I grew up in a world of rigid beliefs—where strength meant silence and doubt felt like failure. Like many, I’ve spent much of my life chasing certainty—first through fundamentalism, and later, through academic degrees, credentials, and the polished image of someone who had it all figured out.

But the truth? I was anxious, disconnected, and tired of pretending. Even now, I move through seasons of uncertainty, depression, and deep questioning—especially in the chaos of raising a family and trying to live meaningfully in a fractured world.

What changed for me wasn’t a breakthrough or a program. It has been an unglamorous shift: marriage, fatherhood, failure, time in nature, and the ongoing hard work of confronting my own insecurities. I began asking deeper questions—not just about counseling or wellness, but about what it means to live with integrity and purpose in the face of pain, privilege, and disconnection.

Today, I’m a professor and licensed counselor, and the author of Natural Approaches to Optimal Wellness: Integrating EcoWellness into Counseling. I’ve spent the past 15 years helping clinicians, students, and organizations rethink how we define healing—shifting away from curated perfection toward deeper alignment with self, others, and the natural world.

My work is grounded in research, clinical practice, lived experience, and an honest belief that growth doesn’t come from balance—it comes from meaning. Whether I’m writing, teaching, or speaking, my aim is the same: to help people show up with more presence, purpose, and courage—right in the mess of things.

Welcome. If my story resonates, I’d love to connect.