About Me
I was born in Indiana, where my father (a university professor) and mother (a lactation consultant) raised my older sister and me. When I was 15, my parents adopted two boys. I helped care for my infant brothers, which broadened my understanding of how love and family can be created.
As an undergraduate, I fell in love with psychology and found therapeutic training useful in my own life. I pursued a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky where I provided a spectrum of mental health care that ranged from counseling high-performing college athletes, working with youth and adults in psychiatric hospitals, and treating older adults in nursing homes.
I moved to the Northeast to complete my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, where I received extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as geriatric psychology. I also found a second love -- conducting research -- and published my dissertation on the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive functioning. This research gave me a deeper appreciation of the strong connections between mental, physical, and cognitive health.
I completed my postdoctoral training at Yale University in the Department of Psychiatry, where my research continued to focus on the interplay between sleep, wellness, and mental health recovery. As an Assistant Professor, my research has shifted to improving the quality of mental health care with a focus on suicide prevention.
Today, I live with my wife and our two teenage sons in Westport, Connecticut. My experience raising our sons has enriched my work with boys, adolescents, and their parents who may be navigating similar challenges. Because I was the stay-at-home parent during our sons' early years, I can deeply relate to the day-to-day effort, joy, and stress of parenting. I spend most weekends with my family, working out with our sons at the gym, coordinating our next outdoor adventure with friends, or watching movies together.