My initial years were shaped by the culture of Western Michigan, conservative 'Dutch' Christian Reformed, stable home with a father as business manager and a mother as homemaker and church secretary. A key re-shaping occurred after I and spouse with 2 daughters left Michigan to minister in Appalachian mountains of southeast KY in a hospital setting. Pastoral Care became my primary focus, even in serving as pastor in 2 congregations-- in Mason City, IA. and St. Louis, MO. 

   I pursued continued educations opportunities. First, receiving a Mastors of Sacred Theology at Dubuque Seminary; second many continuing education classes, but foremost in Clinical Pastoral Education which involved supervising clergy, seminarians, and lay ministers. After 16 years in parish ministry I returned to focus on training in Pastoral Counseling/Psychotherapy. I accomplished this in June, 1989, receiving my Doctor of Ministry degree from Eden Theological Seminary and certification in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. I have done this clinical work in Indiana, Illinois, and finally in Michigan.

   Besides the clinical counseling I have developed and faciliated workshops in Grief Recovery, Marriage Issues, Leadership development, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Affect/Emotion Landscape with specific focus on shame dynamic, and other subjects related to the spiritual and psychological issues which concern individuals and faith communities.

   I, along with my spouse (who is an R.N. and specialist in Hospice), enjoy travel, outdoor activities, house/yard activities, family and grandchildren time. Although we have reached the 'retirement' years, we are 'rewiring' for this stage of life and as such have vitality to continue healthy, active, work-ministry life-styles.