Find a Therapist in Del Mar, CA

Therapy helps you become your best self. The person you want to be. If you are weighed down with uncertainty, ambivalence, depression, anxiety or fear there is a way through and we will find it together. In a safe, caring, compassionate space you can be seen and heard, understood and known, perhaps for the first time in your life. No matter how dire things may seem right now, there is a way forward. Yes, it can be difficult and painful. This way forward can also be exciting, inspiring and life-changing. Effective Couples Therapy. Whether you'd like your relationship to be even better than it is, or if your intimate relationship is a quagmire of uncertainty, conflict and fear, I can help. You will learn to use powerful communication methods to promote genuine mutual understanding with your mate, and develop the caring, compassionate, loving, growing relationship you yearn for. I have worked in Addiction Recovery for some time now. Whether you're still making a commitment to stop using, or you've made your commitment, I can help and support you without judgement through whatever program is working for you; I specialize in mindfulness relapse-prevention skills and cognitive skills from SMART Recovery.

If there is one thing I wish you would take away from an encounter with me, it would be that you are precious and valuable--that's why I call my approach 'Treasure Therapy.' You have inherent dignity and value. My passion is 'engaging in deeper encounters that lead people to hope, worth, meaning and healing.' I am passionate about whole-person healing, involving all parts of yourself. Please join me in your journey to discover the rich treasures inside of you. When it comes to your most important relationships, you need someone with experience. I am a licensed (clinical) marriage and family therapist in California (LMFT 111604), DC (LMFT200001211), and Maryland (LCMFT, #LCM754). While there are many good associates out there, I have a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, and have been counseling individuals, couples, families and groups since 2007. I am now approved by Maryland to offer supervision to other therapists in training, and I'm also working towards becoming an AAMFT-endorsed supervisor and certifying as a sex therapist. I am also a professional life coach across the U.S. for relationships, health, intimacy, business, and spirituality. Outside of doing therapy, I have been happily married for over 15 years and a proud father of two boys. As a parent myself, I know how important it is to find someone who has lived experience with juggling the demands of marriage, work, and raising children. While I use an evidence-based approach to therapy, I offer you the option of integrating faith and spirituality as part of your overall care, since I am a former pastor. However, I work with anyone regardless of your faith tradition or your life choices and will work with you using your beliefs.

My approach to therapy includes the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. Through combining these theories, it helps create realistic and attainable goals to change unwelcome behaviors. I am passionate about using play and art therapy with adolescents and children as an added alternative to talk therapy. I believe that making behavioral changes personal to you are ultimately how the most change will come. Together we will discover realistic ways of making positive changes come to fruition.

All couples experience conflict. Few, however, have learned to effectively communicate frustration without it turning into a fight. I specialize in helping COUPLES communicate after experiencing CRISIS. If you've experienced infidelity or betrayal of trust and want to give your relationship one more chance, I can help. With therapy we can create a safe enough place for each of you to express the underlying hurt and resentments that keep you from feeling connected. As an Emotionally Focused Therapist and wife in my own 35+ years of marriage, I am aware of how challenging relationship ruptures can be. It requires work and commitment. Together we can work through the challenges. There is hope for troubled relationships.

Are you frustrated with the direction of your life, feeling lonely, anxious or depressed? Do you sense that there is something that you aren't doing right but don't know what? I'd like to help. The sense that you are living someone else's life is painful. I am here to assist you in breaking out of feeling stuck. Whether you are having problems with self-confidence or self-esteem, getting tearful, sad and angry and not knowing why, or feeling like you are living someone else's life, its possible to make the changes you want. If what you are doing isn't getting you what you want, if you are repeating the same old patterns, but not moving forward in relationships or on the job, if you are feeling like a fake, you might be having trouble being fully or authentically yourself. Whether you currently have a partner or are seeking one, new relationship skills can make a world of difference in changing those depressed or anxious feelings. See my website for more information. Call me to start becoming more of your true and natural self.

Are you having some difficulties in your life or are you struggling with sadness, stress or other psychological issues? If so, then I am confident that I can help and or find you the assistance that you need. You will see that I am interested in assisting you in meeting your goals and helping you attain a more happy life. I utilize a non-judgmental but direct approach with patients. I can offer you ways to feel happier and more relaxed. I strongly expect success and provide every opportunity to achieve it. Specialties: SadnessDepression, StressAnxiety, Adjustment Issues, Life Changes, and Personal Growth.

