In 2010 I was appointed to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)
Committee to develop professional standards for the regulated MFT profession in Colorado. Since 1992, I have taught classes on mental health, legal, ethical, and professional issues at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral level at various Colorado universities. Since 1997 I have served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT) in multiple positions including the Chair of the Ethics Committee. In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 I testified as an expert witness on mental health issues before Colorado Senate and House Committees at the invitation of members of both Chambers.  I authored two bills, HB14-1271 and HB17-1011, that were passed unanimously by both the Colorado Senate and the Colorado House and signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper.  In July 2017 I was appointed to the Mental Health Advisory Council of the Office of the Denver District Attorney. During the Statutory Revision Committee (SRC) tenure in 2017, I helped draft a bill on Generally Accepted Standards of Practice (GASP) for Mental Health Professionals. In November 2017 I co-drafted a proposed bill with Jean Ritter from the Colorado  General Assembly Office of Legislative Affairs to further define “generally accepted standards of practice” in the Colorado Mental Health Practice Act.  On January 22, 2018, I was given an award from the President of the Colorado Senate and Speaker of the Colorado House for my expertise on mental health issues, community service, and legislative efforts.  On May 17, 2018, I was elected Faculty of the Year (2018) by the graduate student body at Argosy University.  On August 21, 2018, I was appointed to the Public Policy Committee of Mental Health Colorado. Also, in 2018, along with my wife, Dr. Evelyn Leslie, I helped rewrite and update the Colorado Mental Health Practice Act (CRS 12-245) during the Title 12 Recodification Project shepherded by the Office of Legislative Affairs at the State Capitol. During the 2019 Colorado General Assembly Legislative Session I drafted HB19-1019 for Continuing Competencies for Registered Psychotherapists.  In October 2021 I was appointed as the Colorado Family Therapy Education Advocacy Movement (TEAM) Leader (Legislative Affairs Chair) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Additionally in October 2021, October 2022, and October 2023, I was selected by Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper to serve on an interview panel for candidates for appointment to US Military Academies. In July 2022 I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Family Therapy Network of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) as the Member-At-Large.   I have served four times as a practice monitor for sanctioned Mental Health Professionals for the DORA Psychologist Examiners Board, the Professional Counselors Examiners Board,  and the Addiction Counselor Examiners   Board.  During this 2023 Colorado General Assembly, I have given consultation to legislators on two bills related to the mental health profession and helped draft a third: HB23-1031. The third bill that I drafted was signed into law by Governor Polis on April 10, 2023.  I also contributed language to HB23-1178.