As an undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh, I briefly considered becoming a counselor. However, at that time college was quite a struggle. I was AuDHD (undiagnosed) and had little to no study skills. Graduate school did not seem achievable. I put that dream out of my head and graduated with a degree in computer science.

The AuDHD contributed to poor self-esteem and issues with anxiety. I was relatively successful in my career as a software engineer. As I was given more and more responsibility I would feel more and more anxious and find more and more ways to distract myself from my emotions. In my early thirties I got married and bought a home. What should have been the happiest point in my life sent me into a severe autistic burnout. I sought therapy for the depression (aka burnout), went on medication, and received an ADHD diagnosis. With the help of therapy I learned to manage the negative aspects of ADHD. I also began to see that ADHD also had strengths that I could harness to become even more successful. Therapy helped me to learn to process my feelings and I no longer needed to run away from my emotions.

In my mid-forties, I became bored with software engineering and was looking for a new challenge. I started the dream I had of becoming a counselor and decided to go to graduate school to pursue that dream. In 2010 I started the Professional Counseling program at Carlow University. This time college was a very different experience. With my new skills for managing my ADHD, feelings, and life in general, graduate school was relatively easy. While at Carlow I did a practicum at Gateway Rehab. This gave me a good introduction to the field of addictions. I also did an internship at Persad Center. This gave me a firm foundation in outpatient therapy as well as working with LGBT issues.

After graduation I worked at TCV Community Services (formerly Turtle Creek Valley MH/MR) as an outpatient counselor. There I was exposed to a vast array of mental health issues, which filled out my skill set even more. I have also continued to hone my skill set with post-graduate training. The most significant being the Advanced Certificate Practicum at the Albert Ellis Institute, the Gestalt Training Program at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, and becoming trained (and then certified and now a consultant/trainer) in EMDR by the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. And now I have been training in Somatic Experiencing in Seattle, Washington with Joshua Sylvae, Mahshid Hager, and Linda Stelte. I am currently at the intermediate level of SE training. I will begin my advanced SE training in April, 2025 with Dave Berger.