About Mario
Simply stated, I’m a guy who likes to provide professional therapeutic services with a personal touch. Here are some areas that I focus in:
- Individual Counsling
- Marriage Counseling
- Premarital Counseling
- Anxiety
- Depression
- The Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse
- Parenting and Family Concerns
- Midlife Issues
- Work and Career Issues
- Stress Management
- Military Family Issues
Family
I grew up in a naval family in the Kitsap area and have remained on the Peninsula for the past 30 years. My wife, Michelle, and I have been married for the past 15 years and we have two fun, energetic boys. If it is a sunny day, you’ll likely find us playing near some body of water.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LH60656337) in the State of Washington. I received an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. I have also double majored with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Northwest University.
Experience
My experiences have prepared me well to be both professional and personable. I have been counseling in various capacities for the past 18 years and it has been an honor to be a help to people along the way.
I also have a separate counseling office in Bremerton where I see clients on Monday evenings. If you are coming from the south and location is a concern, you may want to consider seeing me there at Fully Alive Therapy.
When not in counseling sessions, I am serving our church, Gateway Fellowship, as a staff teaching pastor. Prior to this role, I served as the student ministries pastor for 8 years in which I had the opportunity to lead and counsel adolescents along with the parents of teens and pre-teens.
My pastoral roles have allowed me to see and experience different cultures such as India and Indonesia. In addition to these cultures, I’ve served in the inner cities of East L.A. and Washington, D.C. These experiences have helped me to be more culturally-conscious as I enter into new relationships.
I completed an extensive internship with Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, which is located in Bremerton, Washington. I had the opportunity to work with a vast array of clients to prepare me for the diversity that Western Washington offers.
Fees
My current fee for services is $70 per session for individuals; and $80 per session for couples and families. I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for those who are facing financial hardship. I currently don't bill insurance companies, but most insurance companies will reimburse you for services you receive from me.
Life is too short to live in an unhealthy way. Make the most of your life by becoming your best self. It could impact your family and the world. I would like to walk with you through this journey to wholeness and healing. Here are some of my areas of focus:
- Couple's Therapy
- Marital and Premarital Counseling
- Individual Counseling
- Trauma
- Adolescents and Teens
- Family Therapy
- Parenting
- Boundaries
- Anxiety
- Relationship Issues
- Mental Health Issues
- Supervised Visitation/Counseling
- Supervision of Therapists for License
Family
For 37 years, I have been married to my husband, Tim. We have four terrific children (plus loved spouses of our kids) now ages 21-31; and six wonderful grandchildren. We enjoy spending time together, walking our three dogs, riding our tandem, walking on the beach, music, studying, writing, and traveling. Our family is multi-cultural which has been a very rich experience and has helped me to understand the world differently.
Experience
For over 25 years, I was involved in Christian ministry and worked with children and adults before officially entering the Clinical and Christian Counseling field. Ten of these years, I served together with my husband in a collegiate setting, as a missionary to Guatemala, and in church ministry. Through this, I have come to believe that Jesus is our healer.
Since 2007, I have enjoyed sitting with people of any age (5 - 105) in private practice. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the State of Washington and an approved Supervisor for Licensing.
Prior to becoming the Gateway Counseling Director and Counseling Pastor, I worked as a Clinical Supervisor at Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) in Bremerton for nearly seven years where I earned the recognition of Mental Health Professional. I helped to start and lead the first Thinking About Smoking Cessation group at KMHS.
Education
I earned my Masters in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA; and I earned my B.A. from Michigan State University in Religious Studies, with minors in Theater, Non-Formal Education, and Spanish. I regularly attend trainings to keep up-to-date with the latest research for therapeutic interventions.
Fees
My current fee for services is $70 per session for individuals; and $80 per session for couples and families. I offer a limited number of reduced-rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship. I currently do not bill insurance companies but do work with several employee assistance programs. Most insurance companies reimburse my clients for my counseling services.
