About Me

What led you to becoming a therapist?

I get asked this question often and my answer always sounds corny to me, but I can't think of a less corny answer so I am sticking to it. Here it goes:

"It's what feels right."

I know... I know, totally cornball, right? But it's true. I've always been that guy who people talk and open up to. Whether it be friends, co-workers or just some lady behind me in line at the grocery store. I guess I am just easy to talk to. Maybe it's because I love to listen to other people's stories and I am always fascinated with how they think and feel about... well, anything really.

Why do you focus you practice on helping kids and teens? Isn't that difficult and scary?

Yes, sometimes it can be difficult, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love working with kids and teenagers. They are growing and changing so fast and they have so much potential. To be a positive role model for a kid in need is a wonderful privilege that can last a lifetime.

I understand why many people are scared of working with youth, especially teenagers. There is an inherent communication block between kids and adults and the block is difficult depending on the age and maturity of the child in question. What separates me from others is that I know how to speak your kid's language whether your child is four, fourteen or twenty-four. I understand how kids think, partially from my training and education, but also because I remember being young and how I looked at the world... it was different than how I see things as an adult.

What I find to be scary is to be a kid in this day and age and feeling that no one understand me.

What kid of training and experience did you receive before starting your private practice?

I trained at several different internships before getting my license:

• Robin Scott Walker, M.A. M.F.T. - Private Practice Psychotherapy Internship
  I received an in-depth and wonderful mentorship from one of the very best leaders in the field of child and family therapy, a great therapist and a good friend. This is where I began to build the practice that I have today.

• Southern California Foster Family and Adoption Agency
  Working as both a therapist and a social worker, I had the honor of helping foster children unite with their new foster/adoptive families or reunite with there biological families.

• New Directions for Youth
  At this school specifically for adolescents on probation, I had the amazing opportunity to provide psychotherapy and guidance to teens. Many there struggled with gang affiliations and substance abuse problems.

• Robert H. Lewis High School
  I greatly enjoyed helping teenagers at this continuation high school to improve their coping, social and relationship skills when dealing with family, friends and school obligations through psychotherapy.

• The Center for Individual and Family Counseling
  This was my first training site where I began sharpening my skills as a therapist. I was fortunate to work with a broad range of clients with many different challenges. This is where I initially discovered how much I love this work.

Where did you go to school?

I earned my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Years before that, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts with an Acting Emphasis from California State University, Fullerton.

You were an actor?

Yes, I worked in the entertainment field for roughly fifteen years as an actor and a few more years behind the scenes in television production. Most of my acting works was in commercials, yet I also performed in many independent movies and plays. I was also very active in co-creating, producing and performing with a comedy improv troupe in Los Angeles for over five years.

I find that many of the skills I learned as an actor and an improviser have helped me greatly in initiating many creative approaches to helping my clients (especially kids). I think that it is important to positively model creativity for children and teenagers in order to show them new ways to channel their emotions. One of the gifts that I take with me from that career to this one as a therapist, is the understanding and the ability to help not only creative types, but those who feel creativily challenged to access that part of themselves to find insight and emotional growth while still having fun!

Speaking of careers and jobs, do you belong to any professional organizations?

There is an organization called California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) that I belong to. CAMFT works closely with the California Government State Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to regulate and ensure ethical conduct by California licensed and pre-licensed therapists. I am a member of this association as many therapists are.

I am a member on the Trauma Response Team for CAMFT on the state level and also locally for the San Fernando Valley Trauma Response Team. These teams are made up of therapists trained to work in conjunction with local police, fire fighters, medical response teams and The Red Cross in case of a disaster in our community.

Previously, I served on the board of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of CAMFT as the Chief Financial Officer (2008-2009), Member at Large (2007) and the Pre-Licensed Member at Large (2006).

I'd like to get to know you better. How can I do that?

Glad you asked. Please feel free to call me (I'll actually answer the phone if I'm available) or email me if you prefer. Just go to my Contact page to get all the info.

Sometimes picking up the phone to call a therapist can be uncomfortable... especially if it is your first time. I am very easy to talk with and I'll take the time to listen to what you have to say and respectfully answer any questions that you may have. Not only is that part of my job, it's what I like to do.

Thank you for taking the time to read the About Me page.