I’ve been married since 1994 and my wife has often said that I’m a duality, like two sides of the same coin. For example, I am an avid gamer and I love technology, especially video games (I’ve been gaming since my first console, Pong, and later at the Gold Mine arcade at the Port Plaza Mall in the 1980s). At the same time, I grow weary of screens and I recharge by being around good friends and family. Another example of my dual nature is that I tend to get bored by the fine arts, yet I absolutely love to cook with a lot of flair and artistic touches. I have four kids and they’ve grown up expecting a charcuterie nightly. My favorite shows on Netflix right now are The Mandalorian and The Great British Baking show. See what a mean? I’m a duality.
I love being a counselor and the best part of my job is being able to make connections with students, helping them feel comfortable with counseling. My favorite counseling issues are relationships, anxiety, supporting those with a spectrum disorder, past trauma, anger management, parenting, veterans, and alcohol or drug abuse concerns. I have four kids, so I also understand the stress of managing the needs of others while also reaching for my own goals.
Finally, I have a love/hate relationship with dogs (again, a duality). I enjoy the unconditional love of dogs, but I hate the mess. Ninja, my 10-year-old therapy dog, was born on Christmas Day. He comes to campus with me and he’s a needy lapdog, making it easier for students who might be reluctant to try counseling.