Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA

Life can be hard but I'm guessing you already knew that.  All the hard stuff can leave us feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or sad. Sometimes life's challenges become too difficult to overcome alone. Finding a safe and collaborative place to explore and address what is troubling you is the first step toward healing.  Perhaps you are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, or challenges within a relationship. While there are no guarantees of what you will experience in therapy, research shows that therapy helps people. It works. Psychotherapy can elevate feelings of self worth, purpose, and improve your overall quality of life.

Do you find that you are questioning yourself constantly? Or feeling as if you have no motivation for the things you enjoy? Or struggling in your relationships? Are you feeling lost in this phase of life and trying to figure out what makes you happy? You may be wondering where these feelings are coming from. They may feel like familiar patterns, or these experiences might be new for you. Either way, you know something needs to shift. You want to feel more at ease within yourself and in your relationships. You are ready to quiet the inner critic and be more understanding of where, and who, you are.

Dr. Dufford received specialized training and experience in treating anxiety disorders at the Anxiety Treatment Center with Dr. Bourne, author of The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook. Since 1993 Dr. Dufford is director of Anxiety Treatment Services treating Generalized Anxiety, OCD, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobias, Social Anxiety and related issues: addiction, anger, depression, Trichotillomania/Excoriation, relationships, sleep/insomnia, grief and self-esteem. He is a professional member of the California Psychological Association, Obsessive Compulsive Foundation and EMDR International Association. Dr. Dufford is certified as a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Expert in Traumatic Stress and Addictions Counselor.

When your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is perpetually alerted to be in a survival state (due to various life stressors) you might notice symptoms such as chronic fatigue, adrenal deficiency, perpetual irritability, trouble with sleeping, digestive issues, various mental health challenges and the list goes on. Holistic approaches to wellness that incorporate body-brain based therapy models get at the root of these issues and begin turning down the dial on your ANS so that you can live a longer, healthier life.

Hello! First, let me tell you a bit about myself: I have over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health, both in community agencies and in private practice. I currently specialize in treating individual adults. I enjoy meeting you, wherever you are at in your life, with respect and caring. I am authentic and accepting, and provide a safe, confidential space for you to explore your past and what you want for your present and future. In therapy with me, you can turn emotional pain or stress into something lighter, and progress on a path toward greater happiness and health.

Feeling STUCK? I'd like to help. Maybe you're struggling with an important relationship, tired of feeling stressed or depressed all the time, wondering why a past trauma keeps haunting you or why you continue to do those things that keep you from being the person you want to be. My clients are teens and adults who are seeking greater satisfaction and meaning in their lives. People see me for different reasons--healing, growth, life transitions, clarity. Whatever the problem that brings you to therapy, you'll find my office to be a safe, supportive and accepting space, a sanctuary.

The most important person in the therapy session is you. The most mysterious person in the therapy session is you. And the most powerful insight will eventually come from you. You may feel stuck, angry, lonely, confused, hopeless or numb. Maybe you feel too much? Perhaps you're losing hours on tik tok or porn sites? you dissociate, sleep too much; can't sleep. It's okay to reach out. Everyone wants connection, everyone needs connection. Therapy can help you find ways to connect.

Life can feel hard sometimes. You may be feeling stuck; struggling in your relationships or work, drowning in hopelessness, exhausted by the relentlessness of your thoughts or behaviors, overwhelmed by your worries, consumed by sadness or plagued by low self-esteem or poor body image. You know you can’t keep living this way. You want to have thriving relationships, confidence, joy and an ease to your days. You have the innate wisdom and knowing that will guide you towards healing, as I walk alongside you on this journey of self-exploration and empowerment. You have the potential to be whole, healthy and happy.

Welcome! I commend your strength in taking this step. As a therapist, I believe my role is to serve as a mirror that reflects all of your strengths and humanity. As relational beings, we hurt, heal, and grow through relationships; the therapeutic relationship is no different. I foster a safe space to explore and understand your patterns and experiences. We look towards the present to find what you would like to change to step further into your authenticity and fullness. Together we cultivate the tools and skills that will help you find healing and ease.

