The Goal - A Faith Based Christian Counseling Center
Larry is the founder and the Executive Director of the Virginia Center for Family Relations. VCFR is a fulfillment of his desire to develop a counseling practice that provides the very finest psychological services that emanates from a Christian world and life view. The objective of our staff is to help facilitate healing to the emotional and relational hurts of individuals and families in our community.
Training & Education
He earned a Master of Arts degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from Azusa Pacific University @ the California Family Study Center (in the Los Angeles area) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He holds dual licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Counselor with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Upon completion of his graduate studies, he was licensed as a Marriage, Family and Child Counselor and was in private practice in Southern California for several years. He and his wife settled in Virginia with their four children.
Larry has been a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the Virginia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Virginia Association of Clinical Counselors. He has served as a Clinical Supervisor with the AAMFT, a Counselor Supervisor with the Virginia Board of Professional Counselors and has been a Field Practicum Supervisor with the University of Virginia.
His training in Family Systems and his years of clinical and supervisory experience shapes his Cognitive Behavior approach to counseling. Having completed the 3 levels of the Gottman Training for Marriage Counseling and the incorporation of Gottman research findings at the University of Washington has increased his effectiveness as a couples therapist. In addition to the standard counseling appointments, he offers a more intense, four (4) hour couples therapy option. In addition to his marriage and relationship counseling, he works with the broader family dynamics (adult children, parents and grandparents) and also provides individual therapy. This includes: stress management, depression, self-image, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic and anxiety disorders, step-family tensions, communication skills, toxic faith issues, sexual addictions and recovery from childhood abuse and dysfunctional families.
Consultant & Teaching
Larry consults with small businesses and churches to deal with morale issues and employee conflicts. He presents onsite training classes in conflict management, improving interpersonal communication, emotional regulation, hospitality to visitors and custom designed workshops to address your groups specific needs. When your company or church staff is in turmoil, he provides assistance by assessing the source of the tension or conflict and then providing the needed direction for reconciliation and healing. (It seems it would be obvious for pastors but sometimes it hard to see the forest for the trees.) For those distressed and exhausted from the emotional toll your work takes on you, Larry is an understanding and confidential resource; providing support for pastors (and their spouses) facing the effects professional burn-out. He is enthusiastic about his role as a therapist supervisor and consultant. He is and has been a referral resource for Focus on the Family for many years.
Living life for most of us is an enormous challenge. As you know, there is one difficulty after another. How do we face these day-to-day struggles and continue to grow and mature as a person? Having a deep and abiding faith is crucial to successfully navigating the turbulent seas of life. A verse that he holds tightly to when going through these life difficulties is: Consider it pure joy when you fall into trials and temptations…. because this will help you become mature, complete, and not lacking in anything. (James 1:2)
Military Service
Before Larry started his professional journey in psychology, he served four years in the USCG. (As a crew member, his role was as an Aviation Electronic Technician and Radioman on search and rescue flights out of Miami.) He is so proud of the men and women (and their families) that have worn the uniform of our military. Thank you for your sacrifices to keep our country free and safe. (Here you can get a glimpse into some routine missions: The Cold War: CG Reconnaissance Flights.)