Therapists in North Hills, San Diego, CA

Hi there, I am glad you found me. I believe in the value of therapy at different points in our lives. My areas of therapeutic experience include; life transitions, dating, breakups, marriage, parenting, military and veteran families, church/belief dynamics, loss, accountability, aging, disabilities/different abilities, as well as business and academic pursuits. My clients have described my style as genuine, attentive, caring, and creative. I aim to create a comfortable environment where you can shake hands with any emotion that is necessary.

As your therapist, I know the relationship between us matters the most for the work we do together. You want presence, connection, a real human- that's what I provide! I show up for couples who are looking to build more confidence in their ability to talk about the "hard things", become masters at handling conflict, & see each other with more grace, humor and positivity. I work with individuals who want to feel less anxious socially and relationally, and learn to express their thoughts and feelings with self-assurance, make decision out of care instead of fear, and have compassion for themselves, even when they make a misstep.

I understand therapy as a compassionate journey of self-discovery. I believe we have the resources within ourselves to develop happy and meaningful lives and relationships. However, sometimes we get stuck, sidetracked, or distracted by the complex world around us. Past traumas or current stressors put up roadblocks. Partnering with a therapist who is a good fit is one way to navigate challenging times. I can help you with * Personal Growth * Life Transitions * Managing Chronic Illness * Issues of Grief and Loss * LGBT Issues * Spiritual Growth * Anxiety/Depression * Trauma * Anger Management * Strengthening Relationships * Substance Abuse * Eating Disorders

I am committed to use my extensive experience and the effective skills I have developed throughout my professional career in mental health to help you feel better in a short time. I have a deep understanding of why we end up suffering or are stuck and unable to get to that state of well-being we all deserve and are capable of achieving. Sometimes one just needs a little help from an expert. At a minimum, my aim is that you leave having more insight into what the problem is and how to resolve it. We can do the rest together or you can try on your own. I am confident that you will not regret the experience.

I believe that our lives are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves, and that these stories are informed by our unique cultural, societal, and relational background. Sometimes these stories can leave us feeling stuck in painful patterns, hopeless about the future, and disconnected in our relationships. I specialize in working with individuals and couples to unravel and challenge these unhelpful narratives, give voice to untold stories, and free up space to choose new ways of living that align with your values, hopes, and longings in life.

Raising humans (and being one!) is challenging beyond measure. You plan to parent differently than how you were parented and that seems simple enough...if it weren't for the fact that your baby was up all night, your toddler is screaming at the top of his lungs while decorating his body with the oatmeal you just made him, and your big kid is crying about how none of her clothes feel right on her body and she needs all new clothes, NOW. You told yourself you wouldn't yell today, but it is barely sunrise, and the sun has already set on that goal!

Modern life is grueling, especially when trying to grieve a loss or process overwhelming trauma. It might feel like an almost insurmountable feat just to find a safe environment within which all of your emotions are honored and accepted. There is a sense that we must trudge on and deny intense feelings and thoughts in order to present a more palatable image to the world, which can compound sadness, anxiety, and loneliness. I understand how exhausting this can feel.

Are you feeling disconnected from your partner, struggling to communicate, or having relationship difficulties? Do you want to build better intimacy and emotional closeness in your relationship with your romantic partner? If you are looking to reconnect with your partner, strengthen your bond and intimacy, learn ways to manage conflict better, and enjoy the benefits of a healthy and lasting intimate relationship, then I may be the ideal fit for you! I can teach you evidence-based skills to communicate better and strengthen your relationship.

Do you often wrestle with worry or anxiety, negative thoughts, big emotions, or flashbacks? Maybe you're pregnant or recently had a baby and are finding it tough to adjust to this new transition? Imagine feeling confident and at ease as you navigate your daily life. Experiencing life without reacting to fear and pain. Imagine living a rich and fulfilling life that's guided by your values instead of by fear and anxiety. I can help you make the shift from surviving to thriving.

Fear and anxiety bring about feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy, along with the urge to retreat. It is easy to lose sight of the voice that reminds us of our strength and resilience. We experience deep levels of self-doubt as we are caught in a cycle of anxiety or depression. Healing and liberation can be achieved by exploring and utilizing our self-awareness, core values, and cultural identities. It requires intention and vulnerability to access that awareness and sense of self.

