I’m a St. Louis native and have been working in the counseling community for the last 20 years. Bob Gordon began training and mentoring me 17 years ago. Out of that relationship came much of the foundation on which CrossRoads is built. During all this time, walking with people through difficult and disconcerting seasons has been a unique privilege. I also really enjoy training and working with the other counselors at CCC. In addition, I do some public speaking, addressing issues of the heart and intimate relationships.

Bob came up with the phrase, “We Were Made to be More,” and it’s had a deep impact on me. It’s shaped the way I counsel and the way I live. I’ve felt it resonate and disrupt my life and the lives of people I talk with each day; those who have been abused, those who are struggling in their marriages, those who are facing growing confusion in being a parent, either as a couple or as a single person, or even individuals whose lives are just not what they had hoped for. I work compassionately with deep brokenness while encouraging people to consider the profoundness of grace and gentleness. I’ve always believed damage happens in the context of relationship and so does healing. Recently, I’ve wanted to understand more about the way trauma can impact how people view themselves and their world. In pursuing this, I sought training in EMDR. The research, my training and experience confirm that this can be a powerful tool in the process of change. I see it as a uniquely helpful and experiential way for some people to process events that have shaped them and kept them from knowing a peace that comes from understanding their designed worth.

My first love is hanging out with my wife, Carrie, and my son, Kearen, in our home in South City. We enjoy the diverse culture, the amazing local restaurants and the warmth of the community. And, every once in a while I still head over to Tower Grove park and play a pick up game of tennis.

Please feel free to give me a call at our office, my extension is 12.

I was born and raised here in St. Louis. I attended John Burroughs High School and Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. My education and experience during most of my professional career has been focused on broadcast and industrial television production. I was fortunate enough to be awarded two Emmy awards, a bronze and gold medal from the International Film and Television Festival and a variety of other awards for my work during those years.

Later, I served in a variety of management and executive positions at two St. Louis based companies, Southwestern Bell (now AT&T) and Anheuser-Busch. During those days, my focus remained primarily on media and media related operations and production. At one point, some of the technologies we take for granted today were development projects my team and I were collaborating with others on developing or deploying.

Currently, I own a residential real estate company. I work in municipal government, privately held farming operations and am active in my local church. My role at Crossroads is to provide assistance and oversight of the business side of the practice and to support the clinical side as needed.

My wife Susan and I are the parents of three girls and we live here in St. Louis.

You can reach me at extension 29

My passion for helping others has grown out of my own journey to find laughter and love in the midst of pain and brokenness. As a licensed professional counselor, I am honored to help others sort through their own stories and to see them emerge with freedom and confidence.

My clients tell stories that are unique in detail but common in heartbreak, borne of abuse, painful relationships, and misused sexuality. Often, my work is with couples—two individuals suffering betrayal, anger, hurt, and, despite it all, and often miraculously, a desire to connect. As an approved EMDR practitioner, I also have the distinct privilege of offering accelerated, healing therapy, particularly for clients experiencing the aftermath of trauma.

I moved to St. Louis in 2000 to pursue my Master of Arts in Counseling at Covenant Seminary. Eleven years later, I find myself loving this wild calling to journey with the brave men, women, and teens who walk through my office door. I also enjoy training other therapists and leading CrossRoads as Associate Director. I’m passionate about doing good therapy, offering both genuine care and gentle challenge. I’ve never seen healing without both. When I’m not counseling, my joys include spending time with my husband, Pete and my son, Nathan. I’m also a sucker for animals, especially ones with kissable faces.

My phone extension is 13.

I’ve sat in the same chair for twenty-seven years.

My professional journey began in 1982. A quick stop at Covenant Theological Seminary led to studies in beautiful, downtown Saint Louis University where I earned two degrees, a Masters degree in Educational Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy.

