The following is a non-exhaustive list of areas in which I am confident in my ability to offer counseling. Please contact me to discuss anything that may not seem to fit exactly into these areas.

Reality Therapy Developed by William Glasser Practiced by Randy Nickerson

 Reality therapy focuses primarily on where you are today. We will talk about what you have experienced in the past (from childhood forward) to some extent, to give us context for the present. We will identify the most important issues you are now facing and attempt to view them from a perspective you may not have considered. This will allow you to identify alternative ways of thinking about the issue which, in turn, will change your behavior which, if all goes well, will put you on firm mental, emotional footing. And our conversations will be guided by biblical principles proven to be trustworthy, life-giving, and honoring to God. Reality therapy focuses on five main areas of life:          Survival—There are essential requirements for living an emotionally comfortable life: good health, appropriate permanent shelter, and an overall sense of feeling safe. Power—Having a purpose in life, doing something that gives you a sense of accomplishment improves your sense of mental wellbeing. Love & Belonging—Being in relationships with other persons that you enjoy and receive positive interaction from can reduce anxiety and enhance your sense of mental wellbeing. This may include a close relationship with one person, or it may be found within a small group of trusted friends. Freedom—A firm sense of autonomy over your own life and a belief that you are making your own choices is essential for a healthy sense of mental, emotional wellbeing. Fun—Regularly engaging in activities you enjoy adds a rich component to a balanced life and contributes to a healthy sense of mental, emotional wellbeing.

Target demographic—I am comfortable counseling any person eighteen years of age or older. I offer pre-marital counseling to couples seriously considering marriage. I offer joint counseling to married couples (which may include limited individual sessions with the husband and/or wife). In some situations I counsel families to address specific issues between two or more members that may be adversely affecting the entire family. In some situations I counsel a single parent who may desire help with his/her child concerning a specific issue or with more general relationship issues.

Life observation—If you are considering dismissing me as a counselor because I am upfront about my faith please reconsider. I spent more years than I care to think about trying to do things my own way—the way I was taught and how I saw people around me living. And I failed miserably. Only after I asked God to direct my steps did I begin to view life from a place of hopefulness. I talk about it now because I have seen the difference it has made in my outlook on life and I know the same is possible for you, too. Sure, things still suck at times, but I know how this is all going to end and that gives me hope.

While I filter everything I believe through a biblical lens I do not hold myself or my faith in a position of superiority over anyone. We are all in this together. I will meet you wherever you are in your journey and attempt to help you find common sense solutions to the issues that may be causing you problems. Approaching counseling from a biblical perspective allows me to offer you hope and that’s not something you are likely to get just watching reality television or the news.

So, if you are afraid I will beat you over the head with a Bible, strike the thought. I am not going to shrink from confessing Christ as my Savior, but you have to make that choice for yourself. If you aren’t ready to do that, or for whatever reason don’t want to discuss religion, we won’t. But I will ask you to consider that the moral laws most of us know to be fairly universal are biblical in origin.

My prior experience has prepared me to be relatively comfortable in unstable situations. It is my intention to provide a comfortable place where you will feel safe talking openly and honestly and no longer feel like you are alone in trying to solve your problem.

Marital relationship issues—I have been married to a wonderful woman for 49 years and counting. But it has not always been easy. I made huge mistakes that almost cost me my wife and family. Only by the grace of God have we all come to a place of relative comfort and true contentment in our lives. Through all this I have developed a passion for working with couples who may be experiencing some of the same problems we went through.

My own experience, training, and relationship with Christ are preparing me daily to walk with men and women who may be struggling just to hang together, or may be searching for an answer to a specific problem that has arisen. I am willing to work just as hard as you (but not harder) to show you how satisfying a strong marriage can be.

Crises—I have extensive experience confronting and mitigating actual life and death situations. I am very comfortable approaching any situation that may not be literally life and death, but may very much feel like it to you. I work very hard to balance being empathetic and understanding with maintaining a clarity and focus on how you can most effectively understand and lessen the emotional pain or resolve the problem you may be experiencing.

Anxiety and depression—All of us will at some point question our ability to deal with a specific situation or with life in general. This causes anxiety. If the problem is solved you may overcome the sweaty palms relatively easily. At other times, if you can’t put your finger on a specific issue of concern, anxiety can become crippling. If left unchecked it is likely to manifest as depression, panic, and/or anger.

While each situation is different, there are common markers that we can talk about that may help you overcome the fear or dread you may be facing. We will work to help you understand the source of your apprehension, consider practical ways to overcome it, and suggest ways that you can meet anxiety and depression head-on when you face it in the future.

Public safety issues—My first career, as a firefighter/paramedic, taught me a lot about the culture of public safety. We worked closely every day with police officers, volunteer firefighters, and others who have a heart for serving. While there sometimes exists a friendly rivalry between the services, I very much respect police officers and other first responders and am comfortable talking about issues we all have in common.

I also understand that the public safety professions add a layer of complexity to other relationships, especially with a spouse or similarly close relationship. Understanding one can help in understanding the other. This, too, is very familiar territory to me.

Faith-based issues—As my own relationship with Christ has grown exponentially in the past few years I have found it gratifying and encouraging to discuss with other believers issues related to our common struggles as fallen human beings. If you have concern about most any issue that involves your belief system we will examine it together, searching for answers that only the Bible provides. I will respect your specific worldview as we work together to find truth in the biblical principles proven to be trustworthy.

Financial issues—Whether you have a lot of money, live paycheck-to-paycheck, or just suddenly find yourself in a deep hole, there is almost always a way to systematically repair your situation. Once that is accomplished changes will be required to avoid relapsing into financial bondage. I reference my own frugality and economic experience often in proposing ways any of us can use the resources we have in a responsible way that will allow us to sleep well at night.