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Adolescent/Teen Issues
- Relationship Issues
- Coping Skills
- Divorce
- Grief
- Sexual Addiction
- Self Esteem
- Men's Issues
About
You are the expert on yourself and the final authority on what happens as a result of our engagement. I will journey with you to discover and foster your true and unique beauty that has been disfigured and suppressed. I take very seriously the concerns you bring for us to consider together and also believe it is important to try to understand the underlying causes. My goal is to be fully accepting of you and honoring of all you bring.
My approach is eclectic, drawing from what I feel is best in each theory and using what seems a best fit for you.
For good work to be done, we need each other to be fully and honestly engaged as we work together to discover your internal tensions, fears, avoidances, and all that diminishes who you are. I believe healing comes through recognizing and becoming free of those habits of action and thought (conscious and unconscious) that limit and harm you.
Experience and Education
I am a graduate student of Seattle School of Psychology and Theology and have my M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Fees
My current fee for services is $70 per session (individual) or $80 per session (for two or more people). I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship.
Life is too short to live in an unhealthy way. Make the most of your life by becoming your best self. It could impact your family and the world. I would like to walk with you through this journey to wholeness and healing.
Areas of Focus
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Child/Pre-Teen/Adolescent Issues (ages 6 - 19)
- Women's Issues
- Trauma-Focused Issues (PTSD)
- Adoption
- Parenting
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Cultural-Focused Issues
- Grief/Loss Support
- Relationships
- Coping Skills
- Self Esteem Issues
Experience and Education
Before entering into the field of counseling, I worked for Teen Challenge in both the U.S. and as a missionary-in-training in Russia. During this time, I worked with adolescent girls at New Lifehouse Teen Challenge in Disney, OK, and then with training and mentoring adult staff in Russia, based out of St. Petersburg. When in Russia, I also studied the Russian language through language school and then through personal tutors. Later, I resigned from missions work and married my husband, Daniel. We then both became associate pastors for my husband’s father’s church on the Navajo reservation on the Arizona/Utah border, where we had the pleasure to serve for six years. I also did substitute teaching in one of the local high schools on the reservation.
Toward the end of studying for my master’s degree in Professional Counseling, I did my internship with Behavioral Health Resources (BHR), where I interned in the Child and Family Services department in the Olympia and Shelton offices. After graduation, I became one of BHR’s Child and Family Therapists in the Shelton office, working both in the office and in schools, providing therapy with children and adolescents from age 3-19, and later, taking on adult clients due to increased need within the agency. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate with Washington State, and am close to finishing my 3,000 postgraduate hours required for full licensure.
Education
I earned my Master's degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University in 2019; and I earned my B.S. from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, with specializations in Cross-Cultural Missions Ministries and Counseling Psychology. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT+), in addition to Trauma-Focus CBT+. However, I also attend various trainings in order to study and keep up-to-date with other essential therapeutic interventions that could also assist my practice.
Family
I have been happily married for nine years. We have been blessed with our beautiful four-year-old daughter, who keeps up very busy! We enjoy family time together, doing hobbies such as bicycling, hiking, gardening, singing, camping, cooking/baking/grilling, fishing, taking family trips to Arizona and Oklahoma, participating in our home group, and drinking coffee. My husband is a proud member of the Navajo Nation. Studying about Navajo culture and family traditions have been important in enriching our family heritage.
Fees
My current fee for services is $70 per session (individual) or $80 per session (for two or more people). I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship.
- Play Therapy
- Depression
- Anxiety
- OCD
- School Challenges
- Sexual Abuse
- Family Conflict
- Grief
- Life Transition
- Self Esteem
- Spirituality
- Suicidal Ideation
- Trauma and PTSD
About
In counseling, I will be actively involved in working with you or your child, and will provide information, guidance, and support. I tend to think of myself as using an eclectic approach. While I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I also rely on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I am able to help individuals to address dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors, and thinking processes using a number of goal-oriented processes. CBT and ABA are thought to be effective for the treatment of a variety of conditions. CBT is also the basis for the social cognitive learning strategies that I use.