Does fear, trauma, or anxiety interfere with living your life? Do you feel uncertain about the direction your life or relationships are drifting? Or do you wonder how to assert yourself more in your relationships? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Life is filled with the unexpected and the best we can do is to find solutions. But it is often not simple to act on or even know what solutions exist. Our fears, anxieties, traumas, and other emotional blocks diminish motivation and confidence to take action. This makes a self-reflective examination of what is necessary to support the growth of what is possible.

Finding and embracing an authentic self is one of the core missions of adult life. What too often corrupts this search, though, is the phenomenon of shame - a destructive force if there ever was one. Shame can contribute to substance use, depression, anxiety, interpersonal struggles, poor health outcomes, maladaptive trauma responses, and, at extremes, psychosis and suicidal ideation. Such maladies, when approached in the context of a compassionate and trusting therapeutic relationship, can be transformed into signs pointing the way toward a meaningful and fulfilling sense of self.

Tired of the daily struggle? Longing to experience more clarity, confidence, balance, and ease in your life? No matter what you are going through, you don't have to suffer alone. Healing and change are always possible. Sometimes we just need the right support and some new strategies to move through the muck to something new. I specialize in helping healthcare and law professionals, women, and young adults navigate life with more ease, build deeper confidence, improve their relationships, find better work-life harmony, and reconnect with their passion/purpose. Together, we will uncover & release what no longer serves you.

Are you tired of how the past creeps up into your day-to-day life? Feel sad or lonely, living as roommates instead of husband and wife? You’ve felt abandoned by God. No matter how hard you have prayed to be healed, your heart remains in pieces. The struggles in your relationships have kept you in a place of sadness and loneliness. My passion is to connect hurting people with a healing Savior, by utilizing faith-based knowledge along with clinical therapeutic training. I am dedicated to providing you with the highest quality of professional services for helping you overcome your situation.

Now accepting clients in both CA and WA! Feeling overwhelmed, racing thoughts, constant worry, and low self-confidence may be things you have become familiar with. Maybe you have recently experienced some life changes or maybe the way you typically cope just isn’t cutting it. Some days it may feel like your worries, fears, and self-doubt are completely taking over. No matter how hard you try, you can't seem to shake the "What ifs." You want to get through your day without feeling completely overwhelmed by work, school, or caring for your children. You want to stop that voice in your head that tells you that you’re not doing enough.

I'm a versatile therapist focused on creating a supportive environment and providing compassionate and helpful feedback. I began my career more than 15 years ago working with adults and children who've experienced trauma. I specialize in treating individuals with depression, stress and anxiety and provide couple and family counseling to improve relationships and parenting. I have two primary goals as a therapist - create a therapeutic relationship that feels safe and supportive to clients and provide therapy that's effective in relieving suffering and improving people's lives. I'm here to help you reach your goals.

I know how difficult it can be to reach out for support when you need it most, so, let me first start off by saying that I appreciate the courage you have shown by taking this first step towards finding a therapist that will meet your needs. I am passionate about working with people who are dealing with life/relationship stressors, experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, or are struggling with body image, overeating, binge eating, or bulimia nervosa. I take a strengths-based approach and work collaboratively with my clients to understand their goals for therapy which allows us to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Mark is a supportive, perceptive and skilled therapist, offering a safe therapeutic space, and capable of being fully present with his clients. He is able to “read between the lines” so to speak, to assist his clients in harnessing and building on their internal strengths, to help them identify and utilize new coping strategies for improved emotional regulation, and to assist and empower them to look for and enact solutions to their distressing problems (both temporary and permanent).

Our current Covid-19 climate of living, can be highly stressful and anxiety provoking for many people. Are you feeling anxious? Down? Stuck? Frustrated? Not sure what it is but cannot put your finger on it? Perhaps you have experienced a crisis and feel like you are spinning out of control. Or maybe life somehow now feels unmanageable. These feelings can cause an increase in limiting beliefs and negative self-talk, which can also affect your personal and professional relationships. This is not at all unusual, and IS very recoverable. It is my pleasure to help you make sense of it, regain your footing, and help you get back on track.