Couples Counseling Therapists in Half Moon Bay, CA

I have a particular expertise in early, formative trauma and PTSD. Thus, I assist individuals and couples with working on and through the early relational harm and hardships that continue to impact or impede their current relationships and functioning. In addition, I provide care for people suffering from depression and anxiety, eating disorders, and general life stressors and challenges. I also have extensive experience working with addictions. I truly enjoy being in relationship with individuals and their families in what I believe to be sacred work, and look forward to speaking with you about entering into this process together.

I offer positive psychology coaching to help my clients experience more joyful and soulful living. Positive psychology, is “the science of happiness” and the field researches "what makes life worth living". I work with clients to go above fixing what they already have, to spark imagination, creating and living a wholehearted life. With a compassionate approach, we partner together to build a vibrant vision for the future. We illuminate deeper self and social awareness, set intention for what is most meaningful, and capitalize on your strengths. You will begin to live a life filled with more meaning, hope, and optimism.

It is my passion to help people lead fulfilling lives and cultivate nourishing relationships. Through mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems and somatic interventions, I empower adults, children & teens with tools to navigate their lives and nourish their relationships. I offer couples counseling , parenting support and therapy for children & teens who are struggling with worry, stress, anxiety, defiance, depression and overwhelm. I also offer support for loss & major life transitions. It is a sincere honor to work with my clients, and I hope I get the opportunity to work with you!

My name is Gregory and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples , and families who struggle with depression, anxiety, mental health disorders, spiritual and faith issues, grief and loss, trauma, anger, marital issues, divorce, and substance abuse/dependence. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you get to the root of your struggles, your trials, and/or your pain from the past, to bring to light the negative patterns from the past that impact the present so you can have more hope, and live a life of fulfillment and purpose.

I provide therapy for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families to help with better communication, increased ability to recognize and express emotion, integrate difficult experiences or transitions in the past or present, and live with more joy and connectedness. I work with my clients collaboratively and approach my work with curiosity and compassion. I strongly believe in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship and would feel honored to be part of your or your child's journey toward healing and vitality.

I have been a therapist for almost 50 years and love the work I'm doing. I enjoy working with individuals and couples dealing with personal, marital/relationship and parenting issues. I help clients resolve their anger and communication issues, leading to healthier and more intimate relationships. I have also have had training in EMDR and hypnotherapy. My therapy is in-depth, dealing with the emotional connections between childhood and adulthood patterns that keep us from enjoying life to the fullest. Through understand and breaking through the barriers that confine us comes the deep healing and the path to a more fulfilling life.

Whether you are experiencing an acute personal crisis or seeking more general self examination, therapy can be an excellent way to obtain clarity and relief. Together we will explore the personal factors contributing to your distress, develop a better understanding of healthy and unhealthy patterns of dealing with your problems, and learn adaptive ways to cope. My goal is to help you increase your skills and enable you to successfully manage your current and future challenges.

We have all experienced difficult transitions in our lives which create feelings of anxiety, fear, loneliness, anger or sadness. Developing new ways of coping, or new ways of looking at values and beliefs, can help us transcend these feelings and create new opportunities for peace and meaning in our lives. I am compassionate and nonjudgmental, with an informal and interactive style. I am interested in your spiritual framework as it may pertain to values and beliefs which are helpful or harmful, and I often use humor as a means to maintain safety and balance in our work together.

We've all seen the stereotypical therapists on TV, but that's not what you'll find with me. I am a down-to-earth person, which is reflected in my approach as a therapist. Compassion, warmth, and believe it or not, humor is what you will experience in our work together. You first must feel comfortable with your therapist for the experience to be successful.

As a caring & experienced psychotherapist, I listen carefully & respond honestly in person or by phone, FaceTime, zoom, Skype. Parental neglect or abuse leaves us with low self esteem, unresolved hurts & insufficient coping skills. Self criticism leads to painful and negative beliefs that cause depression and anxiety. We begin with the formative events in your life & your current issues. By drawing on family systems & psychodynamic principles, I use the latest interpersonal, cognitive & behavioral techniques with an informal and collaborative therapeutic approach that leads you toward greater self understanding & positive steps.

Therapy is a personal process and finding the right fit with the right therapist makes all the difference. In a non-judgmental, supportive and safe environment, I invite my clients to take risks and explore their challenges wholeheartedly to help understand their issues, gain awareness, overcome their obstacles, and ultimately obtain the tools to lead an empowered life. I offer one free 30-minute phone consultation. Call (650)455-2547 to determine if we are the right fit. To find out more about my professional background, visit my website at www.cmortonmft.com.

I welcome you to my practice of Embracing Transition. I support you during your difficult situation to see the possibilities when you cannot. I have worked successfully with adults and families for over 30 years focusing on parenting, co-parenting, divorce, and grief. My experience includes working with severe mental health conditions for 25 years. Since 2015 I have worked with individuals with chronic medical conditions.

Deciding to see a psychotherapist takes courage. Good news, psychotherapy regularly delivers relief and positive change. My approach to treatment rests in the belief that people are doing the best that they know how, in the moment, and that we all desire to move to a healthier state when possible. As a professional psychologist, I specialize in helping people achieve their desire to move into a healthier state by reducing suffering and increasing wellbeing.

Beginning the journey of self-discovery and healing can be difficult. You may be struggling with a difficult family dynamic, needing support around a sudden loss, or wishing to improve the quality of your relationships. Facing this is truly an act of courage. Individuals have innate qualities and inner strengths that, when nurtured, can help in overcoming these hardships. I provide a safe and supportive environment where you can freely express yourself without judgement.

**Please see DrJerryBakka.com for more information. Therapy is a collaboration with my clients to ensure a safe, non-judgmental place to explore feelings, concerns, patterns, and options. My psychodynamic and CBT perspectives look at current difficulties through exploration of past and present experiences. I work with people brand new to therapy but have also been the psychologist to many therapists. Vast experience allows me to draw upon 30 years of work in hospitals and private practice. To begin, I help clients articulate expectations for therapy so that together we can create a positive, productive therapeutic relationship.

Attending to the health of our relationships within our Natural world, to our relationships with each other, and to the relationship we have with ourselves in supporting living a good, purposeful, path of your Life. Do you find yourself having too many days feeling frustrated, sad, or alone, too many problems in your relationships, or life has left you with unresolved feelings? For over 15 years I have been helping people improve their relationships, deal successfully with problems of living and dying, and move into living fully.

I offer integrative Jungian psychodynamic therapy to people motivated to address underlying reasons for their struggles. The presenting concern for most regards relationships. We have come to find that symptoms of anxiety and depression are usually rooted in relationships with primary attachment figures. Hidden wounds may manifest as life-long beliefs that you are damaged, overly sensitive, unhealthy, and have poor judgement. On the one hand you may be quite accomplished, socially and professionally, but deep inside you may suspect that you are irrevocably broken, eternally confused, and unlovable.