Finding Focus: Bringing Faith, Empathy, and Real-Life Experience into the Counseling Room (or online as the case may be)

Many years ago, a mentor once shared a truth that has stuck with me:

“A person’s calling in life rests where their gifts, passions, and abilities intersect with the world’s greatest hurts and needs.”

His words echoed in my mind as I began shaping my focus in private practice. I asked myself:

• What am I passionate about?

• What issues draw me in?

• What challenges have I helped others navigate successfully?

  
  

The answers weren’t tied to just one type of problem or population. My work over the years has been diverse. But there is one defining thread that sets me apart as a therapist: I bring a spiritual perspective into the counseling relationship.

Let me be clear—I don’t necessarily mean a “religious” perspective. Yes, I’m a person of faith, and yes, I’m a licensed pastoral counselor. But I’ve been trained to work with people from all faiths—or no faith at all. You won’t need to engage in religious discussion unless you want to. When I refer to the spiritual dimension, I’m talking about connection, purpose, and meaning—the deeper questions that live under our struggles.

Having wrestled with my own faith journey, I approach every person’s belief system with curiosity, openness, and respect. It’s that integration of spirituality—not doctrine—that sets my approach apart.

Experience That’s Personal and Professional

My counseling work spans many areas. I’ve helped couples navigate relational challenges—even though, ironically, I’ve been divorced myself. I’ve walked beside individuals in recovery from substance abuse—and I speak from experience as someone in long-term recovery from alcoholism.

These life experiences don’t disqualify me—they qualify me. I don’t offer help from a pedestal. I meet people in the real trenches of life, because I’ve been there too.

One area of my work that’s surprised even me in its depth has been with the LGBTQ+ community. On the surface, it might seem like an unusual connection. I’m a straight, white, middle-aged Baptist man—part of a demographic that, historically, has caused harm to LGBTQ+ individuals.

But that’s part of why the work has been so meaningful. There’s something healing about being seen, heard, and accepted by someone from a group that hasn’t always offered that. I don’t pretend to fully understand every lived experience, but I know what it’s like to feel marginalized, shamed, and spiritually wounded.

My early life was marked by abuse, isolation, and religious trauma. I know what it’s like to sit in the depths of emotional pain and wonder where to go from there. That history shapes how I show up now—for clients, for their healing, and for their growth.

What You Can Expect from Counseling with Me

Having been a client myself, I know how much courage it takes to walk into a therapist’s office and share your most vulnerable truths. I won’t promise to make that process easier—but I can promise this:

• You will never be judged.

• You will be heard with empathy, not pity.

• You will be met by someone who gets what it means to struggle.

  
  

But we won’t stop at just being heard. Together, we’ll explore the deeper “why” behind your thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. We’ll work toward real solutions that empower you to move forward—with clarity, purpose, and hope.

This Blog Is Just the Beginning

This is the first of many blog posts. Each week, I’ll be exploring topics designed to help you grow, heal, and find peace—emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.

If anything you’ve read here resonates with you, I invite you to reach out. Call, text, or email me for a free 15-minute consultation. If finances are a concern, I offer a sliding scale to make counseling more accessible. Money should never be a barrier to receiving quality therapeutic services.

You have nothing to lose—and everything to gain.