Brandon Laventure, Associate Clinical Social Worker

Life looks different for everyone. For no one is it easy. We encounter challenges in the world and within ourselves, and face them as well as we can. We carry pain, often invisibly. We press on despite the doubt we may feel about ourselves, our relationships, or our place in this universe. The way I see it, none of us are meant to do all of this alone. My approach to therapy and life is curious and reflective, rooted in cultural humility and radical acceptance. I want to know who you are, and I want you to know that it’s okay to show me. In therapy, I draw primarily from the theories of person-centered therapy and internal family systems. That means I tend to see the mind as made of many parts, and I believe that by stretching our conception of ourselves both inward and outward, we can discover some truly marvelous things — growth, healing, acceptance, and the people we are meant to become. To engage in this process is to take a bold step inward, seeking out these treasures without knowing what waits in the dark. We walk together. You hold the lantern.

In addition to individual therapy for adults, I lead groups of adults and teens age 14 and up in tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) therapy. TTRPG therapy is a group practice that combines elements of role-playing, art, and narrative therapies. Using the framework of Dungeons & Dragons, client-players try on new expressions of self as we practice collaborative problem solving and quest for meaning in a fun, empowering space. Sessions are 3 hours long, and the fee is $50 per hour. A typical group consists of 3–5 client-players of similar age, and meets online weekly. Adults and teens age 14 and up who live in California are welcome to apply. No Dungeons & Dragons experience is required.