John truly enjoys working with couples and believes everyone who wants to be in a relationship should have the skills to do so successfully.  

John was born in Guyana, South America and currently maintains a full time private psychotherapy practice in Oakland, CA with specialties in treating Addictions, Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders and Couples/Relationships.

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John was trained directly by John and Julie Gottman  at the Gottman Institute and he is the first Black/African American psychotherapist in the world to become a Certified Gottman Couples Therapist.  

 

He joined an exclusive group of less than 300 Certified Gottman Therapists. John was trained at the Gottman Institute as a Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work Workshop Leader and is a Certified Art and Science of Love Workshop Leader.

John has over 25 years post masters experience working with very distressed families and couples.  His experience includes both direct service and clinical supervision in healthcare (medical and psychiatry), community mental health, homelessness/homeless prevention and child protective services.

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John graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work with Departmental Honors from Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, MA.  He holds a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Health and Mental Health from Walla Walla University

 

John completed a Two Year Post Masters Certificate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from City University of New York - Hunter College School of Social Work. He is also a Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist in the treatment of Anxiety in Children and Youth by the Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia.

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John served on the boards of directors for Washington State Chapter for the National Association of Social Workers and the New City Chapter for the National Association for Social Workers where he co-chaired the LGBT Social Work Committee and was c0-founder of the Social Workers of African Descent Committee.