Along the way I picked up a Missouri license as a Family & Marriage Therapist (MLFT), built a large private practice, found a dear partner (Doug Samsel, M.A.), and grew a non-profit organization called CrossRoads Christian Counseling, the business that thinks like a mission.

Twenty-seven years in this chair, but the journey feels fresh, this desire to be more. I live with the love of my life, and continue to learn about the hearts of our children, aged 17 and 21. We live in suburbia with a cat, a dog, and an occasional squirrel in the garage. Chesterfield Presbyterian (PCA) is our church home.


I specialize in marital issues, extreme marital issues, family dilemmas, parenting teens, leadership & problem-solving, sexual abuse, Asperger’s in adults, and working with church workers. I meet with clients in St. Louis, not-St.-Louis (using Skype), and occasionally travel overseas to assist missionaries. I enjoy recreating myself, and seeing the bent made straight.

I write as a professional outlet (http:/mission2family@wordpress.com), and periodically surrender myself to new counseling projects, recently founding an Asperger’s Light Group, and Mission2Family, an international mini-mission.

You can reach me at the office at extension 11.

It is an honor to meet with people who share about important issues in their lives. I am drawn to interact with those who have or are experiencing trauma, abuse (emotional, physical and/or sexual), grief, betrayal, crises, loss, or severe rejection. In my personal life I am learning the importance of  how I interpret and respond to life's experiences and encourage those I meet with in their choices and the affect both individually and relationally.   We seek to decrease fears, anxieties, depression, and a variety of self-protective strategies that interfere with their good desires.

I have worked since 1991 in three different private practices, being supervised for state licensure by two different psychologists and one marriage and family counselor; at Central Christian Counseling Center as a Licensed Counselor and at CrossRoads since it was formed in 1998.  It has been a joy to also have supervised several graduate interns and counselors in training for their state license. Since 1994 I have been a Certified Trauma Specialist through the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialist.

My relationship with God is important to me but I also want to honor people who desire to be private in that area.  Also, I appreciate my life with my husband, Marvin. We enjoy four adult children, our son-in laws, daughter-in law and five active grandchildren.

I work with individuals and couples to bring about restoration and healing through a process of interpersonal therapy. With continual encouragement and supportive empathy, I work to draw out the deeper concerns, longings, and fears in my client’s heart in order to bring the dark things into the light.

I enjoy working with individuals struggling with relational and spiritual matters, depression, addiction, grief, abuse, sexuality, or mental illness. I have also lead all the Men’s Wounded Heart groups at Crossroads for the past 9 years, gaining tremendous experience working with those that have been harmed by abuse. I have over 10 years of experience in the counseling field and was mentored by some of the best therapists in St Louis and, now, enjoy supervising therapists working toward licensure. I have experience working with persons struggling with chronic mental illness including schizophrenia and Bi-Polar disorder. I received a Masters in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary after studying philosophy as an undergraduate.

I live in the Central West End with my wife and two children. I am an elder at Grace and Peace Fellowship Church, P.C.A. God has used several critical events in my life to shape my faith and calling, including the deaths of my two brothers. I offer the counsel of a wounded healer to those that sit with me in the counseling office.

Loss and brokenness in my life opened me to hear God’s calling, and leave a teaching career to complete a Masters in Counseling in 2007 from Covenant Theological Seminary. Since then I have worked as a professional counselor with individuals, couples, and families experiencing abuse, identity issues, anxiety, depression, grief, divorce, adultery, and personality disorders. In an effort to expand my knowledge and skills to better serve my clients, I also become a Certified Christian Conciliator in 2010 through Peacemaker Ministries, enabling me to work with couples, families, and organizations seeking reconciliation and restoration of both personal and professional relationships. In addition, I have taken advanced training in Sexual Abuse and Trauma, EMDR, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and Domestic Violence to help those struggling with relational brokenness and trauma.

