There is a term used that aptly describes much of my life; "Jack of all trades, ……" I have not always been in the education field. The early phase of my life found me heavily involved in industrial work from Louisiana to Washington State. I was involved in numerous occupations such as logger, semi driver, welder, electrical support, etc. I am happy that I have involved myself in such a diverse mixture of exercises. However, I eventually came to a place where I wanted to invest the remainder of my life in a more humanitarian measure. It was then that I turned my attention toward the field of psychology.
After acquiring a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and a Master of Arts in Experimental Research, I began working toward a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. The goal of this new strategy was to become a facilitator for change among underserved populations, especially focusing on children and the elderly, as well as teaching at the university graduate level.
I earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University - Santa Barbara. As a practitioner in psychotherapy, I find it very satisfying to see the transformation in people's lives, as we collaboratively uncover and address their issues. I also perform evaluations for patients, wanting interventions through Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). After visiting the Western Psychological Services in San Francisco, receiving intensive training in administering, scoring and interpretation of the Autism Diagnostic Observational Scale (ADOS), I began testing children with suspected developmental delays. I soon became drawn to understanding the pathology associated with my child patients. One of my interests in research includes pervasive developmental delays and discovery of interventions applicable to attenuating autistic features. I am also trained to perform diagnostic clinical evaluations for adults seeking diagnosis for most all mental/behavioral conditions. I am also trained and qualified to perform academic evaluations for special accommodations in the school settings.
I am often asked what I want to do when I retire. My answer is always the same: "I never intend to retire. There is too much that needs to be done. I will always teach and serve humanity as long as I have the health to continue." Of course, my wife and I love to travel and will continue to make room for our jaunts, around the country.