About Me:

Hi! I’m Joel, and I am a Clinical Mental Health Counseling intern with Agape Counseling. I am currently pursuing my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University. My educational background also includes a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Texas A&M University School of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Texas at Tyler, ministry training through Abundant Life School of Ministry, and additional graduate-level study in Psychology at Harvard University. I also have experience teaching communication and leadership at the university level.

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Before pursuing counseling professionally, I spent more than 20 years in ministry, leadership, teaching, and walking alongside individuals, couples, and families through some of life’s most meaningful and difficult seasons. Those experiences ultimately inspired me to pursue clinical training so I could combine a relational approach with evidence-based counseling practices.

I especially enjoy working with adults and couples navigating relationships, anxiety, grief, life transitions, emotional challenges, and issues of faith and spirituality. My approach is warm, relational, and collaborative. I want counseling to be a place where you feel safe, genuinely heard, understood, and valued. My goal is to help clients develop greater resilience, connection, clarity, and hope.

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My Christian faith is an important part of who I am, and I welcome integrating faith into counseling when that is meaningful to a client. Regardless of where someone is in their journey, I want each person I work with to experience compassion, dignity, and a genuine sense that they belong.

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Outside of counseling, I enjoy spending time with my wife and family, teaching, staying active, being outdoors, and probably drinking more black coffee than necessary.