Ian also received his B.A. in psychology with an emphasis in recreational therapy from the University of Utah and a M.S. in marriage and family therapy from the University of Kentucky.
Ian’s clinical experience at the University of Kentucky included working with couples, individuals with depression, lower SES families, and juvenile sex offenders and their victims. After completing his master’s degree, Ian worked at Turn-About Ranch in Escalante, Utah. While at Turn-About, Ian gained an appreciation for the experiential therapeutic potentials of working with adolescents in a residential treatment/ranch setting. He became more interested in working with adolescents and their families. While at Brigham Young University, Ian specialized in working with adolescents and their families, premarital couples, those struggling with addiction, juvenile sex offenders, and trauma survivors. Ian also pursued more training in psychodynamic and developmental theory. This has helped shape his approach to individual issues and complements his systemic background that is entrenched in family therapy theory. After Ian attended BYU, he sought out a job with and worked for Second Nature Wilderness Program in Duchesne Utah. While at Second Nature, Ian was able to truly develop and come into his own as a therapist. He had the opportunity to work with both adolescent boys and girls. It was at Second Nature that Ian developed a passion for the conceptualization of adolescent issues and an appreciation for the hurdles that youth are faced with in today’s society.
Since leaving Second Nature in April of 2007, Ian has worked for various programs and has done some private practice work. Ian was able to run one residential program for adolescents in addition to consulting for and developing two other programs. Ian is excited to be working at Crossroads and has dedicated himself to continued education and skill development both clinically and personally.
Additionally, Ian has conducted and facilitated discussions and has presented research and theory related to family differentiation and eating disorders, family leisure patterns, family of origin and adult alcohol use, juvenile sex offenders, and the effects of marital quality on individual health at national and regional conferences. Ian has also published papers relating to family literacy, family rules, and family and child well-being and has submitted several publications related to family process rules, the effects of sex abuse on male victims, and the epistemologies of learning and knowing.
In addition to Ian’s clinical background, he also has a degree in fire science as he once pursued a career as a fire fighter. He also spent ten years as a river guide in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Besides having a substantial effect on his own life, his experience as a river guide helped Ian to notice the effects that wilderness and experiential learning has on individuals as well as family systems. This influenced him as he pursued his career as a therapist and has shaped his thoughts and feelings regarding change and each person’s potential.
Ian still loves to run rivers, snowboard, wakeboard, ride his mountain bike, rock climb, and eat ice cream. Ian is the oldest of five children and an avid Portland Trailblazers fan. He is fluent in French and loves to travel when he can.
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