Credentials:
Yankton College, 1970, BA (magna cum laude) in psychology and social work, Dean's Scholarship
University of South Dakota, 1973, MA in counseling psychology
University of Wisconsin, 1975, MSSW (Master of Science in Social Work)
University of South Dakota, 1983, Ed.D. in counseling psychology
ACSW-National Association of Social Work exam
LISW-South Dakota
DSW-Diplomate in Social Work-NASW
LCSW-Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Indiana
LMFT-Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Indiana
Gottman Marriage and Family Therapist-Level I
Specializing in Interdisciplinary Psychosocial Practice via Face-to-Face Sessions, Telebehavioral Online Consultations and Videoconferencing for:
Children with special needs, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Children, adolescents and young adults with behavioral and developmental difficulties.
Elderly adults and individuals with disabilities
Family counseling and coaching
Couples counseling and coaching
Supervision consulting and coaching for LCSW license requirement
Grief, loss and bereavement counseling and coaching
Telebehavioral counseling, coaching and consulting
Family and individual referral services along with resource finding
Organizational consulting and coaching for conflict resolution, leadership and grant development
Independent contractor experience with Solutions, INC., Tangram INC., Indiana Association of Career and Technology Educators and Greenhouse Mental Healthcare (serving the elderly and persons with disabilities).
Grant reviewer for USPHS Health Resource Service Administration-.MCHB
Career Experience:
2013 retired as the Associate Director of the Riley Child Development Center at Riley Hospital for Children on the campus of Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN.
32 years experience (1981-2013) as a clinical and associate faculty member with Indiana University Schools of Medicine and Social Work teaching courses on death, dying, grief and loss. Also served as a social work field instructor and a clinician at the Riley Child Development Center serving children with disabilities and their families.
Earned a Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin (1973-1975) and was an interdisciplinary Leadership Education in Neurodeveopmental Disorders (LEND) trainee at the University of Wisconsin Waisman Center on Human Development.
Earned a MA in counseling psychology (1973) and an EdD doctorate in counseling psychology (1983) from the University of South Dakota where he was Acting Director of the Center for Developmental Disabilities.
Served a term as Vice President for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) South Dakota Chapter, and has served as both Vice President and President (1990-93) for the Indiana NASW Chapter.
Elected as an Indiana representative six times for the NASW Delegate Assembly (1990–2005), and in 1999 was elected chairperson for the NASW Midwest Coalition. In 2011 he was the Chair of the National NASW Delegate Assembly Planning Task Force.
Elected to the American Indian Center of Indiana Board of Directors in 1999 to present. Has Cherokee heritage (Indian name is Tatanka Wamniyomni-Whirlwind Buffalo) and began his career working on the Sioux Indian Reservations in South Dakota. His Indian name is
Served on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Telehealth Advisory Consortium and 1987-2013 About Special Kids (formerly the Indiana Parent Information Network and is Past President of that Board), one of the four original founders of that organization in 1987.
The 2017 recipient of the About Special Kids Founders Award. In 1992, he was awarded the Social Worker of the Year Award for Indiana.
In 2006 elected to the National Board of Directors of NASW as the Region VII representative for IN, OH, KY, TN and WV. chaired the National NASW Personnel Committee. Also served on the NASW National Committee for Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
In 2007 elected to the National Board of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and was Chairperson for the Council on Interdisciplinary Services.
A member of AAUAP/AUCD, since 1975 served on the National Training Directors Council and the National Community Education Directors Council. Served on the Program Planning, Council Chairs and Award Review Committees for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Board. Also was Co- Chair of the AUCD Communications Committee and served on the 2008 Poster Review Committee.
Served as a grant reviewer for MCH –LEND grants, as the chair of the review panel and as Chair of a HRSA Small Provider Health Grants Review Panel. From 2008-2009 was on the U.S. Health and Human Services, Office on Disability and Department of Labor Office on Disability Employment Policy, Health Providers Health Care Curriculum Select Panel.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Blended Family Issues, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Guilt and shame, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Intellectual Disability, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Phobias, Prejudice and Discrimination, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
IN LCSW 34001870A
IN LMFT 35001019A