About Me
Hi, I’m Tom!
Helping people and caring for them has always been a big part of who I am as a person. In my early teens, I began babysitting and loved it. Even then I had a nurturing side to me that got a lot of satisfaction from taking care of and holding safe space for others. I was the only 14 year old young man I knew of who babysat! Having an older sister, of course, helped normalize and set me up for this work. Later on after graduate school, I mannied for a family with two kids, one of whom had severe special needs, for the greater part of ten years while obtaining my post-graduate clinical hours toward licensure.
Prior to pursuing my master’s degree in counseling psychology, I received my undergraduate degree in French language and literature from Oakland University in Rochester, MI. This enabled me to experience living abroad in France for my junior year, which was life-changing for me on many levels. I spent five years between graduating and beginning my master’s program figuring out, to put it frankly, what I wanted to be when I grew up! During that period, my last job working as a milieu counselor at Seattle Children’s Home made it crystal clear to me, not for the first time, that I wanted to help others in a direct and palpable way; I wanted to be a therapist. In addition, I’d had a couple of profound spiritual experiences that further clarified my gut sense that we are all interconnected, and that it was my heart’s desire in work to facilitate that same aliveness, purpose, love and connection within and between others.
I received my M.A. in Integral Counseling Psychology from The California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco- the first program in the world to blend Eastern spiritual traditions with Western psychology. Upon completing my master’s degree, I worked as a post-graduate intern at New Perspectives Counseling Center in San Francisco for five years. Here I gained a wealth of experience and training in working with individuals and couples, a large percentage of which were LGBTQ clients. I am very much an ally of this community. Upon gaining my licensure in California in 2012, I have been working in the private practice setting ever since and loving it. I have over 20 years of clinical experience, living and practicing here in Nashville for the past 10 years.
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My Approach to Therapy
I believe that we are all unique—with our own set of distinct needs, passions, and goals in life. It is for this reason that I customize a treatment plan for each client. With this person-centered approach in mind, I take into account all aspects of their life experience. Aside from EMDR therapy, which is particularly effective for treating both complex attachment trauma as well as PTSD, I also draw from a range of holistic and empirical data-driven therapy models to create profound healing and lasting transformation for my clients. Proven modalities such as parts work with Internal Family Systems (IFS) , CBT, and a Buddhist psychotherapy approach utilizing somatic awareness provide a foundation for addressing self-defeating negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I weave any or all of these into my healing work as it makes sense to do so.
When I'm not working, I love spending time with my eight year old son Jack, and the love of my life, Asrael. I also enjoy playing tennis, traveling and adventuring, and being quiet in nature. I aspire to learn how to surf, and feel most at home playing in the ocean waves! Finally, music makes my world go round. I love most all kinds, but late 80’s early 90’s post punk and hip hop hold a special place in my nostalgic and nerdy heart!