My life’s journey has taken me from rural Texas to Europe and Africa and back, but I have lived in St. Louis, MO, since 1986, where I have had the joy and challenge of raising two children who are now in their twenties. I have been an active member of Central Presbyterian Church since 1998, and over the years have been involved in the Next Chapter Divorce Recovery ministry, Stephen Ministry, women’s ministry, Sunday School Education, choir, and several small groups. I served as a volunteer counselor for Thrive and for Operation Homefront, and currently counsel at the Creve Coeur office as well at churches in Hermann and Owensville, MO.

In the past I have conducted workshops on Peacemaking, led small groups, and been a speaker for women’s retreats. I look forward to offering counseling and educational services both at our office locations and by invitation at churches and other organizations in and around St. Louis. I can be reached at Ext. 22.

I grew up in a small farming community in Missouri, where I learned to work hard and persevere through most circumstances. While raising three children and working in various career fields, I felt there must be more to life. As I began to grow personally through my own counseling sessions and develop deep friendships in groups, I realized that for me "more" included passing along my new-found freedom and joy by using the gifts God had provided.

Over the following years, I obtained a counseling degree and now have the opportunity to practice at CrossRoads. I have the privilege to come alongside courageous clients in the areas of depression, anxiety, abuse, strained and broken relationships, and divorce recovery. Recently, I have been trained to be competent in the EMDR technique for people who have experienced significant trauma. I continue to grow personally and professionally, relying more and more on God's grace to speak love and hope into the situations of those I talk with. Along the way, I find more of His grace in my own life.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Andy, and our three almost-all-adult children who are very busy with their own lives. We always enjoy going to the farm to visit family and friends whenever we get a chance.

I was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up as a pastors son. My family moved a number of times over the years and I was greatly impacted by a handful of mentors and youth leaders that really took the time to invest in me. This allowed me to begin to understand both the glory and the brokenness in my story. I developed a passion for youth ministry and went on to get a B.A. in Student Ministry at Geneva College. I have been working full time as the Director of Middle School ministry at Central Presbyterian Church for the past 7 years and have a combined total of 13 years in the field. I also served as a Sgt. in the USMC for 8 years enlisting right after high school and eventually went on to also obtain a MA in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2008. I have a heart to work primarily with adolescents and young adults who are wrestling with spiritual or relationship issues, anxiety, OCD, physical or sexual abuse, and other forms of interpersonal trauma and grief. With the recent rise in mental health needs by our Armed forces, I also hope to begin working with Military members and their families, as I have experienced first hand some of the challenges that come with being a part of the Armed forces. I am married to my wife of 7 years Katrina, and we have 2 year old son with a daughter on the way.

I grew up in a tight-knit town outside Kansas City. In 1989 I moved to Columbia, MO to attend Mizzou, where I received both my undergraduate and Master’s degrees. Toward the end of graduate school, I met my husband Kevin and moved to St. Louis in 1997.

In St. Louis, I worked as a therapist and assistant director of a maternity home. There, I had the privilege of walking alongside single women who found themselves in difficult situations, many of whom had experienced abuse and abandonment. A seed was planted in my heart there, and I knew this was the type of work I wanted to do.

I took a break from career to be a stay-at-home mom to Logan (now 12), Lauren (10) and Landon (6). I have experienced and learned a great deal about God’s love from being a parent and wife.

About four years ago, I decided to pursue licensure in Counseling. I took additional classes at Covenant Theological Seminary and last fall, passed the NCE (National Counselor Exam). I am currently fulfilling the final requirement, 3000 hours of supervision, under the wise mentoring eye of Doug Samsel. I am the co-coordinator for Wounded Heart groups and have been trained in EMDR, a technique that is effective in decreasing intensity of emotions that individuals experience after trauma.

Through these experiences I have discovered I have two passions - to see people live out who they are made to be, and to help them grow in their relationships with one another. Pain, whether stemming from divorce, abuse, abandonment, unfulfilled dreams or the loss of a loved one is a powerful agent that affects both of these. I have seen it drive people to a variety of places; some that bring more harm, some that lead to healing. It is a privilege to be invited to come alongside an individual, a couple or a family to assist in the process of change and healing.

