‘Blood in the cut,’ that intriguing title and repeated line from K Flay’s song is said by the artist to refer to ‘a desire to inundate oneself with pain or angst or noise or joy, or really any experience, in order to have ownership of the feeling.’ That is the place where I often meet people in their lives filled with pain, hurt, anguish, fear and/or deep depression. All manifesting through their continuing struggles with trauma and/or addiction. As a professional in the field of trauma and addiction therapy and treatment, I come to the use of ketamine and other psychedelics to help those suffering or struggling in their life halting stuckness. It is a state of being that can often be assisted through talk therapy, recovery processes and groups, but sometimes those therapies aren’t enough to help with getting over that hump of feeling/being stuck. The use of psychedelics, such as ketamine, can help one to move through the hump and open up their healing journey.

Professionally, I offer my presence and experience as: a fellow human on my life’s journey; a psychotherapist trained in narrative, relational and psychodynamic therapies at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology (Master of Counseling Psychology); a trauma and addictions specialist with three treatment certifications (CSAT(sex), CMAT(substances) & CPTT(trauma)) from the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals; a budding psychedelic assisted psychotherapist,  with training and certification from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) MDMA- Assisted Therapy Certification; a Mindfulness Based Addiction Trauma Therapist and lastly over twenty-five years of work in higher education and counseling (twelve as a psychotherapist).

Personally, I live and work in the south sound area (Tacoma), near the great Mt. Tahoma (Rainier). Most of my time outside of the office is spent with my wife of thirty plus years, our three grown children, our two legged furry housemates (Ollie (Lab/Aussie mix) & Pepper (Heeler/Aussie mix), ten chickens, gardens, fruit trees and who knows what next. I love the outdoors, music (ambient post-rock), reading (former librarian of 25 years), and tinkering.

When asked what “is the most important question a scientist can ask?” Einstein, rocking in a chair on his porch, replied, “the most important question that any person can ask is whether or not the universe is a friendly place?” and he added, “The answer we find determines what we do with our lives. If the universe is a friendly place, we will spend our time building bridges. Otherwise, people use all their time to build walls. We decide.” My hope is to be with you in your process to consider or to build the bridges you might need created in your life.

Learn more: https://gullettcounseling.com/ &  https://integrativetherapies.group/