Creativity, intimacy, bravery, adventure, generosity, spirituality, and SILLINESS are guiding principles in all domains of my life.

Mindfulness and zen practice are very important parts of my life. I believe that having a personal mindfulness practice is essential for psychotherapists. Outside of my professional life, I am very active in my Buddhist community (Clare Sangha) where I serve as a sensei or teacher in the White Plum Lineage of Soto Zen Buddism.

I am a HUGE animal lover and am a proud “dog dad” to my faithful hound, Clancy, whom I adopted from the Maryland SPCA. Being creative is also a passion for me, and currently I am “scratching that itch” by home-brewing beer. Also, I think it’s really important to find humor in life. That is why I REALLY enjoy torturing other people with my corny jokes and puns. Exploration and being in nature are also really important to me, and I am currently trying to spend as much time as possible in the woods.

You might be wondering about the image in the logo for Santanello Psychological Services. It is a hanko. In Japanese culture and Zen Buddhism, a hanko is a personal seal that is used in place of a signature when signing documents. I use my hanko when signing my Dharma name, Ryūshin or "Dragon Heart/Mind", in my role as a Zen teacher.