• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, The Union Institute
• M.S. Counseling Psychology, University of LaVerne
• B.A. Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage
I drove “up” from Texas in 1978 and knew I was where I was supposed to be when I got to South-Central Alaska. With a moderate climate (by Alaskan standards) due to our proximity to Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound, Anchorage is nestled in immediately accessible wilderness that includes mountain ranges cradling glaciers, alpine tundra, easy marine accessibility, and some of the best fly fishing rivers in the world. I love being in the outdoors, and over the years I have developed a passion for fly fishing that gives me good reasons to be out on a river. I even once developed and taught a class called “Fly fishing and Mindfulness: Field Research in Psychology.” The Mindfulness class I continue to teach includes a weekend retreat at APU’s Kellogg Campus situated in the woods and farmlands of the Matanuska Valley. I’d love to share it with you!
In my doctoral program I focused on cognitive behavioral treatment of substance use issues and anxiety disorders and providing additional training in Ericksonian hypnosis. I am a licensed psychologist and I continue to consult with various agencies including the largest juvenile detention facility in the state, provide clinic supervision, and see clients on a very limited basis. I am a regular presenter at the state’s largest substance abuse treatment conference and I had the honor of being the primary treatment/consultant for the original therapeutic court model implemented in Alaska. I am a past president of the Alaska Psychological Association and I continue to serve on the Executive Board in the capacity of Federal Advocacy Coordination which has me organizing grassroots political action and annually lobbying on Capitol Hill.
In the past few years I have been focusing on applying Mindfulness practices to clinical situations as an adjunct to cognitive behavioral treatment and in non-clinical situations as an attention focusing or stress management tool. The APA model of doctoral programs I was educated in is designed to turn out a “scientist-practitioner.” While I love the science of psychology, I think my favorite is the practice. Practice is where one gets to integrate knowledge skills into the art of working effectively with others.
Teaching at APU allows me to share the exciting field and art of psychology with my students. I routinely teach undergraduate research, social psychology, personality theories, psychology of substance abuse, and mindfulness, as well as regularly developing special topic classes on the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, I teach the Abnormal (DSM diagnostics) and Brief Therapies classes. I also work with students doing independent and directed study classes and senior projects. Students are always welcome to stop by my office and talk – or even just stop by listen to whatever music I have on and not talk
In the non-psychology/non-academic world, I am the Scoutmaster of Troop 5, which allows me to spend more time around my own son, Robbie, as well as working with other young men (and it gives me another excuse to go camping!). My wife Sherry has been putting up with me for over 25 years now. As you can see I find all sorts of things interesting and I am committed to living an engaged life.
