Therapists in Soquel, CA

After 25 years of hearing from clients that I help them to grow, change and solve the problems that bring them into therapy, I take pride in being a caring, compassionate and skilled therapist. Research has demonstrated that successful therapy depends upon the relationship between the therapist and the client. You can trust me to respect you, understand you and guide you in a collaborative therapeutic process. You can safely bring your frustrations, sadness, anxiety, shame or other feelings into therapy as we work through them in ways that improve your happiness and sense of well being.

When a couple comes to see me, there is most often a feeling of safety. Because they know that the model I use for the healing of couples' relationships brings such a high percentage of satisfaction. The model is EFT ( Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples). Even though EFT does not need the teaching of communication skills, I am also, a communication teacher. For the couple and myself, it is always thrilling to see workable interventions that give them more freedom and safety because life is so much easier living within a secure relationship.

I am currently only accepting new neurofeedback clients through the Santa Cruz Neurofeedback Center, www.scneurofeedback.com. I will be supervising a LPCC Associate starting Fall 2023. + + Feeling overwhelmed or stuck? I can support you in the process of moving forward. Using present moment experience, we'll explore how you relate with yourself and others. In this way, you can learn to set boundaries, expand your emotional capacity, as well as give and receive love more deeply.

Entering into the right therapeutic relationship is the first step toward healing and change. Working collaboratively we will explore the origins of any problems or pain you have be struggling with, at a pace that is safe and comfortable for you. As mental and emotional material is explored, the ability to experience greater freedom and enjoyment in your relationships, work, and family life will become more readily accessible and tangible in daily life.

I believe that therapy is a partnership between the therapist and you, the client. I will work with you to support the process of growth and discovery as well as to work toward the goals which brought you to therapy. In my work with couples, individuals, families, and children, I use a strengths based, collaborative approach. Whether you want to improve your relationships, learn new coping skills, develop your parenting skills, or work toward other personal goals, I encourage you to give me a call so we can develop a plan which will work for you.

I support you in remembering yourself and allowing your inner healing intelligence to return you to connection with your wholeness.

Sometimes life presents seemingly overwhelming challenges. Answers to these questions lie within us. I can help you find solutions drawn from your own innate wholeness, wisdom and intelligence. Working together we can make significant steps along this journey to greater well being and more satisfying relationships. Allow me to accompany, guide and support you along your way. I bring over 30 years of professional experience and training in addictions, couples work, LBGT issues and trauma recovery to our sessions. I offer humor, empathy, a highly engaged style and a deep respect for the courage, resources and depth of each person.

Do you want to understand more about how and why you are the way you are? Are you contending with difficult and painful symptoms in your emotional and mental life? Do you need a safe, neutral, and compassionate third party to hear you, reflect your story, offer feedback, and try to make sense of your life together with you? Everyone contends with painful experiences and emotions in their lives. Often times we are confused by our pain because despite our best efforts, we can’t seem to make sense of why we are hurting so much or what to do about it. So often the pain in life is a result of unconscious energies within us.

We all deserve to feel seen, accepted, and cared for, and to feel empowered to live our best lives. It can be profoundly helpful to have an ally in the journey of being human. My work as a holistic therapist is to support clients in their growth as individuals and in relationships. Together we uncover what is most present and in need of care and attention. Anxiety and depression may be seen as invitations for deep change and healing. Struggles in relationships can be doorways to greater intimacy.

Therapy is a chance to explore your feelings and thoughts, to gain a better understanding of yourself, and to make positive changes that will allow you to experience life more fully. I will provide a safe environment for your exploration, and draw on my knowledge of theory and technique to help you access untapped or forgotten resources. I believe that through a respectful therapeutic relationship you will be able to explore beliefs that limit your life, and ultimately you will be able to choose, with awareness, how you want to be in the world.

