We all have challenges. Admittedly some are objectively harder than others but our own challenges are unique to each of us and can seem devastating from our perspective. I would like to help you work through yours. I am not going to give you platitudes. Instead, I want to help you learn to accept, cope, cry if you need to, and then get back up! It’s not easy, but you can do hard things! As a college professor, and my background in medicine, my natural instinct is to make sure you understand both the biological and psychological reasons behind your troubles and then we work together to put YOU back in control of your life.

Although I work with a wide variety of clients, if I had to pick my favorite group it would be couples counseling. It's never boring and I think I'm pretty good at it. Not just because of my training and experience in Gottman and EFT but, if I'm being honest, my insights come mostly from a great marriage of 35 years and the things I've learned along the way. I understand that people are different so I try to stay competent in a wide variety of treatment modalities. Regardless of what's on your mind, from relationship issues, to job stress, addiction, generalized anxiety, to just about anything else, I am confident we can work together to find that next big breakthrough! *To be clear, I am not providing medical services at Breakthrough. I will be happy to refer you to a physician if you like.

Quick Into Video

I know! I look like a middle-aged white guy. Well, I guess I am but I didn't start that way. Well, I was always white. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I'm 50% Mexican and started life pretty poor in inner-city Detroit. I enlisted in the Air Force after high school and that gave me the opportunity to be the first person in my family tree to go to college. It wasn't easy but I somehow made it through a Bachelor's, earned 2 Master's degrees and graduated from Medical School. You'd think I'd be rich but, alas, I was out of the AF after getting injured about the time of my BS degree so there was a ton of school debt -- some of which I'm still paying off. Sadness. Having said that, I've had a pretty good life. Happily married 36 years, 4 awesome kids and 6 perfect grandkids. I get along well with everyone at Breakthrough. I'm assuming that they all like me well enough but I guess I wouldn't know, would I? More importantly, they all seem to like each other so it's a really healthy culture. I believe that well-treated and respected employees are more effective. Especially when we’re talking about providing counseling. Our best counselors find a balance between being a bit empathic and not getting overwhelmed with other’s issues. That’s not an easy task. Anyway, enough about me. If you see me in the hallway, feel free to chat. And thanks for choosing Breakthrough!