Over the years I've lived a rather unusual life. I've served as a police officer, SWAT hostage negotiator, psychologist, radio host, pastor, advertising executive, author, and public spokesperson.
Because my career has crossed so many different fields, people occasionally have questions about my background or things they may have found online.
Rather than ignore those questions, I'd rather answer them honestly.
I've experienced successes, failures, criticism, and hard lessons. I don't claim to be perfect, but I do strive to be truthful, transparent, and faithful in the work God has given me to do.
Here's how God used every chapter—even the difficult ones—to prepare me for the work I do today.
- Were you really a SWAT hostage negotiator? Yes. I started out as a sniper, but discovered that understanding human behavior under pressure fascinated me more than carrying a rifle. The Dept. sent me to several training courses and it was there that I knew that I wanted to work in the field of clinical psychology when I left law enforcement. I served for 10 years as a vice and narcotics and Special Problems Unit undercover detective and patrol officer. I retired as a patrol sergeant.
- Why were you in television commercials? Yes, perhaps as many as 100 as a spokesperson for an educational company and later for a supplement called CortiSlim. Grab some popcorn ... this is where it get's interesting.
- What's the story behind CortiSlim? The cliff notes are: a company hired me to serve as their TV spokesperson. After appearing in countless commercials, I learned that the company that owned the product was the object of an FTC action which (unfortunately) included me as the spokespersons. That experience permanently changed how I think about responsibility, due diligence, and trust . It wasn't a chapter I would have chosen, but it became one of the most important teachers in my life: learn from your lessons or prepare to repeat them.
- Why do negative things appear online? The FTC action against CortiSlim brought considerable attention to the company, the doctor (not me) who created the product and the ads (with me). Lot's of false claims were made about me. One was that I was a medical doctor, which I never claimed to be. One lesson I learned is that information on the internet is often repeated rather than independently verified. Once an error is published, it often gets copied without anyone checking whether it's true.
- Have you made mistakes? Absolutely. One of the biggest mistakes of my professional life was assuming that people I trusted had done the due diligence they claimed they had. They hadn't. I also learned a valuable lesson. I represented an educational product for kids, and during a few interviews, the host might refer to me as a psychologist - instead of a doctor of psychology. "Psychologist" can only be used if you are currently licensed to practice, and at the time I had given up my practice to pursue business interests. Because they were live interviews, I didn't correct the host/s. Later, even though I explained the situation, the Behavioral Board of Psychology sent me a discipline letter. Lesson learned. Correct the host and move on.
- What university did you attend? I attended Sierra University, in Ca. The school was recommended to me by several psychologists I was working with at the time. It offered a unique combination of classroom, online, and one-on-one mentoring by a licensed psychologist. It was a great education and experience. Unfortunately, a few years after I graduated, Sierra University closed -- sadly for me, after I paid off my student loans. The closure has understandably raised questions over the years, so I simply answer them openly.
- Why have you had so many different careers? My friends and family say that I'm what A.D.D. looks like when it grows up and never touches decaf. I prefer to think God has a sense of humor. But the truth is, I believe God gives us certain gifts and talents that emerge at different seasons of our life. God also closes doors (sometimes slammed shut) while he opens others. Looking back, I don't see disconnected careers. I see God preparing me for the next assignment. Police work taught me behaviors during crisis. Psychology taught me how the mind works. Advertising taught me communication. Ministry taught me eternal perspective. Every chapter built on the one before it.
- Do you still counsel patients? Not in the traditional sense. I teach and conduct seminars at various churches. I've found that the integration of biblical truths (first) with contemporary psychology (distant second) to be the most rewarding work for both myself and the people I work with.
- So... Who are you today? Today I'm a Christian, husband, grandfather, teacher, author, and doctor of psychology who loves helping people untangle complicated problems. The titles have changed over the years, but the mission hasn't. Whether I was talking to a suspect in a hostage negotiation, a counseling client, or a church audience, my goal has always been the same: help people see more clearly, choose more wisely, and leave with hope.