Hello

How I Got Here

I began my clinical social work career in 1998 implementing and directing a therapeutic foster care program for children in state custody experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties and at high risk of out-of-home and school placement.  The strict behavior modification approach being used quickly seemed inadequate to me and I began incorporating a humanistic, relational approach for foster parents to use with the children in addition to the behavior modification model.  We worked to incorporate a greater concern for the child’s holistic welfare, values, and dignity.  The response of the children and new found sense of efficacy by the parents were immediate and lasting.  Over the next many years I incorporated this relational model in all of my clinical programs including with persons experiencing developmental disabilities and juvenile justice involvement.  The clinical pattern became clear over time in that, despite the various clinical presentations, overlaying the humanistic/relational approaches with the clinical interventions created the fertile and rich shared affective experiences between the “patient” and the “professional” which helped to bring about deeper, lasting developmental (and behavioral) growth in the persons we served.  This relational/clinical effectiveness was most clear in my later work with adults experiencing serious and persistent mental illnesses (SPMI).  The clinical work, which initially was a small team of three clinicians, using the relational model I had found to be so crucial with other populations resulted in dramatic reductions in the need for in-patient hospitalizations.  Patients needing inpatient care one to two times a month were now requiring that level of care one to two times per year.

In 2017 I began providing direct clinical services to children at a multidisciplinary, developmental pediatric center.  Understanding the core deficits of autism and ADHD primarily rest in the social and emotional domains of their lives, I have sought out and refined my therapeutic interventions for neurodivergent children rooted in humanistic, relational approaches which respect the child’s holistic developmental welfare, personal values, and human dignity.  The models that best align with my personal and professional perspective, experience and values are Parent Child Interaction Therapy and DIRFloortime, both of which I hold certifications and continue ongoing training and development.  “Floortime” as an experience of affective attunement, co-regulation and reciprocal communication, is the foundational model in all of my clinical interventions as well as training and education with parents, teachers and caregivers of neurodivergent children.  I have also obtained certification as a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist through Evergreen Certifications.  I have conducted various professional trainings and consultations with teachers and staff in public and private schools over the past three years.

On a personal note, with my dear wife of 33 years, Janice, we have reared our four children into young adulthood.  I enjoy rewarding hard yard work, relaxing music, exercising and reading.  I have a strong liking of peaceful country environments but truly enjoy the dynamic and diverse environment of the city.  I prefer sunsets over sunrises but primarily due to not being a morning person.  My life is rooted in the teachings and faith tradition of Catholic Carmelite spirituality which deeply informs my human relational approaches. 

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I would very much enjoy exploring how I may be of assistance to your organization or group for training or consultation purposes or just to talk about our perspectives and the needs of neurodivergent children. If you are a parent and wish to reach out to me, please do not hesitate to use my contact information below.