I first encountered CrossRoads Counseling in the nineties when feeling stuck in a challenging relationship. Little did I know that one day, I would have the privilege of sitting on the other side of the coffee table, across from individuals who likewise are looking for somebody to walk beside them through their pain and confusion.
After working in marketing for nearly a decade, I received a Master in Counseling from Covenant Seminary. I have learned that there is hope in the midst of brokenness and that joy can grow out of pain. Many of my clients come longing for connection with their spouses, with their children, with their parents, without knowing how to give or receive what they really need. My desire is to meet my clients where they are and to provide a safe environment where they feel understood and have the freedom to pursue change. In such an environment, they can begin to work through the fear, shame, and hurt that prevent them from healthy connections with others, with themselves, and with God. We are made for relationships. I delight in the work of reconciliation.
In addition to working with individuals and couples, I co-lead men’s groups that explore issues related to parenting, relationships, sexuality, betrayal, and trauma.
I live with my wife and son in the Tower Grove neighborhood. As a family we love anything that involves the outdoors and/or good food.
I am excited to be working with clients at both CrossRoads locations (South City and West County). You can reach me at my office extension 26.

St. Louis has been my home now for three years, though I grew up in the beautiful state of Michigan. In college, I studied Psychology at the University of Michigan. Through college classes, friends, and mentors, I also discovered my passion to help hurting people find life in the midst of suffering.
My interest in counseling led me to pursue further training at Covenant Seminary, from which I recently graduated with a Masters in Counseling. I am delighted to continue working as a Counselor in Training under the supervision of Ashley Lare Watson. I especially enjoy working with adolescents and young adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression or grief, self-identity, relational issues, and pain from being abused. I also enjoy working with couples who need help working through issues of communication, trust, and pain.
I believe counseling is a process of growth and healing. It is hard work, but it leads to greater self- understanding, freedom, and wholeness. It is such a privilege to be a part of that process.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband, Steve, and exploring different restaurants around St. Louis. I also love reading, cooking, running, and having good conversations with friends and family.

My calling to counseling has been slow and steady, but sure. In the summer of 1998, freshly graduated and newly married, my wife and I moved to St. Louis so I could begin a career as a registered financial advisor. I began taking classes, part time, at Covenant Theological Seminary in the fall of 2002 and have been a student ever since. It is a privilege to be conducting my internship under the supervision of Doug Samsel and Dr. Bob Gordon
Through my work as a financial advisor and my studies as a graduate student I have discovered a deep love for people, specifically, walking alongside them as they strive to live out their lives faithfully in spite of past hurts, current struggles, and future uncertainties. As I have worked with clients for the past thirteen years, and most notably through the extreme economic turmoil of the last few years, I have found it uniquely rewarding to sit with people in the midst of acute stress, when the world as they know it seems to be ending, when they are tempted to give up hope, and watch them find it again.
I live in Kirkwood with my wife Julie, my daughters Mary (10), Emma (7), and my son Denver (two months). In my spare time I like hanging out with my family, jogging, and reading the classics, and when time allows I answer the call to head out west for some fly-fishing or snow skiing.

I am currently a student at Covenant Theological Seminary, pursuing an MA in Counseling and an MA in Exegetical Theology. I am excited to have the opportunity of doing an internship at CrossRoads this year under the supervision of Christi Brandenstein and Heather Bauer!
I moved to St. Louis from Georgia, but have called several countries “home,” and this has given me a love for cultural diversity and exploring what it means to feel alone or different. My heart is to help those who feel alone in their pain, struggle, and brokenness (which we all experience daily!) to find connection, encouragement, and change.
My husband and I live in the University City area with our extremely over-energetic dog, and love being in St. Louis.
I see clients at both the Creve Coeur and South City locations.