About John
I help women and men of all ages and teens age 16 or older gain deeper self-understanding and discover the meaning of significant life events and transitions. I am respectful of my clients’ needs and allow them to set the pace of the therapy. I offer practical suggestions, still allowing clients to choose the actions that best suit them. I draw on a number of approaches, depending on clients’ needs, including:
Humanistic Therapy
to provide a sense of safety and unconditional acceptance and encourage deep reflection.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT
to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Narrative Therapy
to help clients create alternatives to the stories they tell–or have been told–about themselves by noticing themes they may have missed.
Jungian and Depth Psychology
to uncover the deeper meaning of life events, using imagery and symbols, and engaging the imagination.
Because of my interest in the creative arts, I encourage creative outlets in life and am open to using creative approaches to therapy. Also, while I know therapy is a serious business, I think humor and light-heartedness still play an important role. I think my clients would describe me as open, non-threatening, supportive, and imaginative.
I have received special training in the following areas:
Narrative/drama/creative arts therapy
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT)
Learning disabilities
In my 20-plus years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I have provided psychotherapy to a culturally and socio-economically diverse mix of clients. Some of the challenges I have helped them address include:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance Use and Addiction
• Infertility and Adoption
• Men’s mental health
• Life Transitions
• Trauma
• Disability/Learning Disability
• Domestic Violence/Conflict/Abuse
The following is a partial list of the types of populations I have worked with:
• The LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming communities
• Spiritual Seekers
• Creatives
• The neuro-divergent (those with ADHD, on the autism spectrum, etc.)
What is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)?
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) must complete a Master of Social Work (MSW) program, in which they receive training in providing direct counseling to clients. They then must complete 3,000 hours of clinical (counseling) work supervised by a licensed clinician. They must register with the state’s licensing board—in California it is the Board of Behavioral Sciences—and pass two licensing exams. Similar licenses are the LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) and LPCC (Licensed Professional Counselor). Licensed Psychologists (PsyD or PhD) complete doctoral level education and receive more training in administering psychological tests. The MSW degree and LCSW are unique in their emphasis on advocacy and how culture and environment influence individuals—the person-in-situation or person-in-environment perspective.