Hello and welcome to 1 Life Counseling. My name is Ed, and I’m a Licensed Addiction Counselor and Mental Health Counselor based in Longmont, Colorado. For the past nine years, I’ve worked with adults navigating substance addiction, behavioral addictions, trauma‑rooted coping patterns, and the emotional weight that often sits beneath them.
My path into this work began long before I became a counselor. After completing my first graduate degree (MDiv) in 1996, I spent years exploring the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and human behavior. Over time, my interest shifted from rigid theological frameworks toward contemplative practice, presence, and the deeper layers of identity. That exploration eventually led me out of dogma and into a more grounded, experiential understanding of the human mind.
In 2013, I began studying the work of Eckhart Tolle, which opened the door to a different kind of inner work — one centered on awareness, embodiment, and the patterns that shape how we see ourselves. By 2018, I became certified as an addiction counselor, and in 2019 I began working full‑time in addiction treatment, including a year in a methadone clinic during the height of COVID. I later completed my Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling through Adams State and became licensed as both an Addiction Counselor and a Mental Health Counselor.
Today, my work is grounded in trauma‑informed addiction counseling — helping clients understand the emotional and nervous‑system roots of their substance use, compulsive behaviors, and long‑standing patterns. I integrate somatic awareness, experiential grounding, and a clear understanding of how trauma shapes behavior, identity, and coping.
When I’m not working with clients, you can usually find me on a trail or in a coffee shop. I moved to Colorado from Austin about ten years ago and fell in love with the mountains. Hiking, backpacking, and amateur nature photography are a big part of my life, and I often use my photos as backgrounds in telehealth sessions. I also enjoy quiet Friday nights with Netflix, listening to music, and following the sports teams I grew up rooting for in Dallas.
In sessions, clients describe me as easy to talk to, patient, empathetic, and non‑judgmental. I use a mix of education, somatic awareness, practical insight, and sometimes humor to help people understand themselves more deeply. My passion is helping clients find relief from suffering and reconnect with a steadier, more grounded sense of self.