I am Dr. Dan Richards, and I was born and raised in Maine, living most of my life in the Portland area. I attended the University of Maine in Orono for my associate degree, while I had my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Southern Maine. I received my Ph.D. in Counseling from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Since earning my counseling board certification in 1983, I have been delivering counseling services for more than 49 years. In 1992, I was one of the first psychotherapists to become a licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Maine. What does all of this mean to you? I hope that this information helps you understand the level of energy and commitment I have given to my clients and the counseling and mental health profession. I love my work as a therapist and feel extremely privileged to assist my clients in finding ways to overcome obstacles that block them from having healthy lives. I refer to such difficult times as “Transitions in our Life.” If we are not careful, we can get stuck and not transition easily from one stage to another.