A crucial step toward building any strong relationship is establishing trust.  Alex believes that a successful Client/Therapist collaboration is formed on a foundation of trust which includes good rapport, an understanding that the Client is the compass and the session will go in the direction they choose.  Alex has experience working in a residential treatment facility working with those who struggled with substance use disorders as well as working with teens experiencing various mental health challenges.  He believes that his education, previous experience and his personal life has helped him to better utilize various treatment modalities such as Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Logos Therapy.  Alex has also received specialist training in Brainspotting which locates points in the Client's visual field that help to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain.  His therapeutic interests include sexuality and gender identity, trauma, teens and young adults aged 11 years and older.  Alex also utilizes a therapy dog by the name of Higgins.  Higgins serves the dual purpose of acting as Alex's guide dog (Alex lost 90% of his vision when he was 20 years old) as well as helping Client's cope and feel at ease with the therapeutic process.  However, Higgins need not be present if the Client has a preference.