What therapy Can Offer
Therapy can offer relief, insight, and real change. It can help you significantly reduce anxiety, anger, fear, trauma, and feelings of helplessness—and support you in creating a life that feels more aligned with who you are and what you want.
It can also deepen your understanding of the challenges that bring you into treatment, such as ADHD, Autism, anger, PTSD, depression, anxiety, trauma, or relationship difficulties. You may feel as though something is fundamentally wrong with you, that you can’t change, or that you don’t deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and love. These beliefs can shift.
Through therapy, you can begin to see yourself more clearly and compassionately. You can learn to offer yourself grace while developing the tools to improve your situation. You don’t have to repeat the past. You can learn to manage ADHD, anger, anxiety, PTSD, and depression. You can build healthier, more supportive relationships, deepen connections, find love, strengthen friendships, and grow in work that feels meaningful to you.
Many people reach a point where they know they want something different. They recognize they’re unhappy and feel ready for change.
Why not you?
Welcome to my Psychotherapy practice
I work with men, women, couples, teens, and pre-teens (ages 7+) to address a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. These include anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, PTSD, ADHD, and high-functioning (often masking) autism. Many of my clients also struggle with a deeply held belief that something is “wrong” with them or that they are undeserving of respect, dignity, and love.
Most clients come to me feeling overwhelmed by anxiety related to relationships, work, and self-image. Many are neurodiverse and face challenges such as social anxiety, difficulty driving, feeling like they are “failing” at life, or being in frustrating relationships where they feel unheard, overlooked, or unequal.
I offer a direct, warm, and affirming approach. Using evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), I help clients reduce anxiety and trauma, build self-awareness, strengthen boundaries, and create meaningful, lasting change. My goal is simple: to help you feel better, stronger, and more confident in your life.
As a therapist, I provide the understanding and validation that may have been missing earlier in life. Clients learn practical tools to manage anxiety and panic, improve communication, and develop healthier relationships. As confidence and self-awareness grow, many experience deeper connection, reduced trauma symptoms, and a stronger sense of self.
If you struggle with anger, depression, or feel that your needs and feelings don’t matter, change is possible. You can learn to communicate effectively, set boundaries, and build relationships where you feel valued, respected, and heard—whether at work, at home, or with your partner.
I provide telehealth services to clients throughout California, allowing you to meet from the comfort and privacy of your home or office.
I offer monthly superbills for PPO “out-of-network” reimbursement. I am in-network with Aetna, Quest, and others, and I accept payment via Zelle. Sliding-scale fees are available to help make therapy accessible. Please note that I am not a Medicare provider.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent over 30 years in the corporate world, working in IT, banking, aerospace, manufacturing, marketing, and management. I also served as an Executive Director of a counseling agency and now support and coach new therapists. This background allows me to effectively help professionals, as well as individuals navigating major life transitions, including aging.
My approach is eclectic and tailored to each client. I integrate elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). We may also explore family history to better understand patterns and develop more effective ways of coping. When appropriate, I use exposure therapy to help clients safely face fears, reduce panic, and heal from trauma.
Call me for a free consultation at 760-766-1622
Specialties:
I provide psychotherapy and coaching for:
- Couples and Relationship Counseling
- Anxiety, Fear, and Depression
- Trauma, PTSD, c-PTSD and Panic Attacks
- Increasing Self-Awareness: why you do what you do
- Teen and Young Adult Issues
- Grief (loss of a loved one, current or in the past)
- Neurodivergence: ADD, ADHD, Autism and LGBTQ+
- Personal and Executive Coaching
While there are many methods and systems that exist to improve Relationships, I have found that significantly improving relationships can be achieved much quicker and with longer-lasting effect if both parties understand that what they learned as children (how their parents resolved issues), does not really work well.
We need to learn a different approach in how we talk and work together if we are to improve and achieve more satisfying and rewarding relationships.
The good news is that the changes are not difficult. We simply have to become more self-aware and take control of our natural impulses, at least, we, men, need to. That means we have to become more “self-aware” of our “knee-jerk” reaction to what we perceive as criticism and restrain what immediately comes to mind: how do I stop the criticism and shut it down (usually yelling, over-talking, getting angry, becoming physical). Sadly, none of these work and only makes things WORSE.
(Usually) Men (but sometimes women) react strongly when they think that they are being criticized. They don’t like it and want it to stop NOW! This is a learned reaction, something we saw a parent do and something we copied so it became a part of us. Very few of us want to feel criticized but reacting strongly instead of taking the time to think about what was said, can be harmful (to us). It is so much better and healthier to realize that the partner we care about has just given us important feedback, and that we can use that feedback to build a better relationship.
Because we care about our partner, rather than overreacting in anger, we can stop and think about the feedback we were just given. We can decide whether what we were told is true and how what we said or did made our partner feel. We can decide if we want to be responsible for our partner’s hurt or bad feelings and live with the consequences or “fix” the problem we just created.
