The Counselor
I began working with church youth in 1969, and have been counseling in some capacity since that time. Initially I worked as a volunteer with troubled youth at churches and youth rehab facilities; my actual vocation was construction. For several years my wife and I directed a singles groups, retreats, and were involved in outreach at The Evergreen State College (TESC) in Olympia, Washington.
My first formal counseling was at TESC where, as part of my bachelor degree in psychology, I interned as a peer counselor helping college students of various ages, cultures and ethnicities deal with emotional, cultural and philosophical problems. After graduating from TESC I worked my way through graduate school as a vocational counselor and case manager, facilitating physical rehabilitation and vocational retraining for injured civilian workers and military personnel.
I did my graduate work in the Marriage and Family program and Chapman University of Orange California. After receiving my Masters degree I worked at Greater Lakes Mental Health in Lakewood, Washington for about five years as a child and family counselor before launching my own private practice. In my practice I have sought to work exclusively with Christian families and individuals.
For almost two years I was graciously allowed to use offices at both Morning Star Christian Fellowship in Enumclaw and Puget Sound Christian Center in Tacoma, seeing clients in both locations weekly. In 2005 I moved to a private office in University Place.
Since 2000 I have published a quarterly editorial page, Christian Counselors Forum (CCF), which is received by approximately 100 pastors, primarily in the Pierce County area. This publication features a solid biblical perspective on any number of counseling issues. As a result, I have the trust of many local pastors and receive most of my referrals from these pastors as well. I have also written and presented a number of lectures for married couples and college students. You will find issues of CCF in the Reading Room.
I have had one wonderful wife since 1979. Our one wonderful child will finish her five year double science degree in 2009…and then probably join a rock 'n roll band.
The Approach
Over the years I have developed a unique biblical perspective on the psychology of life. The uniqueness of my approach comes from a breadth and depth of understanding that has resulted from growing up in the Christian community, decades of biblical training and study, years of psychological training and study, a broad range of personal experience and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and wisdom in many fields of study.
The easiest way to sum up my approach is to say that it puts the client in charge almost immediately. As a basis for change, I teach simple tools of self-analysis, self-understanding. With my approach the client quickly learns to identify which one of three possible life perspectives he or she holds, thus why he or she feels and behaves in a particular way. It doesn't stop there. The real benefit of these tools is that they facilitate dramatic change. The client is constantly moving from understanding to action.
Because of the broad application of this approach, there is no particular area of counseling that I intentionally engage in more than another. I am comfortable and competent dealing with a very wide range of needs. I do, however, tend to see many married couples, also people with addictive patterns and anger issues. I have also had good success working with abuse victims, obsessive compulsivity, attention deficit, oppositional defiance and the mood disorders – to name a few. Regardless of what the issue is, the solution can be quickly pursued by understanding and applying this simple yet powerful approach to life.
Client Testimonials
After many years of chronic anxiety, depression and panic episodes, this single mother came to Daniel from the care of both a psychiatrist and psychologist. She had been taking Prozac and Xanax for two years at maximum dosage. Now off of all medication for about a year, she writes:
Dan,
It is another time for me to be saying thank you for serving
God and making yourself available to me and others that can benefit from your giftings in counseling and
your deep
thought processes and teachings. You have offered so much of yourself to me and to others
in the community and I just want to say a big Thank You.
It is people like you who are so special in extending yourselves that truly
make a difference in others lives in a big way...
I'm so thankful for where I am today.
Sincere thanks,
-- single mother, chronic panic
disorder
After
enduring years of alcohol abuse, sexual deviance and violent anger, this
family states:
"My husband and I have been to many counselors.
Daniel is the first person who offered real hope. My daughter said to me.
'It's so nice to have Daddy around now. He doesn't get mad and yell
anymore."
-- married couple, chronic anger and sexual addiction
After counseling with Daniel, this client states that after years of struggle and seeing numerous pastors and counselors regarding chronic sexual deviance:
"This is the first time I've ever had reason to hope that I could actually get over this problem..."
-- single male, sexual addiction