Stuart obtained his Master of Educational Psychology (Concentration in Counseling and Guidance) from the University of Texas at San Antonio. 

Before pursuing his counseling career, Stuart’s life's path led him to work for the Louisiana State Department of Probation and Parole, where he became aware of the destructive effects of substance abuse in the lives of many persons on his caseload.  Next, he attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he obtained a Masters in Theological Studies from Perkins School of Theology.  Stuart is therefore very comfortable with integrating clients' spirituality into their healing.

Stuart has been counseling persons with substance use disorders, and their family members, since 1989, and has been a licensed professional counselor since 1999. Since acquiring his LPC, Stuart has worked with children, adolescents, adults, families and couples, and has practiced in psychiatric hospitals, children's homes, and outpatient offices. He has been a Board-approved LPC Supervisor since 2004.

In his counseling career, Stuart has worked with many clients who have experienced the trauma of childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and military rescue and combat missions.  Stuart has received training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) from Laurel Parnell, PhD., one of the world's leading experts on EMDR; training in Prolonged Exposure at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and training in Cognitive Processing Therapy at Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. Stuart has also pursued training in additional trauma-informed therapeutic approaches, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).  During his employment at Laurel Ridge Treatment Center, San Antonio, Texas, between 2010 and 2016, Stuart had the honor of assisting the healing processes of active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. 

In his spare time, Stuart enjoys participating in amateur rocketry, science fiction cosplaying and model-making, volunteering for STE(A)M educational activities, and membership in space exploration advocacy groups.