I support adults, baby boomers, & elders in their move toward HAPPINESS. FREE 15 minute consultation. I invite you to my peaceful, hilltop office to explore & work through feelings of loss/grief, non-acceptance, feeling less-than, life transitions, dissatisfaction, helplessness, & pain. I can help you with empowerment, insight, & moving beyond impeding obstacles. With empathy & sometimes humor, I will guide you through life's crises & challenges. You can learn to stay mindfully in the present, an antidote to fear & helplessness. Life can always be better & we can remember to be thankful for the beauty & the good. I work with individuals & couples.

People often come to therapy blaming each other or themselves for their problems. I work to help you identify and stand up to the real problems in your lives. If you're experiencing difficulties in your relationship, I'll help you and your partner become allies to join together to understand and change the problems undermining your connection. If you're dealing wtih individual problems, such as depression, anxiety or loss, I'll help you to inquire into and challenge negative self-blaming beliefs and old stories that keep you on your case instead of on your side.

I'm an experienced therapist of over 25 years having spent thousands of counseling hours with individuals, couples and groups. Women's issues such as sexual abuse, miscarriage, abortion, traumatic events, marital/relationship issues, depression, anxiety, grief and PTSD - are my specialty. I have counseled hundreds of couples to improve communication, intimacy/connection issues, trust; and to heal from infidelity, addictions and wounds that threaten the relationship. Issues of teens and young adults are important to address early in life: school, career, sexuality, relationships, traumas. Better to get help sooner than later!

Therapy is an amazing placebo. You do not NEED a therapist to learn, transform, and grow your awareness of yourself. I firmly believe whatever it is you are seeking to learn, change, or make peace with, you can do it. The benefit of working with a trained therapist who sees you, gives your sense of agency and innate wisdom the respect it deserves, and offers an outside perspective on your experience informed by evidenced-based theory and practice, is that the pace of growth is greatly accelerated.

I can help you solve your problems and achieve the quality of life and love that you seek. I believe in your potential and the potential of your relationships to go to the next higher level of functioning. I can help you with practical solutions (behavioral changes) to relationship, career and parenting issues as well as personal issues that lead to anxiety and depression. Insight, emotional healing, and inner wisdom are the deeper forces that you can access in our healing work together. Advanced psychotherapeutic techniques (EMDR Trauma Reduction, Somatic, Transpersonal, Mindfulness) are available as well as supportive, nurturing counseling.

Feeling anxious or worried? Too busy for therapy during the work week? I'm available for Friday afternoon and Sunday appointments. I provide support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges, reduce stress levels, and lead richer, fuller lives. I am an interactive, solution-focused, cognitive behavioral therapist. In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues.

I work with adolescents, adults and families in individual, couples, family and group therapy settings. I have over 16 years of experience and work primarily from a relational, compassionate, client-centered, transpersonal and somatic centered approaches. This holistic therapeutic approach allows my clients to heal, integrate and transform their negative/traumatic experiences by using empathy and mindfulness skills to improve their functioning within their daily, social, work and relational domains.

This is my passion and my clients feel at ease with me quickly with my empathy and humor. I help relationship stress, anxiety, PTSD, neurodiversity, grief, recovery from child and narcissistic abuse, finding their true authentic self and passion. I use client-centered Rogers, Kohut, EMDR, Beck and Ellis CBT, DBT. ACT, Jung... I am a Christian and I also respect people with other faiths or no faith. I help therapists, interns too.I am 72 years old and I have been married for 48 years to my beautiful wife singer Christina Purcell and we did individual and couple therapy too. We write songs such as the songs on her CD "Love's Calling."

Sliding scale and some pro bono sessions for front line workers. Video and phone are currently available. Feelings of anxiety and stress need support at this time. My approach is based on the belief that you are naturally intelligent and resourceful. Connect to strengths within you. The quality of your relationship with yourself and others leads to greater freedom, clarity, and peace. Free yourself from stress and conflict that so often occurs in relationships and work. Compassion, insight, and intuition represent my style. Building inner resources and tools to manage emotions improve professional and personal relationships.