In other words, when we do or say something that is hurtful to our partner, we should want to know about it because ignoring a hurtful comment or action drives a wedge between us that can grow and fester. IT IS IN OUR BEST INTERESTS TO FIX PROBLEMS WE CREATE and to HEAL WOUNDS. If we can do this, it will bring us closer to our partner and strengthen our relationship.
What you can learn in Relationship Counseling can become a new habit that will not just preserve your relationship but make it better. As the partner who took action to heal a wound, you get credit for trying to fix a problem you created and demonstrate your care for your partner. This often results in the “female” partner feeling heard and cared for, which is more important than most males realize.)
However, it doesn’t just fall on the male or “controlling” partner. The other partner has an obligation to tell their partner that what just happened hurt their feelings and that they didn’t like it. That is all they have to do but that can be very threatening, especially if the partner was trained to be subservient and not to challenge the dominant partner (or either parent in childhood).
For a couple to move from anger and hurt feelings to closeness because of something that was said in anger, both partners have to be willing to change and both have to understand that they CAN change but that it may be strange at first to speak up and strange to listen and not react; to think about what just happened and work to repair the hurt that a critical or thoughless statement or action created.
The good news is that this is not that hard to modify your behavior in a relationship and achieve positive results. Both partners can feel loved and understood and that is more than half of a happy, healthy relationship.
FAQ
How often will you come in for sessions?
That’s a good question. I have found that, in this work, just like trying to build strength or improve your golf game, you get better with frequent and regular sessions. That usually means weekly though, at times, there may be a need or desire to come in more often to help you to get through a difficult period.
How long does it take?
This is difficult to predict. I ask clients to give the process at least 12 sessions for the process to start making a difference. You should expect to feel somewhat better in the first 12 weeks and you will begin to notice changes and have more awareness. However, most issues have deeper roots and dealing with those issues takes time.
Do I take insurance?
The answer to that question is complicated based on your situation. Insurance companies require a mental health disorder diagnosis to cover the costs of treatment. Many of my clients prefer to deal with their insurance companies on their own or not to submit my invoice receipts because they want to protect their personal information. There is no way I can guarantee the confidentiality of your personal information once it leaves my office.
I am "in network" for Aetna, Quest Behavioral Health, Anthem Blue/Cross (CA) and Blue Shield.
I provide a "super-bill" for my services, as an "Out-Of-Network (OON) provider" that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. If you have a PPO medical insurance, your reimbursement may be from 30%-60% of my fee for "out-of-network" providers. If you have an HMO medical plan, there may no reimbursement.
I am not a Medicare provider and you will not be able to bill Medicare to pay for my services.
What are my fees?
The fee for a 50-minute session is $180 for individuals, teens and family sessions. Extended sessions are prorated based on the 50-minute fee.
Couples sessions are scheduled for 75 minutes at a fee of $270.
I offer a sliding scale based on levels of income. (I am not a Medicare provider)
How do you pay me?
I prefer Zelle, credit cards or cash to pay for the session at the beginning of each session unless otherwise agreed to.
How do you reach me if you have to?
The best way to reach me is to call our office voicemail [760-766-1622] and leave a message. I will be notified that you left a message and get back to you as soon as I can. I am not available after 10:00 pm or before 7:00 am. If you have an emergency, you need to call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room. When in doubt, please act in your best interests and for your own safety.
About Me
I am a grandfather, have two grown daughters with families, and have always liked to solve problems, cook, garden and exercise. I plan to practice well into my nineties. I am also male and recognize that "we" are often the "weaker" sex emotionally and have a lot to learn about ourselves and that we can improve with good feedback from a loving partner.
I have worked with thousands of children and teens since 1997 in school settings and in my private practice. I respect and enjoy working with these "young" adults and have learned much from them.
With over 30 years of experience in banking, consulting, financial services, manufacturing, marketing, project management, product development and technology, and over 24 years as a licensed psychotherapist, I offer insight into dealing with business challenges and "difficult" people.
My background in technology, aerospace, banking, financial services, operations and management includes:
- Technology (IT) and product/project development for a large California bank, an aerospace company, and the largest credit card marketing association in the world
- Multi-year and multi-million dollar budget project responsibility
- Operations and Manufacturing consulting for multiple divisions of an international conglomerate producing business and military aircraft, space aircraft, consumer radio and television products, software development, and building tools
- Executive Director of a large neighborhood mental health agency
- Management positions in multiple and diverse corporate organizations in Southern and Northern California
- Managed multiple levels of employees in large corporate environments
- Served on the board of a $500M credit union for ten years and several boards of mental health professionals for the last 17 years
- Licensed as a Marriage Family Therapist helping clients ranging from 8 to 95 since 2001
- BA in Economics and an MBA in Marketing from UCLA; MA in Counseling from JFK University
How Your Childhood Shapes Every Relationship You’ll Ever Have
Think your childhood is ancient history? The way you were raised is literally running the show in your relationships. How your parents treated you, the amount of love (or lack thereof) you received and even disastrous family dinners all played a lasting role in your life. Let’s see how your childhood subtly controls every relationship you’ll ever have.