My approach often involves helping you or your child change attitudes and behaviors that are causing emotional distress and difficulties with social relatedness. We may talk about how you’ve handled difficulties in recent situations and relationships. Counseling may involve helping you or your child identify, develop, and implement more effective strategies for problem solving and how to make healthier decisions. At times I may ask you and/or your child to do some specific activities outside our sessions, such as reading a book or completing worksheets or activities.
I recognize that changing patterns of thoughts and behaviors is extremely difficult. I will do my best to support you or your child in this process. The length of time you or your child would be in treatment cannot be known early-on. Counseling is understood to be a choice you’ve made among available options. Other options include: receiving therapy from another counselor, using other therapies, using support groups, seeking self-help resources, and other modes of treatment.
I’m honored that you would consider trusting me with both significant and delicate parts of your story. I believe that you are God’s greatest masterpiece, and I long to step into the tragedy that has taken place in your life, the glory that is currently on display, and the redemption that will continue to unfold.
Experience and Education
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (MC60946567) in the State of Washington. I received an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology.
Family
My wife, Misty, and I have been in full-time ministry for 16 years, discipling and developing college students and adolescents. We’ve has been married for 14 years, and have four kids. I love spending time with my family hiking trails, roasting coffee, and throwing the baseball around the diamond.
Fees
My current fee for services is $70 per session (individual) or $80 per session (for two or more people). I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship.
Are you longing for a shift or change from daily struggles? Why not encounter a piece of yourself yet to be discovered? Let’s work together to set aside the weights that so easily encumber you and rise up with a newness and refreshed sense of self. I am here to meet with you to discover steps to make the changes you desire.
Areas of Focus
- Individual Counseling
- Self-Growth and Healing Issues
- Single-Parenting Issues
- Military Families Issues
- Relocation Issues
- Change and Adjustment Issues
- Parenting Issues
- Couples Therapy
- Adolescents and Youth Issues
- Family Therapy
- Substance Use and Addictive Behaviors
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Shame
- Depression
- Relationship Issues
- Mental Health Issues
- Blended Families
- Grief and Loss
Education
I am currently an intern in a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) program through Abilene Christian University. I have a Masters of Arts in Public Policy, a Bachelor’s in Science in Psychology, and an Associate’s degree in Human Service. The systemic viewpoint of MFT encompasses the many factors that we will discuss and discover in our journey together to meet your goals.
Experience
Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, I have enjoyed many years on the Western seaboard as well as having spent significant time in the South. Experiences and interactions with many different people, families, diverse ways of thinking, living, and being have provided me an abundance of skills and insight. I am continually humbled by life’s tests and opportunities to advance and overcome.
I have over 10 years of service in Christian ministry in areas of teaching youth and adults, special interests, and praise and worship ministry. I believe that every individual, young and old, has potential and that given the opportunity and a skill set, personal growth can occur. I know Jesus as my Protector, Provider, and Abba Father.
I have previously worked with the severely mentally ill and those engaged in substance abuse (ages 18-80). Currently, I work at Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) with children (age 5-20). This role encompasses various diagnoses and disabilities, engagement with parents and families, individual, family, and group counseling. I have created and facilitated several groups including an adolescent group enriching social skills, participation in a communication group, and a group for adolescents from families with substance abuse.
Family
I am a mother, daughter, sister, and wife. I have four amazing children (and a son-in-law), ages 26, 21, 9, and 5; and grandchildren. My first marriage of 13 years included military tours between Alaska and the East Coast. My second marriage is multi-cultural and consists of blended families. My favorite thing to do is be with my children. I enjoy every aspect of their stages of growth and development and encourage them to shine in their own uniqueness while understanding their own accountability. Recently returning to the Pacific Northwest, we cannot get enough of the mountain views and clear waters. We enjoy hiking, beachcombing, meeting new people, and enlarging our family with fur babies. I love to read and write, sing, and listen to music.
Fees
My current fee for services is $60 per session (individual) or $70 per session (for two or more people). I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship.
