Professional Biography

An overview of Todd's career in social work.

Since his parent's divorce when Todd was thirteen, family happiness was a high priority. It was the hope of building his future family on a solid foundation that led Todd down the path to becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a young adult. Todd met his current wife, Jenafer, through local church activities and they were married in late 2001.

Through years of helping friends and family with relationship concerns or other problems, Todd began to lay down a path that would eventually turn into a career as a therapist and counselor. In early 2003, Todd returned to school at Arizona State University, initially focusing on Psychology as a major.

"I was immediately frustrated with the focus of the Psychology Department, namely that individuals are broken and often times unfixable due to biology or natural behaviors that cannot be retrained. I disagree: people can change because I'm living proof. So I changed my major," Todd recalls.

Within the department of Family Studies and Human Development, Todd was taught how families exist as only a part of a greater system. Individuals and the family are subject to influence from work, school, and society at large.

"For me, this simply means the individual is not broken but instead exists in a complex and highly fluid environment. People can be strengthened by learning how to improve their interactions with one another and by giving them the tools to cope with turbulence in their lives," states Todd.

In 2004, Todd graduated Summa cum Laude from ASU. Without sufficient opportunity in Arizona for social work, Todd and Jenafer moved out of state to Utah. Todd and his wife found work as group home parents with Utah Youth Village. As Family Teachers, Todd and Jenafer are certified in the use of the Teaching Family Model, made famous by Boys Town, to teach their eight teenager foster boys social skills, effectively giving them the tools for life success.

"Most of the youth in our home are in the juvenile corrections system, and live in the home for anywhere between one and two years. Its a great opportunity to help a child in need, and it's exciting to see a youth make a positive change in their lives. I am currently living the dream I had in school, only I'm working with children and setting them up to succeed in their future."

Todd is finally heading back to school in 2008, attending the University of Phoenix in Salt Lake City and seeking a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling. The program is set to conclude in 2011, at which time Todd will have graduated as a Certified Professional Counselor Intern (CPCI).

For Todd, future career aspirations include staying at the Village, and completing his schooling while continuing to work as a family teacher. Todd would then complete the necessary clinical hours to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Todd lives and works with his wife Jenafer in Kearns, Utah as family teachers with Utah Youth Village. While they look after eight teenage foster boys, they do not have any natural children yet. Their black dog, Indiana, a lab / beagle mix will have to do for now.