I want to reflect the wholeness that exists within you at this moment, even with the challenges and stuckness you might be experiencing. I believe healing begins with creating the space for a different kind of relating with yourself and your life that honors your innate wisdom. One that is fed by curiosity, compassion, and loving presence. Through supporting the wisdom of your body-mind-spirit-soul, it is possible to move beyond "managing" painful symptoms and stuck patterns that often emerge from past overwhelming life experiences and trauma into true healing, authentic vitality and engagement with life. Healing is possible.

Would you like to feel empowered and at ease with life and yourself? Whether you're going through life transition, having relationship problems, dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma or looking for a deeper purpose in life, I would be honored to support you in your process of growth and healing. When the deepest parts of you get to be seen, held and accepted, it transforms into your light and strength. In this process you'll learn how to listen and trust your innate wisdom and guidance, you'll become resourceful, empowered and free to consciously create the life you want.

My therapeutic approach is rooted in my deep respect and genuine interest in people. Since I am an expressive and inquisitive person, it comes naturally to me to practice a style of therapy that is both interactive and eclectic. I offer insights, observations, suggestions, feedback, as well as attentive listening. I am adaptable and able to adjust my style according to what works best for the client. As a team, my clients and I work together to find creative solutions to overcome obstacles to growth and well-being.

Welcome to my practice. I have been in practice since 2007 and have been featured on ABC, NBC, and KCAL as an expert psychologist. I work primarily with men who have hit “rock bottom” and would like help getting up. These men are often in crisis when we first meet. The issues I address are typically related to unhealthy sexual behaviors, infidelity, financial recklessness, gambling, drugs/alcohol, dishonesty/lying, and relational conflicts. My therapy approach is a combination of psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and the 12-Step recovery model. I also share insight from my own painful but redemptive recovery journey.

I help adults who struggle with complex trauma (personal or intergenerational), anxiety, or depression. We will go beyond quick fixes and explore parts of you that carry burdens, get to know these parts, and learn to understand how they developed and why, so they can be healed. Depending on your needs, we may incorporate modalities such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, Mindfulness, and elements from trauma-informed yoga as I'm also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200).

There is hope. I've worked with lots of folks who feel hopeless, anxious, upset, angry, or confused, and often their lives improve with positive support. My first goal in therapy is to listen with compassion and help build trust between us. We'll work in whatever way is comfortable for you, and when you're ready, we'll chart a course toward meaningful change. Whether I'm working just with you, or with you and your loved ones, I'll value each person's perspective and help look for positive solutions. To learn more me and about therapy, see my video "Why Go to Therapy?" at https://bit.ly/2UG9Aur

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.

Cultivate Wellness a premier counseling center offering progressive and evidenced-based psychotherapy and wellness services for adolescents, adults, couples and families. Our engaging team of clinicians are committed to helping clients in creating healthy and long changes and cultivating a life that is worth celebrating. We offer virtual counseling to residents throughout the states of CA and CO and eco-therapy (nature based) sessions to individuals living within the Central Coast of California and the Bay Area. Services available in both English and Spanish. ¡Se ofrece sesiones en español!

Often life presents us with difficulties and painful challenges. I can help whether your intention is to heal from past or current emotional struggles or to improve relationships. Together we can explore your strengths as well as your difficulties to find solutions. I work with individuals, couples, and families to strengthen relationships and improve communication. I have a strong appreciation for diversity and believe each individual has unique gifts. I am skilled in responding to your individual needs with compassion and respect.

Are you suffering from the effects of trauma in your life? Are you finding that talk therapy alone is not shifting patterns of mood and behavior? I am a holistic psychotherapist with specialized training in Somatic Experiencing and the Neuro-Affective Relational Model. You may feel as though you don't know who you are any more, that life has become burdensome, or maybe you have the sense that you were never really your authentic self to begin with. Perhaps you experience physiological and behavioral symptoms such as addiction, overwhelm, and isolation. This loss of connection to self/other is indicative of trauma. I can help you.