As you enter our office, you may notice certain well-placed pieces of art which provide an environment that feels connected and natural from the very moment you step in. Many clients ask about the natural wild butterflies and the simple pencil-sketched moose. In my personal and professional life, the moose and butterflies are metaphors that have given me guidance and direction in a nonlinear, metaphysical way.

In 1987, the butterfly became symbiotic of the powerful life change I was experiencing. During a three-hour meditation walk, a butterfly followed me through the woods, which I embraced as a symbol of support. This was during a time I was getting sober from drugs and alcohol, while finding my finding my passion working with those diagnosed with ADHD and other learning differences. The butterfly represented transformation of life, change, and challenges, which continues to stay with me, both at home and in my office. I must admit that I have collected butterflies, albeit obsessively at times, as my wife will attest to each time she sees the multiple boxes of “collector ceramic butterflies” in my “don’t you dare throw things away box” at the top of my closet.

The Moose is a recent symbol and icon of our center. In 2011, I discovered the moose in Canada where I was celebrating my 50th birthday with my brother and his wife on an excursion along Lake Superior.

As we were driving along the highway, I suddenly noticed a rather large moose calmly eating grass alongside the road. At first glance, it looked like a statue, and then realizing it was real, we turned back to get a better look. Just as we were near, it galloped back into the woods. My sister-in-law explained that in five years in Canada with many trips along this highway, she had never seen even one moose.

The next day my brother and I were once again traveling along Lake Superior when we spotted a baby moose eating in a marshy area. This time we were able to stop and capture a somewhat distant picture before it also ran into the woods.

As a memento of my trip, I really wanted an artist drawing of a moose and found a simple hand-sketched moose by a local artist. The owner of the studio said seeing even one moose in Canada is a sign of something unique and special. Having seen two moose in less than 24 hours was the best birthday gift I could have received.

The butterfly and the moose are icons that represent the metaphysical that I see as thinking outside the box, like so many clients at TLEC. They give me strength and courage to hold my vision of helping those diagnosed with ADHD rediscover their natural connection to themselves.