Area of Focus
- Individual Counseling
- Marriage Counseling
- Family Counseling
- Adolescent/Teen Issues
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Co-Dependency
- Parenting and Family Issues
- Mid-Life Issues
- Trauma Issues
- Building Hope and Resiliency
- Medical Health Concerns
- Grief and Loss Issues
- Work and Career Issues
- Stress Management
- Women's Support
About
My current way of counseling is shaped through my education and through my personal experiences. I have a Master of Arts in Psychology that provided a core foundation, yet my personal experiences and work in Asia, Europe, and Alaska has transformed my perspectives of humanity and enhanced my connection and love for people. My experience of people in multi-cultural communities provided an admiration for human creativity, endurance, and development of meaningful lives.
I invite you and loved ones in an engaging therapeutic process of self-exploration that offers hope and meaningful change through the challenges that life presents to us. My approach to the therapeutic process is through relationship and recognizing that you have value and a unique life that is ever-changing. Through this supportive relationship, there is opportunity for redefining and re-creating who you are. You can change your life and gain acceptance, understanding, and serenity.
The different modalities I provide include Person-Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused and Strength-Based Therapies, Structural Family Systems Therapeutic Approach. These are frameworks from which I access depending upon your specific needs.
Experience and Education
I graduated from Antioch University with a Master of Arts in Psychology. I worked as a Behavioral Health Clinician in an outpatient clinic at Norton Sound Health Corporation in Alaska. I was a Family Therapist at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services and a Mental Health Therapist at Akeela, Inc. in Alaska. I worked at Kitsap Mental Health Services as a Mental Health Professional and at MCS Counseling, LLC as a Mental Health Therapist in Washington State.
Family
My daughter and I enjoy hiking, singing, family trips, and any fun that we can create. Family is essential as I come to appreciate the connection it provides in this world.
Fees
My current fee for services is $60 per session (individual) or $70 per session (for two or more people). I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship.
Life can be a landmine. Many people enter therapy because there has been a breakdown in their relationships with others or themselves, or a disruptive event has occurred making their life feel unmanageable and there is a desire for change. I would be honored to walk alongside you as we navigate these areas of your life, and seek health and healing.
Areas of Focus
- Individual Counseling
- Couples Counseling
- Adolescent and Teen Issues
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance Addiction
- Spiritual Issues
- Building Hope and Resiliency
- Stress Management
- Work and Career Issues
- Family Issues
- Shame
- Blended Family Issues
- Boundaries
Education and Experience
I’m currently an intern in a Counseling Psychology program through The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology in Seattle, WA. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA. I have worked with at-risk high school and middle school students in the Bremerton and Bellevue school districts for five years and have worked with homeless and at-risk youth across Kitsap County for the last six years. I worked at Kitsap Mental Health Services in the Youth Inpatient Unit for youth ages 7 to 17 years old, providing therapeutic groups and de-escalation support.
My therapeutic work is informed by Relational Psychoanalysis and Emotion-Focused Therapy. These models focus on the therapeutic relationship acting as a catalyst for healing since most wounds are experienced in relationship; where the trauma and pain occur is often where one must go in order for healing to happen.
I hope you will come to feel free and confident in your own boundaries and sense of identity, learning that you have agency to communicate clearly where you begin and end, and to not feel guilty for setting those limits when it brings increased health and wellness to yourself.
I want you to hear and trust in your own voice, believing that it is valued and worthy of respect. We live in a world where the loudest and most forceful sounds are heard and exalted, and I desire for you and your loved ones to leave therapy feeling that your voice carries just as much power and impact.
Family
I am a wife, a mother to a one year old, and a stepmother to a 9 and 17 year old. I’m a dual citizen with America and Sweden; half of my family lives in Sweden, so I enjoy traveling to Europe to see them. Hiking, camping, gardening, and simply being outdoors in nature are some of my favorite pastimes. I have called the beautiful Pacific Northwest home for the past 25 years and love exploring it with my family!
Fees
My current fee for services is $60 per session (individual) or $70 per session (for two or more people). I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship.
