Hi, my name is Alan and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the states of Georgia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. I have been Licensed as a Professional Counselor since 1996. I have a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut at Bridgeport CT, as well as course work in professional counseling from Georgia State University, Capella University and the William Alanson White institute for psychotherapy. Currently I run a Human Service Program at a college in Maryland where I teach students how to be “Helpers” I teach courses in individual, family, addiction and group counseling. I have over 40 years of counseling experience working with people from all walks of life as well all ages, (i.e. nationalities, race sex & sexual orientation etc.) I have worked in such diverse settings as prisons, community mental health centers, college counseling centers, state mental hospitals, drug treatment centers Veterans hospitals & Vet Centers, inpatient psychiatric hospitals and private practice What makes me a good clinician is rooted is my ability to connect with people in a genuine and egalitarian way. I am a firm believer that the “relationship” between client and therapist is the key to successful outcome in therapy. We all come to counseling with a “broken” narrative about our life. I see my task as helping people replace that broken narrative, with a healthy narrative where the client is the hero of their narrative. Unfortunately, some of us (me included) have faced “adverse experiences and even trauma “that can derail our “life narrative” and send us down the road of despair, depression, addiction and even criminality. By building a strong relationship with client’s I help them re-write their “narrative’ so they can a become a hero of their own story rather than a minor player in a drama in life they cannot escape. Whether I am a teacher or therapist “keeping it real” (as my students say) is my credo. If we work together I will always be honest, genuine, caring and help you address your issues in a practical, problem solving ways as well as help you understand the larger issues of depression, anxiety, isolation, loneliness and meaning in your life. I promise I will listen, support, care, help you problem solve and focus on helping you understand who you are and what you want in life, as if we were sitting together in a face to face consulting room. One final comment Although we will have a designated time to talk, I want you to feel free to contact me anytime day or night, I check my computer very frequently and I am never bothered by my clients who contact me out of genuine need and concern. I look forward to working with you in the future Sincerely Alan Specialty Trauma issues, especially Veterans issues Intimacy issues Life Span and Sexual identity issues Relationship Issues Depression, anxiety and alienation