An Introduction

Good morning, and welcome to my blog!

My name is Aiden, and I am a mental health counselor currently living in the United States. However, I am preparing for a big move to the Netherlands and to open my own practice - Nine Lives Counseling Service- in 2022.

I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families around complex mental health needs. My specialty is working with people with thoughts of suicide, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. I am well versed in trauma-informed care, and believe in client-directed counseling. I use a combination of counseling theories and techniques that are tailored to each client, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Humanistic Therapy. My values are heavily centered on respecting each person's experiences, honoring the stories they tell me, and providing ethical care and consideration for their unique needs.

I received a Bachelors in Science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 2011, majoring in Psychology. I worked from 2011-2013 as a play therapist with children on the autism spectrum and with developmental delays. In 2014, I received my Master in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing my studies on Prevention Science and Practice (PSP). PSP is centered on creating environments and programs that engage youth and families in positive ways to prevent negative mental health outcomes. I went on to work for a large school district in Wisconsin, where I helped analyze student data trends and guide administrators in making decisions to support students facing challenges.

In 2017, I returned to Harvard and completed a Certificate of Advanced Study in counseling. I worked from 2017-2018 for a rural school district in Idaho as a school counselor, before moving to Minnesota. In Minnesota, I worked as a mental health counselor for an in-patient psychiatric unit at a local hospital, providing individual and group counseling to patients on the unit. Finally, I landed in Iowa, where I have been working as the manager of a mobile crisis program and leading a triage counseling team at a mental health and substance abuse crisis center.

I am currently working on a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision through the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. My research focuses on training emerging counselors on crisis intervention skills, including suicide risk screenings, safety planning, and coordination with emergency crisis services.

If that sounds like a whirlwind to you, it certainly was for me! But my various experiences really shaped me as a person and as a professional. Being a lifelong learner is an important part of my identity, and I am not afraid to step outside the box to experience something new. This has really opened my eyes to the diverse experiences of people around the world, and the importance of true human empathy in making this world a better place. I value people's right to autonomy, giving space for genuine expression of self, and practicing radical non-judgement of others.

I currently live with my three cats; Sirius, Remus, and Charlie. My hobbies include baking sweets, playing Dungeons & Dragons or video games with friends, reading fantasy and science fiction books, and knitting. I am looking forward to getting to know my future clients.

-Aiden