Acceptance is Part of Healing

My Journey to Becoming a Therapist 

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I started my journey to becoming a Professional Counselor very early on. After high school, I went to college, believing I wanted to be a veterinarian. By the end of my first semester, I figured out that it was not the best role for me.

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I left college and started working and trying to figure out what I really wanted to do. Which lead me joining the United States Air Force. (My father and brothers were Army and my Grandfathers were Army and Army Air Force.) I ended up injured and had to be medically retired from service. 

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From there, I moved to Macon, started working at a major insurance company in sales and service working my way into becoming a part of the information technology field as a computer programmer. It was during this time college was calling me back. 

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It was my first semester back and a did the one thing that was told to me a lot in the military.... DO NOT VOLUNTEER! It was in my Human Development course and the professor asked a question about movies around family systems and I noted that some movies family systems destruction occurred regularly. That turned into a paper, posture presentation, and finally speaking at a psychology conference.

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From there, I was hooked but because of having a new family, I could not get my Ph.D. in Psychology so started the process of becoming a Professional Counselor.

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Originally, I focused on Degenerative Brain Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury. Because of this, my internship was in a Senior Acute Inpatient facility. In my final few months of that internship I discovered two things - Professional Counselors (at that time) could not join Medicare panels and the senior population was one of the fast growing sexual transmitted infection group around. It was these factors that opened the door into becoming a sex therapist.

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The rest is history..... 

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Family and More

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My wife and I have been together for 29 years and have two children (who are now both adults). We have lived in Macon during this time so our kids would have stable friendships and some sense of community.  

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In 2019, I returned to the Veterans Administration due to issues related to my former service. From that experience, I realized the challenges that veterans face in getting their benefits and what to do once they get their ratings. I work with veterans to get access to resources, what to do after they get a rating, and how to find community. This is from the side of my own experience and I am not a Veteran Services Officer or an attorney. I do know those resources if needed but most of the items I bring deal with more on the side of after rating evaluations and compensation and pension (C&P) exams. 

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In 2023, I returned to college to get my Ph.D. in Human Sexuality Studies with a specialization at Widener University in Chester Pennsylvania via their hybrid program. Widener University is currently only one of two universities to have an accredited Ph.D. in this field of study. (There are a few other schools that are licensed to issue Ph.D. but are not accredited which may matter if perusing careers in research and academics.) In May 2026, my course work should be complete and my dissertation work will start. 

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Curriculum Vitae​​

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Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC009044)

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Current Work

• Professional Counselor -

  • Georgia

• Licensure Supervisor - 

  • Professional Counselors - Georgia Only

• Certification Supervisor - 

  • AASECT Sex Therapists/Counselors/Supervisors ​

  • ISEE Approved Supervisors

• Adjunct Professor (Certificate Program) - Widener University

  • HSED 503 - Introduction to Sex Therapy​

  • HSED 681, 682, 683, and 684 - Clinical Supervision for Sex Therapy

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Education

• Fort Valley State University: Fort Valley, GA
  Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, December 2012

• Middle Georgia State University: Macon, GA
  Bachelor of Science in Public Service, May 2010

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• Widener University: Chester, PA
  Philosophy Doctoral Student – Tentatively Spring 2028
  Human Sexuality Studies – Focus: Sex Therapy
  Current Research Focus - Factors Related to Urogenital Trauma with Veterans 

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Certifications

• National Board-Certified Counselor (NBCC)

• Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor (CCALP)

• Certified Sex Therapist (AASECT)

• Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor (AASECT)

• Approved Telehealth Supervisor (CCALP)

• Certified Holistic Sex Therapist (ISEE)

• Certified Clinician Trauma Professional (Evergreen) - currently expired

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Professional Memberships

• National Board of Certified Counselors 

• Licensed Professional Counselors of Georgia 

  • Member of the Supervisor Ethics Committee ​

• American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists 

  • Member of the Supervision Reviewer Committee​

• American Counseling Association 

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Lectures / Appearances / Publications

• Intimate Warriors:  Challenges and Rewards of Working with Veterans in Sex Therapy (Institute for Sex Education & Enlightenment) Therapist and Veteran Panelist for clinicians to better understand aspects of Veteran Care - December 10, 2025 

• Seminar in Professional Counseling and Orientation (Fort Valley State University) Panelist Speaker for New Professional Counseling Students – September 4, 2025

• Guardian’s Advocate (Mental Health and Sexuality Expert)
  Veteran Rating and Care – June 2024 – January 2025 

• Umbrella Rebellion Podcast - (Expert Guest)
  Topic: Sexuality and Purity Culture Part 2 – September 2024
  (Working through trauma and reclaiming sexuality)
  https://www.youtube.com/live/bXwqqAsD7D0?si=HhDOtzjxRgGGCeCb

• Umbrella Rebellion Podcast - (Expert Guest)
  Topic: Sexuality and Purity Culture – July 2024
  (Addressing aspects of complex trauma on sexuality and reclaiming identity.) https://www.youtube.com/live/IcBNWrBwmn0?si=d9xl59swuxzWjXYb 

• Laura Zam – (Primary Speaker)
  Topic: Sexuality and Aging – November 2021

• Mercer University – (Primary Speaker)
  Topic: Education in Public Schools – March 2019

• Navicent Health – Joint - Panel to educate OB-GYN Residents (Panelist)
  Topic – Issues and Facts on Transgender Individuals – June 2018

• Mercer University – Sex Week (Primary Speaker)
  Topic: Men’s Sexuality and Issues – October 2017

• Mercer University – LGBT Organization – “Common Ground” (Primary Speaker)
  Topic: LGBT Health and Issues – April 2017