About My Training, Experience, and  Background

My couples therapy practice is in the Inland Southern California, Redlands area. I started my private practice in Redlands in 2002. I grew up in Southern California near the ocean. So, I love the beach. My early training was in music. I play drums and piano. I was serious about music at one time in my life. Still, it continues to be a hobby of mine. Currently, my active interests include running, swimming, and cycling. Fortunately, I share these interests with my wife. Together we have three children, all boys. 

In 1993, I started my clinical training in school social work. I trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rogerian play therapy, and Structural Family Therapy. I treated families with children with emotional disabilities from to abuse, neglect, or molestation. While at Patton State Hospital in California in 1997, I trained in sexual addiction treatment methods.  In addition, I received advanced training through Behavioral Tech in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Within DBT, Prolonged Exposure therapy is used for trauma treatment. This led to my early specialization in trauma treatment.

I then wanted broader experience and to learn more methods for treating PTSD. Therefore, in 2005, I attended the the National Center for PTSD’s Clinical Training Program for Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Later, I became a Quality Rated CPT provider. Then, In 2007, I was trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). This led to my EMDR certification. In addition, from 2005 through 2009, I took short term consultant work at military bases in Germany, Brussels, and The Netherlands; Washington DC, New York, and the Marine Base in Twenty-nine Palms California. More recently, from 2018-2023, I was a part-time clinical consultant in PTSD treatment and research at Patton State Hospital.

Similarly, my individual trauma work led to a desire to heal relationship trauma. As a result, in 2009 I started  training in Gottman Method Relationship Therapy. I was attracted to its robust evidence base and its trauma-informed methods.  And because of these two factors, the Gottman Method excels at treating complex relationship problems and resolving enduring hurts and betrayals. I am fully certified in the Gottman Method. In addition, I am authorized to provide the Love Lab Relationship assessment and to provide the Art and Science of Love Workshops for Couples. The Gottman methods and assessment process are integral to all my work with couples. I only see couples in my private practice at this time.

For more information about my background, please download my CV.