John believes that whatever difficulty someone is facing, God has a plan and purpose for their life. John’s approach to counseling focuses on what an individual wants their life to look like, as well as what God desires their life to look like. He is committed to supporting and listening and will trust and respect what someone tells him without judgement. He helps evaluate how relationships and life choices can improve so the individual can better meet their own needs. He specializes in dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and anger issues. He is also skilled in evaluating relationship and marital issues, boundaries, and exploring issues with identity and self-worth. John believes that by working together with someone, they can come up with the behaviors that are more fulfilling for them, the people around them, and fulfill the plan that God has established for their life.

John’s approach is a form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy called “Reality Therapy”. It focuses on what the clients want and evaluating what they are doing to get it. Reality Therapy places a high importance on relationships and the role they play in our overall happiness. He also has some training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and uses this model to help people cope with strong emotions.

John received his undergraduate degree from Reformed Bible College and his Master of Social Work from Western Michigan University. He has worked with parents and adolescents in the court system for over a decade. In his free time, he enjoys connecting with God, spending time with his family and doing outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, hiking and disc golf.