I was born and raised in the greater Fresno area and attended CSU-Fresno for my undergraduate work in Criminology and Master’s in Counseling-Marriage and Family Therapy. My clinical orientation is a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Client Center, Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focus Therapeutic Modalities. I have extensive training and experience in working with people struggling with the criminal justice system (in and out of the legal system), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety and Depression disorders, as well, as with people seeking relief from addictive behaviors. I have worked for over 23 years in public service/various community mental health delivery systems. I thoroughly value meeting and forming therapeutic relationships with new patients and assisting the patient discover their ability to lead a life they want to live. I honor the time spent in session, as it is a time were hearts bare the pain, minds seek the “why?”, and bodies reflect the joy or sorrow of their memories. The time spent in session is a time where healing can start, and a new view of life can occur; with the collaborative efforts of the patient and therapist. Mental Health services helped me, when I went through many struggles as an adult and now, I can share the gift that was handed to me in session, to those patients I now have the privilege to assist. Thank you for seeking assistance and starting the process of healing and hope.
Roles and Responsibilities
Whether, I am working with people in the criminal justice system or the mental health field, I have held the belief that, “Do unto others as you want done unto you”. How would I like to be treated, if I sought services and or found myself in trouble with the law? I would like to be treated fairly, as a human being and not just a number. I have made every effort to ensure I treat whomever I meet in a professional and ethical manner. My role and responsibilities as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) are to provide the patient with the utmost professional care possible, for it is nothing less than what I would expect.
I am Fluent in English and Spanish.
Family and Friends
I have been married for 21 years and my wife and I have been blessed with 8 children (6 boys and 2 girls) age ranges from 27 to 2 years old. I am a grandfather of 3 beautiful children. I am an active member of our local church and enjoy the ministry work I have been given to accomplish.
Hobbies and interests
I enjoy taking evening walks (weather permitting) with our large family, and time spent with my wife and children. Our children’s recreational and school sports take up much of our free time for now. We also like going to the coast and mountains to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Blended Family Issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Co-morbidity, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Fertility Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders , Panic disorder and panic attacks, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
CA LMFT 87041