Doug grew up southern Indiana for most of his life.  After completing high school, he was the first person in his family to graduate from college, where he majored in education.  After three years of working for a non-profit in central Arkansas, Doug moved to Cypress, Texas in 2002, where he has lived for 17 of the last 20 years. In 2018 he graduated with his M Ed. in Counseling from the University of Houston-Victoria.  Doug has spent his 23 years career working with adolescents and young adults in either non-profit settings or as a teacher, theatre arts director, or high school counselor.  In these roles he has been afforded the unique opportunity to understand the daily life and struggles of this age group, which allows him to connect easily with preteens, adolescents, and young adults.  

 

In counseling, whether with teenagers, adults, families, or couples, Doug believes that it is important for each person to be able to share their story in a safe place.  Many times we hide what is going on or how we feel from our family and friends because of we are afraid to show our true selves.  As a counselor, Doug will work together with you or your child so that you can be your true authentic self while figuring out the next steps to becoming the person you want to become.  Doug's approach to counseling uses a variety of methods in his sessions depending on the needs of his clients.  This includes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), as well as Person Centered Therapy.  Doug firmly believes in finding an approach that best benefits the needs of his clients and connects with them on a personal level.  

 

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and member of the Texas Counseling Association, Doug continues to seek out learning opportunities to grow in his counseling skills by attending conferences and trainings.  He believes that as a counselor and human being, you should always be learning and growing.

 

In his spare time Doug loves reading, swimming, going to the beach, rooting for his sports teams (Go Colts, Pacers, and Cardinals), listening to music, watching movies, playing games with his friends, and going to the theatre.  Doug loves to travel in his free time, and one of his bucket list items is to visit all 50 states by the time that he turns 50.  He has just 8 more states to go.