FAQ
I am located up the mountain, almost 800 feet above sea level, with a view of Diamond Head in central Honolulu, and serving the entire Hawaiian Islands.
For the most part, I offer Telehealth because research shows that whether it’s telehealth or in-person therapy, the services provided are equally effective. Telehealth is more convenient, especially if you have children or want to avoid the commute.
Having come to Hawaii in 1979 by shipping my motorcycle in a box with my clothes, I am almost a local, though I don’t speak pidgin. During the session, I wear an Aloha Shirt with shorts and am barefoot (which you can’t see) to keep me grounded.
I have a Master’s in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Counseling. I worked for over 20 years with the military on the U.S. Army Base during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, as well as off base, providing employee assistance to the military.
For 10 years, I worked as a Certified Substance Abuse counselor, working in residential, outpatient, and intensive outpatient settings. In addition, I worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for 40 years, serving injured workers through the Workers’ Compensation system.
I have also provided expert witness testimony in Family Court and Criminal Court.
My hours are 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:00 PM Monday through Sunday, but I may consider a 1:00 PM appointment if that is what you need.
I confirm that you are in a confidential location and encourage you to write down the messages you learned during our sessions so you can practice them when you leave our session and make progress toward your goals.
I believe my goal is primarily to support you, but I will sometimes challenge you if you go down the wrong road. Also, I think this is a way to provide the best services to my clients.
That service also includes homework, which supports the goals that you want to achieve. If you don’t do the homework, there are no failing grades; only acceptance, understanding, and encouragement.
I request at least 24 hours’ notice, but I will be flexible and accept less if you are experiencing a genuine emergency that requires your attention.
I work with both individuals and couples, and both adults and teenagers.
I often encourage clients to go to YouTube and search “Buddha Quotes” to see which Buddha Quote “talks to you personally.” Those messages usually relate to examining one’s self-talk or to other goals my clients want to achieve, such as anger management, emotional well-being, and couple harmony.