Marriage and Family Therapy – In Grand Rapids, MI

My principal occupation for more than three decades has been Marriage and Family Therapy.

The innate talents that are mine have been nurtured through education, training, and many years of experience working with a few thousand people.  Truly, this has been a wonderful vocation.

My approach is active and engaging, fairly broad and integral in scope, and steeped in the best of theory and practice.  As one who has worked as a private practitioner, free from the managed care industry, I have enjoyed a thriving practice all these years.  At this point in my career I’m in my office providing Marriage and Family Therapy about 15 hours a week - some weeks more, some weeks less.  As the focus of my work has shifted more to Family Business Consulting, Organizational Development, and Leadership Coaching, my time working with individuals, couples, and families in the office has shifted as well. 

When I began my career back in 1974 the State licensing laws were different than they are now.  I was required to gain a second post-graduate degree and to complete five years of supervised experience.  In 1980 I became both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Master Social Worker.  Along the way I picked up a third post-graduate degree.

From 1986 to 1997 I served on the State Licensing Board for Marriage and Family Therapy, having been appointed first by then Governor Blanchard, and my term was renewed twice by Governor Engler.

In 1974 I co-founded, what was then the Marriage and Family Center, with Dr. Albert DeVoogd, Jr.  That was the heyday of Marriage and Family Therapy.  The field was emerging and we were on the forefront in West Michigan.  Our non-profit organization grew in size, changed its name in 1996 to the Fountain Hill Center for Counseling and Consultation, and still resides in the Bundy House at 534 Fountain St. in Grand Rapids.  This Heritage Hill Home, built in 1883, continues to serve as a marvelous place for the dozen or so therapists that work at the Center.

Being a firm believer in the importance of passing the baton effectively, I initiated an intentional succession process in January of 2006, at which time I handed over the role of Executive Director to Amy Van Gunst, and took my name out of the yellow and red pages in the phone book.  In October of 2007 I left the Center and relocated my office to American Seating Park on the very near West Side of Grand Rapids.

I am a Marriage and Family Therapist, and I always will be.  It is the vocation that affords me the best opportunity to use my talents, education, training, and skills in ways that bring joy to me, and well-being to others.  This vocation of mine continues to be a deep, deep blessing.