Hello, I'm Ryan.

I received my training to become a counselor at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, where I completed my master’s degree in August of 2021. My goal as a counselor is to help adults, adolescents, and children by providing a space to be heard, process life’s challenges, and develop the necessary skills to thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually. My overall approach to therapy involves cognitive behavioral methods (exploring one’s thoughts and beliefs relative to emotions and behaviors), as well as narrative therapy (engaging personal stories that view people as separate from their problems). Additionally, I offer faith-based counseling to those who would like that perspective. I view counseling as a collaborative effort in helping clients to recognize strengths, identify needs, understand conflicts, discover new options, set personal development goals, and make informed choices. In addition to helping people face the demands of adulthood, I also have a passion for being a positive influence in the lives of young people. Over the years, I have worked with children as a mentor in a non-profit organization and as a volunteer in youth and family ministry settings. In a clinical context, I have been trained in adolescent counseling as well as play therapy.

 

When I was seventeen years old, I dealt with challenges of my own and experienced firsthand the blessing of competent mental health professionals while I was a patient in an adolescent treatment program. Little did I know at the time, I was being prepared for a career in counseling so that I could serve others who experience similar challenges. In the summer of 2017 after working as a financial planner for six years, I decided to pursue a career in mental health. My wife Laura and I temporarily relocated from Texas to the Pacific Northwest. We had an unforgettable adventure while living there, and part of that adventure happened when our daughter Audrey was born in 2019. After I finished graduate school in 2021, we moved back to Texas so we could be closer to family, where I was fortunate enough to resume my clinical work here at Sequoia Counseling Center shortly thereafter. In late 2023, my son Everett was born and we became a family of four. The adventure continues!

 

In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors, reading, traveling, and listening to music. I am a lifelong fan of Astros baseball and all things Texas A&M.

 

If you or a loved one feel overwhelmed by life’s inevitable trials, I would be honored to walk with you as you embark on your healing journey.