My scholarly interest in psychology began early in my undergraduate studies. As I endeavored to make meaning of my experiences and the world around me, I naturally gravitated to psychology. I believed this was the field which addressed the understanding of human experience.

Much to my dismay, the department orientation was defined by a chairman who taught animal behavior and statistics; which I would later hear described as “rats and stats.” Classes were taught in large lecture halls, and the idea seemed to be to memorize the book in order to prepare for multiple choice exams. Very little stands out as either meaningful or inspiring. I ventured into the philosophy department where I encountered a teacher who recognized my struggle. I took all of the existentialism courses and received permission to take graduate philosophy courses. Meanwhile, I struggled to pass statistics. During my junior and senior years I managed a sensory deprivation tank center and became interested in altered states of consciousness. As graduation approached, I experienced a deepening sense of yearning for a psychology which addressed such issues as; spirituality, personal mythology, intuition, and creativity. As I investigated graduate programs I was delighted to find a program which seemed to encompass these issues... West Georgia College. Entering the Masters program marked a profound transition in my life; both personally and academically. For the first time, I was an excellent student. Professors nourished my interest and recognized my passion. Although I had no previous aspirations for becoming a psychotherapist, I began to feel a sense of calling. I began working at an addiction treatment center, and then as a therapist at a residential treatment center for severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. For the past five years I have maintained a private counseling practice here in Carrollton.

My clinical experiences have deepened my belief that the foundational attitude of humanistic approaches most clearly reflects the task of helping people transform their lives in authentic and meaningful ways. Although subsequent clinical training programs have contributed to my skills, the psychology program at West Georgia continues to inform the fundamental basis of my clinical work.

I found the psychology department at West Georgia to be holistic in the broadest sense of the word. I came to understand a psychology far beyond that defined by conventional programs and mainstream professional organizations; a psychology implicitly related to spirituality, art, mythology, philosophy, authenticity, and most importantly, human experience. The department was also holistic in the sense that I was continually reminded (by various faculty members and in various ways) that I was not merely a passive consumer of scholarly knowledge or clinical techniques. I was encouraged to become fully engaged in the process of discovery; both intellectually and personally. This influence has defined how I work, how I teach, how I learn, how I do research... How I live!

Through classes, colloquia, and conferences, I have had the privilege of meeting some of the "fathers" of humanistic psychology, and come to see myself as one of the grandchildren.