Counseling for First Responders

Prior to pursuing a career in mental health, I served as a police officer for a number of years. During my law enforcement tenure, I gained firsthand experience with the demanding realities of duty, critical incidents, and the unique camaraderie and stressors inherent in public safety work. This experience exposed me to the silent struggles many first responders and military professionals face regarding their mental health, fueling my passion to provide relevant, specialized support. 

"I am deeply committed to serving the military and veteran community, a passion that stems from my own life experiences. As a proud spouse of a 20-year Army veteran, I have firsthand experience with the unique challenges of military life, from frequent moves and deployments to the complexities of transition back to civilian life. I understand the importance of cultural competence in therapy and strive to create a safe, understanding space where service members, veterans, and their families can navigate these specific stressors and find healing."

Les is a psychotherapist with a Master of Marriage & Family Therapy from National University, whose career is built on serving both his country and community. Enlisting in the United States Navy in 1986, he served as a sonar ships and submarines as a sonar tech, before retiring military service in 2006. He then continued his commitment to serving his community by volunteering for Veterans’ organizations gaining invaluable experience and learning second-hand of the demanding and high-stress environment of first responder work that many of his fellow veterans participated. When most are thinking of retirement, Les was compelled by so many of his fellow Veteran to return to school and become a therapist in his late 50’s.

This unique background, combining extensive military experience with specialized mental health training, allows Les to connect with veterans and first responders on a deeply personal level. He is dedicated to providing evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy, including techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization, and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help his clients heal from trauma, manage anxiety and depression, and build resilience. 

Les’ goal is to create a safe and understanding therapeutic space for those who protect and serve. He understands the unique pressures, the culture of stoicism, machismo, and the specific challenges that can make it difficult to seek help. He is committed to providing the best possible support to help his clients navigate the psychological toll of their vital and important work.

Ashley is deeply committed to serving the military and veteran community, a passion that stems from her own life experiences. As a proud spouse of 13.5-year Army combat veteran, I have firsthand experience with the unique challenges of military life, from frequent moves and deployments to the complexities of transition back to civilian life. I served on the family readiness group board providing a sense of family connection on/during/after deployments. I understand the importance of cultural competence specific to the military in therapy, the challenges that come with families with children involved and strive to create a safe, understanding space where service members, veterans, and their families can navigate these specific stressors and find healing."