Your Parents Taught You How to Love—Or How to Fear It
Were your parents warm, cold, or totally unpredictable? That’s your blueprint for your love life. If your parents were warm and dependable, kudos to you; you probably don’t ghost people. But if love in your household seemed like a roller coaster, then you will have a desire for drama, and when life gets too real, you push people away.
You Might Be Chasing What You Never Got
Some people date partners resembling their parents, while others go for the opposite—desperate to fill a childhood void. You might crave partners who smother you with love if you lack affection. If you had a strict upbringing or if your early life at home lacked love, you might chase love, excitement, and rebellion.
Trust Issues? Look Back at History
Did your parents break promises? Did they keep secrets? Lie? Betray your trust? Trusting humans again will then become unthinkable. Even when your current lover is loyal and truthful, your brain will instinctively bristle with anticipation of disappointment. It’s not paranoia—that’s your early life trauma whispering, “Don’t trust them yet.”
Sibling Rivalries? How You Struggle with Competition in Relationships
Competing for attention growing up? That doesn’t go anywhere. It spills over into your relationships—maybe you feel threatened by your partner’s hot coworker or secretly compete in your friendships. When love felt scarce as a kid, adult relationships can feel like a never-ending battle to be chosen.
Were You the ‘Fixer’ in Your Family? Now You Attract Broken People
If you played a therapy role with your parents or your siblings when you grew up, then most probably, even today, you’re drawn towards healing emotional unavailability in a person. You’re convinced your love can save them—spoiler alert: it doesn’t, and you’re drained out in the bargain.
Childhood Trauma? Now You’re Either Clingy or Distant
If your early life was insecure—perhaps through a dysfunctional family, divorce, or through neglect—this will resonate in your adult relationships. Some become hypercling, fearing abandonment, and others just shut down, not opening up to anyone too closely. Either way, your heart is playing defense based on old wounds.
If You Were a ‘Golden Child’, You’d Have Trouble with Rejection
Loved for being perfect when you’re a kid? Now, rejection wrecks you. You take it too personally, whether it’s a breakup or an unanswered text. Because your whole life, identity, existence, everything, was about being loved— so when someone doesn’t pick you, it feels like failure.
If You Were the ‘Independent’ One, Now You Struggle to Rely on Others
Were you the one who handled everything yourself? That most likely translated into your life when you grew up. You struggle with asking for help, even when you desperately require it. Your relationships suffer because you think needing someone makes you weak. (Spoiler: It doesn’t.)
If Your Parents Had a Toxic Marriage, You Might Be Scared of Getting Married
Growin’ up and seeing your parents’ perpetual fighting like it was a sport? You can become drawn to high-intensity, abusive relationships. Or you might just be scared ever to get married because you think it is the reality of every marriage. That healthy, secure relationship? That can sound suspiciously too peaceful.
If You Were Constantly Criticized, Now You Struggle to Accept Love
The critical parents? Today, any kind word makes you suspicious. You’re preparing yourself for criticism; when a person likes you, you’re just waiting for them to change their mind. That voice in your head whispering, “You’re not good enough”? That’s your inner child speaking.
Boundaries? You Learned Them as a Kid
If your family respected your space and opinions, then odds are, healthy boundaries in relationships have been your norm. But if you grew up with no privacy or were told to “just go along with it,” then setting boundaries might feel uncomfortable to you—even when you desperately need them.
If Your Family Avoided Emotions, You Might Be Dating a ‘Talker’
Did you grow up in a house where feelings were awkward? You might find yourself accidentally attracted to partners who won’t stop talking about emotions. They force you to open up, while you sit there wondering why they need to discuss every tiny feeling they have.
Your Childhood Friendships Shaped How You Handle Conflict
If your friendships during childhood included a lot of drama, you could repeat that same behavior in your adult relationships—giving silent treatments, passive-aggressive messages, shutting down, and not discussing an issue.
If You Were a ‘People Pleaser’ as a Kid, You Still Struggle to Say No
Did making your parents happy feel like a full-time job? Now, saying no to everyone feels wrong. You overextend yourself, avoid conflict, and let people walk all over you. On a deep level, you’re scared that when you stop pleasing everyone, they will leave.
Your Childhood Role Affects Who You Attract
Were you a peacemaker? The golden child? The rebel? A caretaker? The role you played in your family often determines the type of partners you attract. Caregivers attract fixer-uppers, peacemakers go for security, and golden children look for constant approval. It’s all connected.
How Your Childhood Shapes Every Relationship You’ll Ever Have
Think your childhood is ancient history? The way yo were raised is literally running the show in your relationships. How your parents treated you, the amount of love (or lack thereof) you received and even disastrous family dinners all played a lasting rold in your life. Let’s see how your childhood subtly controls every relationship you’ll ever have.
More on the No Surprises Act:
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
- You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services.
- Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
- Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
The No Surprises Act (H.R. 133) went into effect on January 1, 2022,
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