Perhaps you are dealing with painful events outside of your control, your emotions are becoming unmanageable, or you are experiencing a new symptom that is sudden and overwhelming. It is very human to want to "feel normal" when dealing with these, but sometimes how we attempt to do this hurts us more. This could include the different ways we avoid our emotions, attempt to “be perfect" or negatively judge ourselves. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and techniques from Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT,) I will help you identify and change (as needed) ways of thinking and behaving that are impacting your mental health. My approach includes teaching coping skills that will target symptoms and addressing the triggers and any unresolved or painful emotions that may be impacting you. My style is warm and empathic, yet direct and to the point and my goal is to give you symptom relief with use of coping skills and to help you to understand your triggers and warning signs so that you feel empowered to take on future challenges as they come. I have 10+ years of experience and training using this approach to treat anxiety, panic, grief, PTSD and depression and the underlying issues that contribute to these such as trauma, loss, anger or unresolved relationship conflict.

I deeply value peoples' ability to be honest and kind to themselves so they can recognize when change is needed, but also forgive themselves for having struggled... because struggling is human. We all struggle, we all make mistakes, and we all have been in a place where we may not have presented as our best selves. Things in life can be difficult and we may lose sight of our importance and value in this life. I want you to know that I am here to remind you that you matter and that you are so much stronger than you realize or may give yourself credit for. I am here to help you recognize detrimental patterns that were once helpful and no longer serve a purpose, and also find strengths that you can utilize to help you live a fulfilling life that you are proud of. Together we will explore the motivations behind the patterns that currently get in your way, so you can begin your journey to where you deserve to be. I have experience working with all ages of clients that have struggled with ADHD, trauma, grief, communication, relationships, self-esteem, and more. I am incredibly passionate about working with couples and assisting with identifying the deeper roots of their struggles, so each member can get what they need and the couple can rebuild from the ground up.

I absolutely love my job as a therapist and truly enjoy being able to help others reach a high level of satisfaction in their careers and in their personal relationships. My approach is mostly collaborative-I believe in tailoring my treatment plan for each individual patient with their input and coordinating care with other health care providers, when appropriate.

During my thirty-seven years as a therapist I’ve successfully treated clients for anxiety, depression, dysfunctional relationships and a variety of other issues that had prevented them from living full and happy lives. Often, these problems are caused by traumatic events from childhood. Other times they result from more recent events such as a divorce, job loss, serious medical diagnosis, or the death of a loved one. My gentle, accepting nature and use of lighthearted humor provides a space in which clients feel safe to discuss painful experiences and serious problem. I’ve helped them recover from grief, let go of anger, and replace social anxiety with a sense of confidence and self-worth. I’ve guided couples in learning to share their experience rather than finding faults in their partner. Then, as they hear and appreciate their partner’s struggles, they begin to help each other heal, and grow together. I bring a wide breath of experience into my work. As a graduate of Cal-Tech and the Harvard Business School I understand the challenges and stress of working in high-tech engineering and executive positions. As the head of a clinical training program for five years, I’ve trained many new therapists to listen with an open mind and use their own emotional reaction in understanding their clients’ struggles And I know the relationship developed between client and therapist has a major impact on a client’s ability to heal. I therefore invite you to a free Zoom meeting where you can decide if we are a good fit. Call me at 310 433-8379 to set up a meeting.

Advanced Health Care is HERE To HELP during COVID-19. Now more than ever, life can be stressful, confusing, and painful at times. The purpose of our work together is to help you live a healthier, happier, and more meaningful life. We will work together to process what is holding you back, and to find ways to help you move forward. I am not here to tell you what to do or how to live your life, but to assist you in creating the life that you desire - in a way that works for you. You may be asking yourself, is this the right time to start therapy? Here are some things to ask yourself: - Do you feel like you are not on the right path? - Have you been chronically unhappy or made poor decisions? - Do you have a good life but find yourself feeling off or unsatisfied? - Are there situational problems in your life that you need guidance for? - Do you feel that your issues have been following you for years? - Do your problems seem to not have any solutions? - Are you confused as to what is even wrong? The good news is this: Psychotherapy can help. I treat a wide-range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, coping with illness, trauma, grief, self-esteem, women's issues, & stress. I also conduct psychological evaluations, including: Workers' Compensation evaluation and treatment, Agreed Medical Evaluations, Qualified Medical Evaluations, Personal Injury Claims, Fitness For Duty Evaluations, and Independent Medical Evaluations. I look forward to helping you.

Life is a rollercoaster of emotions, events, and unexpected twists. My goal as a therapist is to create a judgment-free, safe space where you can fully express yourself and embark on the journey toward your true self. I work collaboratively with you to cultivate a non-judgmental, empathetic environment where you feel seen, heard, and supported. Using a strengths-based approach, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solution-focused therapy. I aim to equip you with the tools and coping skills necessary to thrive through psychoeducation and ongoing support. I work with teens, adults, and couples navigating life’s challenges. My clinical experience includes addressing depression, grief and loss (including death, the end of relationships, and major life transitions), and trauma. I am proudly a part of the first responder family and know the struggles that come with the job. Additionally, I support couples in enhancing communication, resolving conflicts, managing life transitions, and navigating through cultural differences. Let’s work together to help you find balance, clarity, and resilience as you face life’s challenges.