He completed a fellowship with the free thinker and originator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Dr. Albert Ellis. He holds the Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders. As a volunteer he has helped developed science-based, secular forms of self-help for people with addictions, facilitated self-help meetings and has advocated secular alternatives to the spiritually guided 12-Step treatment programs amongst his colleagues. He is a volunteer member of the Board of SMART Recovery®. He lives with his wife and daughter in Madison, Wisconsin.