About Enrique

I spent much of my childhood growing up outside of the U.S. Our small family migrated to the greatly, multicultural state of Texas, just before my adolescence. This set me up to have vast and interesting encounters with people of various backgrounds, traditions and social positions. I just wanted to better understand those around me, so I could try to fit-in more adequately.  The result of these experiences and my own personal and spiritual journeys have led to a life-long pursuit of helping others to more honestly understand and accept themselves, as individuals. Early in my academic experience, I discovered psychology and other human sciences, and I was hooked for life. Eventually, this unfolded into a profession in mental health counseling, followed by a long career in teaching and more recently, in personal coaching services and mindfulness education.

Academically, I hold a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington.  I also hold a master's degree in counseling from the University of North Texas.  Since 1997, I have continuously maintained an active status as a Licensed Professional Counselor, in the State of Texas.  For the first eight years of my career, I worked as a public-school counselor for children and adolescents of all developmental levels.  Since 2002, I served as a full-time psychology professor, at North Lake College (now Dallas College).  In 2022, I retired from my work as a traditional educator, in order to pursue this new career endeavor, still founded on my drive to help others live more peacefully and fully. This coaching practice and mindfulness education programs are the result. My intention is to create a space where clients can seek their life purpose and live more genuinely, can learn to abandon unnecessary anxiety and anguish, and can attain strategies that will help them realize their goals.

My introduction into mindfulness studies developed from a combination of studying Contemplative Christian traditions, as well as Buddhist Psychology.  In 2013, I became part of the first student cohort of the "Living School for Action and Contemplation," an intense two-year program with the purpose of spiritual transformation. It was founded and taught by Father Richard Rohr, considered one of the most spiritually influential people in the world, as well as many other amazing, wisdom teachers. I was formally trained in a contemplative meditative practice that came from within Christianity (Catholicism more specifically) called Centering Prayer. I have since familiarized myself with other forms of meditations and mindfulness teachings, both Western and Eastern, which I sometimes include as part of my own practice. In 2017, I completed "The Power of Awareness," a course of study and practice with renowned psychologists and mindfulness teachers Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.  In addition to these formal programs, much of my education in this area has developed from my academic and professional training as a person-centered counselor, as well as from reading and listening to numerous books and attending many seminars on the topics of psychological and spiritual development and general well-being.

I have spent the last 21 full-time years creating and presenting lectures for young adults enrolled in college psychology courses, with an emphasis on providing them with tools to live more healthy lives, psychologically, and in every sense. I have additionally co-created and co-presented various mindfulness workshops for college campuses in Dallas-Fort Worth and for regional professional conferences, as well as for corporate settings.

I have been gratefully married to my wonderful wife since 2000 and am the proud father of an awesome kid who is beginning his own adult journey. I spend leisure time playing guitar, singing, reading, cycling, traveling, photographing, watching sports and being outdoors. Even as a child, my place of refuge and reflection was always among the trees. If I am surrounded by nature, I feel at home.  I maintain a meditative practice and continuously strive to better know my True self.   Pablo Picasso said “the meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away.”  From my teachers, I have humbly received and will forever continue accepting many treasured gifts & teachings. My greatest hope is to have an opportunity to share some of these with anyone who wishes to dive deeper into their own journey.