The catalyst for Neal to become a therapist was the influence of his mentors during his struggles with finding peace with his own identity. They inspired him to live his life authentically and unapologetically and also to seek out therapy. When studying to become a Physician’s Assistant he realized that it was his passion for addressing health care disparities within marginalized communities and working with clients from a holistic mental health perspective that was the ultimate catalyst to becoming a therapist. 

     Obtaining his Masters of Arts in English showcases Neal’s love for literature. Toni Morrison’s fictional novel, Beloved is a work that serves as a reminder to Neal that our past shouldn’t define our present or future. He sees the novel as a call to action to address negative preconceived notions we have about ourselves. In his therapeutic work and lived experience he has come to understand that self-deprecating thoughts and feelings of inadequacy may arise and these serve as obstacles in our process of self-discovery, self-worth, and sense of purpose.   Our inner voice is powerful and we have the right and power within ourselves to change our narrative through words of affirmation and compassion towards ourselves and others. He helps clients change their negative self-talk into an empowering inner voice that will help them nurture their hearts and minds. 

     Neal utilizes Trauma-Informed Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Relational Cultural & Person-Centered therapy as his preferred models of intervention. He feels that showing up for your clients is about more than just active listening and reflecting skills, it’s about treating the individual holistically in a collaborative manner. Neal inspires the collaboration by lessening any power dynamics that might exist in the room and focuses his therapeutic energy on aligning himself with his clients through compassion and empathy. 

     According to Neal, our minds can’t heal without the help of laughter and joy and therefore he adds a touch of humor in combination with his goal of making his clients feel validated, heard, and affirmed.  His areas of expertise include: trauma, sex & body positivity, individuals struggling with disabilities, out of control sexual behaviors, substance use disorders, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, LGBTQ+, along with cultural humility for those working through race, ethnicity and gender identity issues.  Neal is an award-winning therapist that has received awards for his work relating to teaching masters level counseling students and another for providing mental health care within an outpatient setting.  Being able to bring his therapy vision to life through consultation and supervision has been the most impactful and rewarding aspect of his career thus far. 

     As a means to ‘get out of his head’ Neal enjoys exercise as a way to bring greater awareness to how his thoughts may be manifesting as physical or psychological stress in his body. He shares his love and care for others by cooking and sharing meals with friends and family. Neal also prioritizes ‘playing’ since it’s a form of inspiration that allows for being messy and disorganized. It’s a reminder to be curious and seek out new adventures in life. Neal is also an avid reader who loves to write and read poetry. He also enjoys dancing, traveling, and playing with his dog, Bingo. Neal takes pride in being a godfather, husband, son, brother, educator, and dedicated friend and colleague who is always leaning into discomfort to challenge himself.