I am often asked how I got into teaching anger management and domestic violence classes. The simple truth is that I battled with my own anger issues and outburst from my youth into my early adulthood. I remember being angry at my parents, my life, and everyone around me. 

Why? 

I wasn’t sure. In 1986, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with that same anger, and it cost me. I recall sitting in boot camp, playing around in class while the drill instructor was speaking, and another Marine told on me. I was furious! I got up and went off on him with a barrage of name–calling. I wasn’t sure why I got so angry over that small situation, but I was out of control. In fact, I was enraged. In that moment, the drill instructor pulled me to the side and mandated that I attend anger management classes. I was defiant and in denial at the same time. I insisted that I didn’t have an anger issue,and I accused them of blowing the situation out of proportion. A year later, however, my anger would come back to haunt me again as I was charged with committing battery on a fellow Marine. As a result, I was kicked out with a bad conduct discharge. It was at that time that I chose to get help from anybody in the mental health field that would listen— a therapist, a counselor, an instructor—it didn’t matter. I just wanted to heal and learn some tools that would help me become the best version of myself. 

Having done the work to master my mindset, I felt a calling on my life to assist others who are battling anger issues and trauma. I went into law enforcement,where I facilitated a program for youth called Youth Offenders’ Program (YOP). These youth were adjudicated as adults in the prison system. I later became a certified academy trainer for the Department of Corrections, instructing classes such as officer conduct and de-escalation classes. 

Today, I am a certified anger management specialist and domestic violence facilitator, and the proud owner of Anger Management 702, LLC. in Las Vegas, Nevada. I coach and instruct individuals who are just like I was. I also facilitate anger management classes at a local police department in Las Vegas. I conduct speaking engagements for the Department of Public Safety, as well as for the Department of Corrections, and have counseled a plethora of men and women that have been previously or are currently incarcerated.