Jim started his career as a graphic designer and an American Sign Language Interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing. Jim graduated with a Bachelors of Science from BYU-Provo in Family Science and later earned his masters degree in clinical mental health counseling, Magna Cum Laude. In addition to full-time counseling, he works as the Executive Director for the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association and has served on/with their Board of Trustees for the past 6+ years.
Jim thrives on being a generalist, but often employs a constructivist approach including experiential, narrative, and play therapy. Jim has experience working with families, couples, individuals, teens, and kids – deaf or hearing. When Jim is not interpreting or counseling, he is definitely kayaking, at home with his wife and five kids, watching movies, gardening, or working on his 1:1 scale R2-D2.
Recommended Books:
"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl (will forever remain on the top of the list!)
"Running on Empty" By Jonice Webb
"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel A. Van Der Kolk
"Unwanted" by Jay Stringer
"On Becoming a Person" by Carl Rogers
"Key Core Beliefs" by Gray Otis, Sandi Williams, Jim Messina
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy
"After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again" by Dan Santat
Podcasts:
"Nope. Read books instead!"
Apps:
"Mood Meter" A companion app to "Permission to Feel" by Mark Brackett
"Health" & "Fitness" - The Apple apps...because how you feel in your guts tends to reflect how you feel in your thinker.
“Plants vs. Zombies 2” - Because I don't let zombies trample my garden! Sheesh, I mean, let's have some order in our lives, people!
Sites:
"16personalities" - Learn more about yourself and your partner!
"Ancestry" - Lending context to your life is wildly healing
ASLTherapists.com - A directory of therapists ready and fluent to meet the demand of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
