Therapists in Irvine, CA

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with diverse experience in social services and healthcare fields. My expertise is in helping individuals/couples cope with differences in priorities, improve communication, and facilitate better understanding of each other. I have a variety of experiences working with children and families with issues related to child welfare system, court or non-court custody related issues, legal guardianship related issues and parenting issues.

I am passionate about working with Asian American children of immigrants with anxiety and childhood trauma. You may have been scared to come home and tell your parents you got an A- in the class. And now, as a working professional, you should have every right to feel proud of your accomplishments. Yet you can't help but feel guilt and worry every day. No matter your past or your current circumstances, you deserve to experience life richly and fully. You are in the driver’s seat of your mental health and your life.

I have provided therapy for individuals (children K-12 and adults), family, group, and couple sessions for over ten years. My modality is Cognitive Behavioral which means we believe it is not the event itself but how we perceive and react to the circumstance that may cause a problem. We will explore different possibilities through our session and discover what may serve us the best in pursuing happiness.

Everyone has a story; everyone has struggles; everyone is fighting their own battle. We all experience some degree of suffering though it and all of us need a safe place. A safe place where we can be who we really are, where we can listen to our own needs, wants, feelings, and beliefs. I create this kind of environment for you by providing validation, empathy, and compassion. I conduct psychotherapy with adults, young children, and adolescents. My style of practice is client-centered. I create an approach tailored to the particular characteristics and needs of each client.

I utilize Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) to assist couples in understanding their emotional dynamics, recognizing their relationship patterns, diffusing negative cycles, and establishing healthier communication and emotional connections. If you find yourselves in a pattern of arguing, escalating tensions to meet your needs met, and then feeling disconnected, withdrawn, and helpless, your relationship may benefit from guidance to reestablish emotional closeness between you and your partner.

For over a decade, I have been supporting individuals across the lifespan with culturally sensitive therapy. In addition to helping people work through anxiety and depression, I specialize in working with adults affected by complex trauma and helping them feel safer and more hopeful to create a life worth living. I also support people with marginalized identities to process the stressful impacts of oppression and increase experiences of empowerment and connection. I look forward to helping you identify your values, practice coping strategies, and work toward specific goals to improve your mental health.

老若男女、今まで２０年以上 ０歳から１１０歳までの方たちと触れ合い働くことで、たくさんのことを学んできました。平日はお仕事でお忙しいでも気軽にセラピーを始められるよう、主に週末（土曜、日曜、稀に祝日）のみのスケジュールです。今のところ１８歳以上のクライアントが対象です。

日本とアメリカの文化の違い、仕事場でのストレス、家庭での問題などを相談してください。私は日本の大学を卒業後にカリフォルニアの大学院で心理学を学びました。大学院在住は私自身がクライアントとしてセラピーを受ける経験もあり、クライアントさんに寄り添ったセラピーを提供しています。

私たちは皆、年齢に関わらず、成長し、より幸せになることができると思います。心理療法の目標は人生をより豊かにすることであり、「症状」など悪いものを除去することにとどまりません。幸せがどこから来るのか、またどのように幸せな人生にたどり着くかは人それぞれです。 今まで治療を通してお会いした方々は次のような様々な問題を抱えながらも、人生をより豊かにしてきました。

Hello my name is Kenji Watanabe, and I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I focus on providing an engaging, collaborative, and supportive therapy experience. I aim for clients to gain a deeper sense of connection, freedom, and hope within their self and their most significant relationships. I take a client-centered approach, and I believe in the client's own creativity, strengths, and resourcefulness. I value the client's input and personal goals for therapy, and I adjust my therapeutic frameworks and interventions to fit their goals.

Are you feeling betrayed or abandoned in your marriage? Do you believe your partner is addicted to porn, sex, and love? Let's stop keeping things in the dark and get help for you and your loved one. I have the exact tools you need to combat your struggles. You don't need to wait for a crisis to get help. Just having a third objective lens into your situation can bring so much insight and perspective. Allow me to walk alongside you and offer the support and guidance you need!

Life at times can seem like a roller coaster with all of its twists and turns. The inevitable ups and downs with no clear direction can leave us feeling lost. Unforeseen events throw us around for a loop, reminding of us of the uncertainties and whimsical nature of life. Depression, anxiety, feelings of helpless or being left behind can shortly follow. Other times, the opposite is true. Staleness, stagnation, and the far too predictable aspects can lock us down. Is more structure the answer? Or is it more flexibility? It is my hope that we can find the answers to the many questions together, as companions on this journey together.