He was born in Reno, Nevada in 1985 and has been an active outdoorsman his whole life. Mike graduated college from the University of Northern Arizona with a degree in History before completing his Masters Degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada in 2010. Despite his successes academically early in his twenties, Mike struggled mightily with feelings of depression and substance abuse early on. He is open about this now because he feels that overcoming these struggles and sharing how he did this, has helped him better relate to the personal struggles of many of his clients. Whether one struggles with overeating, depression or anxiety, substance abuse or other mal-adaptive behaviors, he feel that his own personal experience of combating obstacles can be of benefit when he share this with others.