About Therapy
Does therapy have to be boring, uncomfortable, and stressful?
No way! Otherwise, I would quit and find another profession!
At Great Expectations, you can expect a smile, a warm greeting, and, yes, even a little humor. I hope that’s okay. If not… too bad! (just kidding).
We are going to adopt you. You won’t be in the will, but we’ll care for you like you’re one of our own. 🙂
Does therapy at Great Expectations include a focus on spirituality?
That would be a big YES.
Great Expectations is about giving you an authentic experience that makes your faith an important part of your journey.
We aren’t just going to say, “Here, take this Bible verse and call me in the morning.”
We are going to dive into important personal things like “What does God really see when he looks at me?”
Or, “Is he waiting to hit me with a bolt of lightning if I do something bad?”
Spoiler alert: He isn’t.
What can I expect when I come in?
You can expect regular reminders of your upcoming session because… let’s face it: We’re all crazy-busy and can forget. If you forget anyway, we understand. We allow you three missed sessions a year because you may be sick or have an unexpected family emergency.
If you are a virtual client, you’ll be sent a link from Psychology Today that will allow you to enter the virtual waiting room. When I see your name pop up, I will invite you to the session. If you keep your link, you can use it over and over and over. If not, I will happily send you one before each session.
If you are an in-person client, my office is at the Turning Point Church in Kernersville, North Carolina, on Route 66. Come around the building, and you will see two sets of double doors. Enter the first set of doors and find a place to sit in our big beautiful lobby. I will meet you in the lobby just before your session and walk you back to my office.
What does therapy look like?
Your first visit will be a time to tell your story – why you have come to counseling. That’s important because, to be successful, I need an expert to help me become an expert on you. Hint: That’s you… just saying.
In the second session, we discuss what you want most in life… your desires. You are going to tell me what energizes and motivates you.
Why? (I’m so glad you asked.)
It’s because people motivated by something important almost always get what they’re after. Am I right, or am I right? Of course, I’m right.
Finally, at Great Expectations, “You da boss”! You will be the primary player when big decisions are being made. You get to decide what we talk about, your goals, and when you think you are finished.
My role is to help you see what you need and how to get it!
About Me
So, by this time, you must be asking yourself,
“Who is this guy?”
Can I trust him with my story?
Why does he do what he does?
I’m actually just a regular person like you. I grew up in a small town in Michigan, the son of a factory worker and a stay-at-home mom. My parents took me to church when I was a little one and exposed me to the wonders of what it meant to be a child of God.
Did I understand it all right away? Actually … I didn’t. In fact, it wasn’t until later, when I had to face the bumps and bruises of life on my own, that I began to realize how important faith was.
Now, I can hear you thinking, “What in the world does that have to do with being a counselor?”
Well, everything. In that day and time, people didn’t talk about their feelings. That was private, and it made you appear weak. So, I bottled up my questions and insecurities and pushed them down.
However, there came a time when all that boiled over. That was a tough time because I had no one to take these things to. Counseling was still in its infancy. Counseling was considered the enemy of our faith in church because it began in psychology, which “everyone one knew was evil.”
I found myself often wishing that I just had someone to talk to…
Someone who would understand, not be judgmental, and help me find relief and direction. That someone didn’t appear for me till I was in my late 40s. Having that person’s help was a life changer. That experience caused a different thought to form in my mind. It went something like this. “I didn’t get the help I needed, so things have been amazingly stressful and difficult. But, perhaps instead of focusing on that, I can become the person who gives help.”
So, at the age of 56, I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. I use that degree to help others sort through their thoughts, anxieties, and insecurities. I allow them to say anything and everything they need to say (however they need to say it) to help them tell their story without fear of judgment. I take my background as a pastor and all-around regular guy to help them feel safe and at home while they sort through what they want and what is getting in the way.
Who am I at home?
Well, the same regular guy. I am the husband of my beautiful wife of 42 years and the father of six wonderful children. I also happen to be the grandfather of 11 of the most terrific grandchildren on the planet (no bias here … only facts).
In my downtime, I am a musician, a poet, a gardener, and a lover of good food, movies, and historical literature. I have been known to swing a golf club or two and sit by the lake for hours, catching fish and enjoying the wonders of God’s creation.
Most of all, I am the same guy that will sit across from you in the counseling room, offering you hope, faith, and a listening ear. That’s what I’m inviting you to be part of. More to the point, I am offering you to be part of TODAY.
You’ve waited long enough.
We both know that you want help.
You also know that waiting is just going to continue to compound the issues that you are facing. So, pull up the anchor, set the sail, and launch the boat.
Call me at (336) 310-5112 to schedule a free, no-strings, no-pressure, 20-minute, friendly consultation. And then, if you like what you hear, we will schedule your first session.
I look forward to meeting you.