In 1998, as retirement drew nearer and my career as a firefighter/paramedic was coming to an end, I had a great awareness that I was too young to spend the next twenty years playing golf or sitting on a beach. So, I decided to go back to school. I knew that I wanted to continue helping others and after months of exploring my options I decided that my next life chapter would be as a clinical therapist. Six years later I graduated from the University of South Florida with a master’s degree in clinical social work. Over the course of the next twenty years I had the opportunity to work with children, adolescents and adults in a verity of settings. My education and experience extended well beyond my time in the classroom. I honed my skills while working with patients coping with emotional issues, addiction and the dual diagnosed. At present I know that I have the expertise to work with a vast majority of those that seek out help however, I’ve also learned my therapeutic limitations. Before entering into a therapeutic relationship I have to be certain that I have the expertise to provide the appropriate help or I would be doing my patient a great disservice. My singular goal is to provide you the help you seek. My therapeutic approach is using Solution Focused Brief Therapy and I’ve attached some information below to better explain what that is; Unlike Traditional forms of therapy that take time to analyze problems, pathology and past life events, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) concentrates on finding solutions in the present time and exploring one’s hope for the future to find a quicker resolution of one’s problems. This method takes the approach that you know what you need to improve your life and, with the appropriate coaching and questioning, are capable of finding the best solutions. I should also add that I’m not a shirt and tie or Dockers and Polo shirt therapist, more than not you’ll see me in a t-shirt and shorts. Hopefully that does not dissuade you from coming onto my service but I definitely understand if it does.