Autobio
My first course in the mental health field was An Introduction to Psychology. It was taught by the late Dr. Jack Granofsky, the professor who told us that every day he went to the movies—his psychotherapy sessions. I took every undergraduate psychology course he taught and eventually became his teaching assistant. I'm beyond thankful to Dr. Granofsky for introducing me to a field of study—and my passion.
After graduating from college with a Bachelor's degree with a dual major in Psychology and Speech Arts & Sciences, I was accepted into a Doctoral Program in Clinical & School Psychology. My dissertation focused on identifying desirable characteristics of psychotherapists. In two and a half years, I completed a Master's degree and a Ph.D. There's more to that story.
I then began my first job as a school psychologist and additionally started teaching as an adjunct instructor at a local university. I taught An Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Understanding Human Behavior, and Counseling Psychology. I was told that teaching was a great way to prepare for the state licensing exam—and it was.
I also began working at a community counseling center, where I gained invaluable clinical experience and accrued the required number of supervised hours.
After becoming a licensed psychologist, I opened a clinical practice. By day, I evaluated and counseled with high school students. After school hours, I shifted my focus from teaching to seeing private clients as a clinical psychologist in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
My passion for psychology continued to flourish. I cultivated a unique interest in helping people during times of crisis, in contrast to traditional crisis intervention, which focused on the aftermath of a crisis.
I was intent on understanding ways of reaching people during the earliest phase of traumatic exposure—potentially preventing acute stress reactions from becoming chronic and debilitating stress disorders.
I invested a year wearing body armor and "riding shotgun" during the night tour with police officers, supervisors, and paramedics in police ambulances. I ultimately created a protocol to empower all caregivers to address the "hidden trauma"—traumatic stress. This led to the creation of Acute Traumatic Stress Management (ATSM).
Eventually, I left the schools, enabling me to realize the potential of the many hats I could wear as a psychologist. I became an author, speaker, and traumatic stress consultant for schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, healthcare providers, law enforcement and fire/rescue agencies, pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies, and diverse public and private entities worldwide.
Recognizing the potential of organizations in addressing emergent psychological needs, I founded several organizations, the most recent being The National Center for Emotional Wellness.
I vividly remember the inception of CuriosityStream, launched by the Discovery Channel's founder. I thought that a website offering practical information during a crisis would be beneficial, so I created CRISISstream.
I became increasingly engaged in collaborating with the legal system as a forensic psychologist. Forensic psychologists focus on the intersection of psychology and the legal system. I began to specialize in three areas: Emotional Distress Claims, Fitness for Duty Evaluations, and Fitness to Practice Evaluations.
For years, I enjoyed evaluating law enforcement candidates—providing another set of eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies in selecting first responders. I also conducted evaluations to determine if an individual was psychologically suitable to be issued a firearm.
My interest in the theatre prompted me to create and mount a theatrical production. The theatre provides a unique opportunity for people to share stories of overcoming and becoming. Today, SESSIONS is positioned for the theatre and video-on-demand (VOD) executives.
Technology has advanced faster than our ability to adapt Unfortunately, correlated with this proliferation of technology is an alarming increase in mental health problems. Anxiety has become the most common mental illness in the United States, and depression is now the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide. Observing this trend, I created AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness, and today I'm enjoying consulting with the artificial intelligence community.
After nearly four decades of "going to the movies," it's time to pass the torch. I'm working to inspire a new generation of mental health professionals through dynamic autobiographical presentations that focus on the virtually endless opportunities in The Greater Career.