Transitioning from a professional NFL career with the Raiders at 430lbs, I began a life change with a 200lb weight loss, earned a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. I have over 20+ years of experience providing mental health services to diverse populations suffering with DSM-IV clinical disorders. My roots stem from mental and behavioral health crisis interventions within adolescent rehabilitation and adult detention facilities. Currently I am operating a mentorship program derived from my experience in sports and behavioral psychology to educate and motivate those I work with by finding ways to effectively impact life rather than to be hindered. Without effective mentoring, it can be easier to be overcome by destructive behaviors such as substance abuse or emotional outbursts. Dedicated to having everyone I work with develop deeper understanding of themselves, and create more meaningful relationships, I lead by example, being a father of three and a devoted mentor to many in an ongoing manor.

Resume

Mentor/Consultant

July 2019 - Present | Independent contractor/consultant

Managed an intake center to assist kids age 6months to 18 years transition from homelessness, abandonment, or neglectful households into a more stable setting including foster care or placement. Develop training and care plans and suicide assessments, as well as their deployment.

Work directly with adolescents moving from high school to their college career. Outlaying a relevant path to their goals, and identifying clear signs to keep them on track.

Training and mentorship with an injured professional athlete. Mindset training and physical conditioning to prepare him for re-entry into his career.

Mentor/Consultant/Owner

Nov 2012 - June 2019 | The Letterman Project

The Letterman Project provides on site mentoring (counseling) to school districts. Mentors are students referred by Principals. Mentor concerns encompass a variety of unique needs. Besides loss of school motivation and interpersonal conflicts, mentoring addresses a diverse composition of social, psychological and physiological complexities. The Letterman Project typically utilizes individual, small/large group models as well as classroom observations, speaking engagements, home visits, and on the field mentoring for student athletes. Record keeping consists of mentee goals and objectives, school staff and parent contact, home visit and note taking. Currently mentoring with the Antioch Unified School District at Deer Valley High School and Black Diamond Middle School.

Study Skills Instructor/Mentor

June-July 2015, 2016,2017 | African Male Initiative Summer Bridge Program via the Antioch School District

Co-facilitated the African American Male Study Skills course during the summer bridge program incorporating lessons, highlighting networking, and team building. Demonstrate and impart the importance of vital soft skills. Highlight memorization techniques through cognitive processing semantic memorization techniques, and memory recall sequencing. Utilized a large group model to gather peer opinion, provide constructive critique by instructors, refine communication skills, and practice classroom etiquette. Incorporated African American History within curriculum. Communicated with families in regards to their student's success and participation in class. Escorted classes on field trips to local universities and junior colleges. Incorporated mentoring characteristics from the Letterman Project to encourage school based motivation and heighten critical thinking and ethical decision making.

Matriculation Specialist

Feb - May 2015 | Pittsburgh High School

Through Los Medanos College's EOPS Outreach, co-facilitated a college prep course that imparts the requirements needed to enter a UC, CalState, Community college or vocational program. Assist students in creating educational plans, identify college and career interest. Highlight personal skills for success as well as financial scholarship information to efficiently complete their degrees. Facilitate psycho educational after school groups to promote life, social, emotional, and academic skills for success during and after high school. Highlight strategies for success withing their homes as well. Teach effective communication skills and maintenance over emotions and feelings while directing all choices towards positivity and success. Ingrain the importance of life long education as well as encouraging their active participation in their school progression.

Counselor Intern

May 2013 - May 2015 | Los Medanos College

Provide comprehensive counseling services to a diverse, multicultural student population. Counseling services include all aspects of academic, transfer, career and personal counseling. Assist students with the decision-making process and the exploration of alternatives in regards to their educational, career and personal goals. Work with students to develop comprehensive educational plans. Assist students to prepare for and complete the transfer process to higher degree granting institutions. Provide class instruction in any assigned course according to currently established course outlines and procedures: to maintain necessary scholastic records and grades and to provide them according to published deadlines. Adhere to the schedule developed with the Department Chairperson, which may include individual student appointments, drop-in assignments, workshops, and weekend and/or evening assignments.

Family and Child Service Coordinator

November 2010 - February 2011 | Urban Strategies: Bay View Hunter's Point

Planned, organized, and implemented family and community partnership services for families of Bay View Hunters Point Housing Development. Act as community liaison for the agency. Organize, facilitate and conduct meetings, training sessions, and ongoing efforts for professional development. Enroll and coordinate efforts to encourage community members and parents as volunteers. Organize and participate in delegate inter-agency meetings. Participate in community board, councils, advisory groups, etc., representing the agency. Provide means of transportation to job interviews, job training, and department of motor vehicles. Maintain organized records of activities related to the Department of Housing for San Francisco and family files. Attended all center biweekly staffing, staff and management meetings. Identify community agencies and resources which provide services to residents of Bay View. Ensure the delivery of social services, emergency and non-emergency services, directly or through referrals.

Residential Crisis Interventionist

Dec 2002 - Aug 2010 | Los Angeles Residential Citizen's Foundation

One-on-one and group supervision of moderate to high functioning developmentally disabled adults. Supervise a work group of previously incarcerated developmentally disabled youth exhibiting negative behaviors. Teach client's anger management, communication, daily living, and life skills. Diffuse volatile behavioral outbursts from a developmentally disabled make sexually acting out and an oppositional defiant developmentally disabled male intimidating staff and clients. Provided maintenance to Operations Department with needed maintenance of facility.

Clinical Psychologist Intern

Jan 2006 - Dec 2008 | Wasco State Reception Center - Prison

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Psychologist, Chief Psychologist and Warden. Council Inmates with a diverse composition of social, psychological, and physiological complexities. Administer, score, and interpret psychological, measures designed to assess cognitive and emotional functioning. Facilitate psychoanalytic, individual and group. Conduct clinical assessments and evaluations. Assist psychiatrist in the preparation of clinical programs. Work in ad-segregation with inmates who cannot function withing general population. Assist with completion of court ordered evaluations. Mediate between high profile inmate populations. Intervene during prison riots or gang rivalries. Maintain state and Dept. of Mental Health documentation.

Reunification Support Program Therapist

July 2002 - Oct 2002 | Penny Lane Centers

Primary therapist intern for a family reunification support program at Penny Lane. Conduct individual and family counseling within their home. Develop individualized treatment plans and coordinated services plan with realistic goals and expectations for family and youth returning home. Communicate with Administration, RSP Therapeutic Team, Probation Officers and families. Teach the application of the therapeutic approaches and alternative treatments goals to RSP Staff. Maintain state and Department of Mental Health documentation. Work scheduled and non-scheduled hours.

On-Call Crisis Therapist

Mar 1997 - July 2002 | Penny Lane Centers

Supervise and council adolescents with a diverse composition of social, psychological, and psychological, complexities. Perform critical physical restraints and crisis debriefing for agency. Inform and transports clients to juvenile hall, hail or emergency hospitalization. Diffuse volatile situations I.e.: violent episodes, suicide attempts, and self-mutilation. Develop individual treatment plans with realistic goals and expectations. Prepare clients for future challenges I.e.: job skills, money management, communication skills, etc. Facilitate psychoanalytic individual and group. Communicate with administration and other therapeutic professionals regarding a client's progress. Maintain state and Department of Mental Health documentation.

Education

2000-2003 Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

American Behavioral Studies Institute

Dissertation: Treatment of Depression and Intermittent Explosive Disorder: A study of NFL Athletes in the Diagnosis of Psycho-therapeutic Treatment of Depression and Intermittent Explosive Disorder

1998-2000 Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy

Phillips Graduate Institute

1987-1992 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

University of Hawaii