERIENCE

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinically Trained & Certified Executive Coach, Author, and Speaker, with over 25 years of experience in helping people transform their lives and relationships. I’m currently in my own private practice in Plano, TX, and an executive coach with The SouthCity Group.  I am also a part of a leadership collaborative project with the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University, the WinShape Foundation and the Center for Vocational Ministry at Azusa Pacific University, where I help teach and equip leaders about mental health issues in their organizations (my specialty is anxiety and depression).

I have worked in the contexts of churches, community mental health agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations, and private practice. I am also the author of The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good? and What It Means to be a Man: God’s Design for Us in a World Full of Extremes, as well as a contributor to several others.

From 2010-2014 I also served on staff as a marriage therapist for The Hideaway Experience in Amarillo, TX, where I co-led 4 day marriage intensives.

Prior to becoming a full-time therapist I was the college pastor at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, serving primarily on the campuses of UCLA, USC, LMU, as well with a large number of young adults from the entertainment industry in and around Los Angeles. I also served on staff part-time from 2008-2011 at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX where I was primarily responsible to care for the youth staff, provide crisis counseling for students and families in the youth department, and teach bi-monthly parenting classes for parents of youth.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

Education

  • Certification in Executive Coaching | Southern Methodist University
  • Master of Divinity | Fuller Theological Seminary
  • Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy | Fuller Theological Seminary
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology | Grand Canyon University

Certifications and Training

  • Leadership Circle Profile Certification
  • Certified Executive Coach
  • Certified Level 2 Restoration Therapy Therapist
  • Certified Marriage Strong Instructor
  • Certified Relate Strong Instructor
  • WinShape Marriage Adventure Leader
  • Certified Prepare and Enrich Instructor
  • Certified Family Wellness Instructor
  • Certified Level 1 Running Coach (RRCA)
  • Certified Level 1 ETT Therapist

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Texas (#201264) and a Clinically Trained & Certified Executive Coach through Southern Methodist University. I am a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as a member of the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and the Dallas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

I live in McKinney, TX with my wife Heather and our two kids. We are super grateful to be living in and among an awesome community of neighbors, friends, and family, and we desire to help each person live their most authentic self.

We have a passion to help people transform their lives and relationships, so together we have pursued certification together in Relate Strong and Marriage Strong which has led to us leading some retreats and helping individuals live a more healthy life. We are currently leaders for WinShape Marriage Adventures, leading couples on marriage adventure retreats to varying parts of the world. Heather has a passion for helping people live a more healthy life, and she is a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

In my free time I love to spend time on the trails camping, mountain biking and running long distances. I have run everything from a 1K to a 100K and am working towards my goal of a 100 mile trail race.