Credentials & Licensure
I hold a doctorate in Learning Sciences, a master's in counseling psychology, and an MBA, alongside being an Ivy League-educated Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (Michigan). My professional foundation integrates counseling psychology, learning sciences, principles of educational psychology, and organizational strategy. I draw on evidence-based psychological modalities, including behavioral economic principles, instructional design models, including scaffolding, and the zone of proximal development, to better understand how people learn, regulate, and perform under pressure. These foundations inform my work across clinical counseling, coaching, and consultation.
Credentials:
• LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor (Michigan)
• NCC: National Certified Counselor
• Doctorate in Learning Sciences
• MSEd. in Counseling Psychology
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Training in EMDR, DBT-informed approaches, CBT-based methods, Motivational Interviewing, SFBT
Philosophy
I believe people function with greater stability when they understand their internal states, regulate their reactions, and communicate with clarity. Emotions convey information, and the ability to read and interpret that information is essential. High demand and pressure can expose weaknesses in these processes and lead to breakdown. Judgment, relationships, and leadership all depend on the capacity to recognize stress, remain grounded, and respond with steadiness and control. A dysregulated leader distributes dysregulation to coworkers. My work strengthens these core functions.
I use an evidence-based approach to reduce emotional dysregulation and strengthen communication, first establishing psychological safety and self-awareness, then applying structured methods drawn from cognitive theory, behavioral theory, and solution-focused practice. I identify and reinforce effective patterns that shape emotional and behavioral responses. My work builds emotional steadiness, communication clarity, boundaries, and consistency in environments where calmness and accuracy matter.
Methods & Tools
- Applied educational/psychological principles for clarity, regulation, and behavioral stability
- Learning-science mechanisms such as scaffolding and the zone of proximal development
- Instructional design processes, including ADDIE for structured skill development
- The Fogg Model of Behavioral Design
- Systems thinking for mapping interaction patterns and decision pathways
- Communication modeling for conflict reduction and clearer feedback loops
Personal Background
My early life included significant adversity: trauma, emotional and physical abuse, bullying, sexual assault, dropping out of high school, and a period of homelessness. These events shaped my interest in human behavior, emotional regulation, and resilience, and directed me toward disciplines that explain how people adapt and rebuild.
With sustained effort and unyielding tenacity and focus, I worked diligently towards completing degrees in EMT Paramedics, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree, and earned an MBA, a master’s in psychological counseling, and a doctorate. Having earned a degree from the University of Pennsylvania, I hold a clear appreciation for the distance between my starting point and my current position. That progression reflects vision, disciplined work, rigorous training, and a commitment to evidence-based practice.
My professional experience includes establishing Miletus Properties, LLC, a real estate investment and management company www.miletusrealestate.com as well as founding a children’s nonprofit, The Children’s Body-Image Foundation (501c3). Through this work, I learned the operational and financial demands of running an organization, the intricacies of the nonprofit sector, fundraising, and event planning, and gained a clear understanding of the interpersonal pressures involved in building and sustaining a business. This experience strengthened my understanding of organizational systems, strategic decision-making, and the pressures leaders face.
My martial arts background reinforces these same themes. After twelve years of training, I earned a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Relson Gracie and a Black Belt in Judo. These disciplines rely on precision, adaptability, pattern recognition, and the ability to stay calm under pressure, skills that directly inform how I approach counseling, coaching, and consultation.
Across all settings, my focus remains consistent: helping individuals and organizations strengthen communication, improve emotional regulation, and operate with clarity under stress. My background gives me a grounded understanding of both personal struggle and high-performance environments, allowing me to support clients with a perspective that is both practical and deeply informed.
