Dr. Munnerlyn completed his Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Webster University in Saint Louis, MO with a minor in religious studies from the Eden Seminary. He earned his Master's of Arts Counseling Psychology and his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Adler University in Chicago, IL. He completed an APA (American Psychological Association) accredited internship at La Frontera in Tucson, AZ and ended his training with a post-doc fellowship at the Hazelden Betty Ford Treatment Center outside Portland, OR.
Clinical Experience: I began my work in Chicago, IL. During my first year of clinical studies, I worked with incarcerated adolescent males and learned how crucial it is for us to provide our children with safe, stable, healthy, and compassionate adult authority figures. My second year, I worked in a community behavioral health center that served the LGBTQ community. I leaned in to some deep and necessary conversations, which helped deepen my own identity and expand my knowledge of gender constructs. In my third year, I worked at an outpatient medical facility, conducting family therapy with a variety of different family types. I learned how to help support these families through creating effective communication and healthy relationship skills. Then, I moved to Tucson, AZ where I worked in a residential treatment center helping those affected by substance use, anxiety, depression, and trauma. After completing my doctorate in Clinical Psychology I moved to Portland, OR where I continued working within residential addiction treatment. I now work in private practice specializing in treating men's issues, concerns related to the LGBTQ community, relationship problems, symptoms of trauma/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and post-treatment and continuing care for people with substance use and addictions.
Dissertation: "A qualitative exploration of the experiences of the LGB clients who successfully completed a 16-week psychoeducational residential substance abuse program."
My Approach
Growing up in the South and Midwestern parts of the United States, I quickly learned how men were "supposed" to behave, talk, and communicate. I have not often found these ways to be helpful in my relationships with others. Quite the opposite, in fact. I have since learned more effective tools to identify, express and communicate my emotions to others in healthy, effective, and productive ways.
I fell in love with psychology, the study of the human mind and human behaviors. I found myself reading and researching what contributes to addictive behaviors, what strengthens relationships with others, and what keeps us disconnected from each other and ourselves.
Over our lifetime, most of us have created constructs (narratives or stories we tell ourselves) about how the world works. We tend to move through life as though these constructs are true in all circumstances. Sometimes these constructs can be helpful but often they become overly rigid or too loose. I work in solution-focused ways, always validating your emotional, physical, and mental experiences while keeping you focused in the reality of the situation. Together we test out your narratives about your world and either build on these ideas or deconstruct them and rebuild new ways of thinking and approaching the problems and relationships in your life.
We are social creatures and yes we must be in relationship with each other. This is the human condition. Knowing how to navigate relationships is one of the skills I will help you develop. All of us want to feel we belong. Shame and criticism keeps us disconnected. I do not use language that keeps you stuck or in pain. I challenge those unhelpful and unhealthy narratives keeping you stuck and work to find evidence for alternative ways to think about your roles and life experiences. These new narratives help lead you to greater happiness and a better sense of self.