My journey towards becoming a therapist began a long time ago.
At 19, I became a husband. And a father. Growing up in Northern Indiana, I was raised Catholic attending weekly mass thinking that my parents being married and staying married was going to be my future as well. So I had done the expected thing, to establish my family life so early. And then, everything changed. After nearly three years of marriage, I got divorced. I also lost my dream job in precision machining, where I had started right out of high school, building hydraulic manifolds for amusement park rides.
This was devastating. The life I had built. The career I had built. All the boxes I had checked. Gone. I had to rebuild.
Thus, I began the long journey of finding out who I truly am. Over the years, I gained experience across various fields, went to college, and fell in love again. But nothing was ever easy. I was tested.
I graduated from college in 2011, and the economy was still recovering. This meant pivoting yet again, this time to coaching. What began with coaching my son's soccer team soon revealed a deep passion I have in helping others succeed. Eventually, my career expanded. I earned both national and state coaching licenses, coached at several Wisconsin soccer clubs, and joined ACE Soccer Club, where I launched a Madison satellite location and partnered with the City of Fitchburg's Parks and Recreation Department to enhance their existing soccer program.
Throughout this time, I cared for my family, including my wife, my son, and the twins we later had. None of it came easy. All of it helped me grow.
All of it led me here.
Working closely with diverse families through coaching inspired me to pursue a career in marriage and family therapy. Enrolling in the Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Capella University felt like a natural next step. It allows me to combine my love of coaching and mentoring with my dedication to supporting families and helping others, bringing together many aspects of life that give me joy.
My journey has not been linear, and I don't expect yours to be. My hope is that, in reading my story, you recognize pieces that resonate with you. We each have a story, made unique by our perceptions and the choices we make along the way. I would be honored to hear your story, learn about your perspective and decisions, and explore how I might support you as you continue to write your own life story.
To ground myself and recharge, I play chess daily and find joy in collecting and caring for a variety of houseplants.