“At some point we all encounter difficulties along life’s journey. I have a passion to assist people who need help coping with the negative thoughts and emotions those difficulties bring. Coming alongside my patients and helping them find relief from their symptoms is a priority for me. As a compassionate clinician, it is rewarding to see those who came into therapy feeling defeated develop a sense of hope and optimism that they can achieve their goals.”
Doug’s patients can expect a warm and inviting atmosphere (including a little humor) where they feel validated and supported. He provides a safe place for patients to explore their thoughts and emotions, but also equips them with the knowledge they need to implement effective coping skills. Doug enjoys providing helpful psychoeducation including resources (such as handouts or workbooks) and/or informing his patients how to access those resources online or in the community.
Doug specializes in evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Through CBT, patients learn to identify, challenge and replace negative thoughts with more positive and rational thoughts. Doug also teaches distress tolerance skills, emotion regulation skills, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. He is adept in helping patients of almost all ages utilize these techniques to effectively cope with depression, anxiety, neurodivergent challenges, anger management, grief and loss, trauma (including PTSD), and other life-adjustment issues. Doug is a versatile clinician and is skilled in helping his patients find the specific coping skills that work best. When he provides therapy for children/teens, he also equips their parents with valuable insights and strategies.
For patients who desire to further explore their spirituality, Doug is experienced with integrating faith into the therapeutic process. He is actively involved in Faith Community Outreach, an initiative that seeks to connect area clergy, churches and ministries with faith-sensitive mental health services available from Pine Rest. Doug enjoys helping patients strengthen their spiritual beliefs and discover deep truths to promote healing and long-term growth.
Doug is a licensed master-level outpatient therapist. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Social Work from Hope College in 1983, followed by a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University in 1988. Doug brings a wealth of experience to his clinical practice, having successfully worked with children, teens and adults. His work has spanned a wide range of treatment settings, including residential, foster care, home-based services, and hospital inpatient units. He has been trained in CBT, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Parenting Techniques, Suicide Prevention, and Anger Management. Doug joined Pine Rest in 2006 and has been utilizing his expertise at the Caledonia Clinic as an Outpatient Therapist since 2014.
