When I’m asked, “What made you want to be a Marriage and Family Therapist?”, my answer varies. As a teen and through my college years I repeatedly found myself listening to my peers confide in me about their romantic and social life frustrations. Like most of my colleagues, I naturally found these conversations fascinating. Self-help books about dating and marriage, parenting, human sexuality, personality, and leadership were page turners for me. But unlike some of my colleagues, I never thought of myself as an academic. To put it bluntly, throughout my formative years I saw myself more as a jock than a philosophical book nerd. It wasn’t until I was engaged to be married that I discovered my current profession. In part, I’d found my calling in life.
I’m constantly striving to be a well-rounded helping professional. To me, that means having both the heart and mind of a therapist. I genuinely care about the people sitting across from me. That’s a great start but it’s not enough. Professional competency is something I take seriously. Recognizing my scope of practice, where I do my best clinical work, and where it might be best to refer out has served my clientele well.
My clients come from a variety of backgrounds. Each has varying reasons for deciding I’m a good fit. Together we find a customized way to help them achieve their goals.
The following are a few models and approaches I draw upon:
- Relational Life Therapy
- Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (P.A.C.T.)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychoeducational Approaches: Couple Communication – A skills-based program
Education and Training
- Master’s of Science: Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University.
- Bachelor’s of Science: Psychology with an Emphasis in Home and Family Studies from Brigham Young University – Idaho.
More About Dustin
Over the years I’ve had many clients sheepishly say, “I was wondering if you’re married or had children of your own…”. Please save your powers of deductive reasoning for the next Sherlock Holmes episode (or movie).
Yes, I am a happily married man and am the father of two boys. I typically see my clients sit back and settle in when they hear I have first-hand experience with the joys and frustrations of marriage and family life.