fulfill your journey
ethos
Humility | Kindness | Honesty | Curiosity | Authenticity | Loyalty | Creativity | Connection
We humans are narrative creatures with unique stories consisting of triumph, tragedy & everything in between. You are the author of your story & it is my honor to join you & co-author that story for a season of your life, together. As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), it’s my privilege to learn your strengths & values, support the outcomes you want from therapy, explore new perspectives & develop your skills toward gaining the life you desire.
Depression, anxiety, addiction, & trauma can narrow an individual’s perception of their potentials & possibilities. Therapy restores hope & confidence, facilitates healing, & expands the fields of possibility. Through our work together, you will be encouraged & empowered. You will overcome challenges, redefine relationships with experiences/ thoughts/ emotions, & develop practices toward living a fulfilling life.
I’ve had the honor to work with kindred spirits & creative professionals for the past 20 years. I look forward to partnering with you to clarify & achieve your goals.
services
My mission is to empower all those I serve to achieve their most fulfilling life. I provide strength-based, trauma-informed, & client-centered services to adults, adolescents, couples, families & teams.
If you are seeking support in any of the following areas, I can help:
anxiety • depression • loneliness • grief • trauma • relational challenges • ocd • adhd • career challenges • substance use • family & team challenges • technology dependence • chronic pain • work-life balance • processing difficult moods & emotions • resilience • communication • acceptance (of self & others) • healthy boundaries
I have served as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist for over 20 years. I am a Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP), Certified Complex PTSD & Trauma Professional Level 2 (CCTP-II), Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, & a Certified Arts and Healing Practitioner (UCLA), I utilize the following approaches:
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) • Narrative Therapy • Motivational Interviewing (MI) • Brief-Solution (Ericksonian) Hypnotherapy • Family Systems Therapy • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
individuals
men’s issues I specialize in work with males of all ages, races, sexual orientations & identities. As a helping professional for over 20 years, loving husband, doting father, grateful son, avid motorcyclist, musician, artist & former competitive fighter; I have seen the confusion, dissatisfaction & shame that can be related with what it means to be male in our society. This atmosphere also represents opportunity for rediscovering, redefining & affirming what it means to be a man. I partner with men to cultivate their values, recognize helpful & harmful thoughts/emotions/behaviors, resolve trauma, & achieve an authentic & fulfilling life.
all peoples I am honored to use my skills to support a diverse array of individuals. I use collaborative therapy goals as the “road map” for our journey together, & an emphasis is placed on creating a safe, nonjudgmental & authentically encouraging environment to move toward your values & fulfillment.
adolescents I’ve had the joy of cultivating the openness, boundaries, knowledge, skills, & kindness that create a place of safety for teens as they explore their identity, self-awareness & esteem, & executive functioning skills to navigate difficult developmental transitions. I also have specific training & experience in working with teens experiencing ADHD, substance use & behavioral challenges.
couples
Effective couples therapy requires the therapist to have exceptional self-awareness & boundaries, a mindful sense of objectivity & an ability to listen & empathize, even when circumstances seem most volatile & least promising. I work purposefully & collaboratively with couples to create an environment of safety, honesty & hope for a meaningful present & future. This work often involves supporting clients in understanding the impact of their families of origin, creating alignment related to goals & developing new skills. Understanding that the most sustainable change is the result of practicing new thinking & behaviors outside of therapy, I provide opportunities for couples to rehearse new skills during sessions.
families/teams
systems Families/teams (i.e. “systems”) often come to me with one of two issues: too much conflict or too little intimacy/connection.
lack of healthy conflict Functional & fulfilling systems require healthy conflict of ideas. The absence of healthy conflict often indicates issues with trust, intimacy & communication skills. People stop engaging opportunities to create, sustain & celebrate a place for differences when they feel unseen & unheard.
overabundance of conflict Sometime systems become dependent on a degree of chaos to sustain connection. These systems are often considered “enmeshed & conflicted,” & result in rigid roles, a failure of individuals to develop healthy independence & disruptive patterns of “fighting to win." This pattern can lead to discouragement, dissatisfaction & resentment.
support Whether you are a family or team experiencing challenges, there’s hope. Together, we will partner to address patterns of thinking, communication & behavior that are impeding connection. I will support you to define your individual & collective values, set shared goals, & cultivate skills that support growth & fulfillment.
getting started
teletherapy
I offer services to California & Texas clients, through the Theraplatform virtual platform. Before your first teletherapy session, I will provide you with information about accessing the teletherapy platform. I encourage you to read this information carefully, try out the software & contact me with questions. Once you are in the video chat, I will do my utmost to ensure your sessions proceed just like they would if you were in my office. For therapy to be meaningful & effective, you must feel free to talk openly, ask questions & continue your therapeutic exploration & growth. My HIPAA-compliant teletherapy platform has been rigorously tested for network security strength in order to ensure your private information is safe & secure.
first session & length of support
In our initial session, we will preview the therapeutic process, discuss confidentiality & fees, begin partnering to understand your history & formulate initial goals for our journey together. Goal-specific treatment can be completed in as few as six sessions, whereas persistent issues can take three to twelve months to resolve. Individuals who choose to utilize therapy as a form of mental fitness/wellness often find value in ongoing treatment. Together we will decide the best strategy for you.
rates
Zelle accepted for private pay. I accept most Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, United, Cigna, and Oscar health insurances in Texas and bill through Headway.
individuals
$125/hour
If individual fees exceed budgetary constraints, contact me for group therapy ($40/per 1 hour session). Group therapy is effective for individuals & can address issues ranging from grief, self awareness/esteem, communication, boundary-setting, difficult moods/emotions & relational challenges.
Groups are initiated based on demand, with a minimum of five participants & maximum of eight.
couples/families
$150/hour
work teams
$350/hour
In-person, at your worksite, up to fifteen team members.
Travel expenses are calculated prior to first session.
about me
Hello, I’m Scott.
Whether you are seeking support for yourself, a loved one, or your team, I’m glad you’re here! During the last 20+ years of my career, I’ve worked at all levels of the social service sector–from Direct Care Staff to Professor/Trainer & Senior Executive–& in settings ranging from correctional, psychiatric, & rehabilitation facilities, to military bases, college classrooms, & corporate offices, to my own private therapy & consulting practice. These invaluable experiences have provided a unique & intimate understanding of the human condition & what it means to truly accept, celebrate, support, & love people without judgment.
I have a deep commitment to the practices of applied humility, kind curiosity, & client-centered & trauma-sensitive treatment. I believe the art of therapy lies in skillful listening & opportunities to create a sacred place to celebrate & enrich the journeys of individuals, couples, families, & work teams.
I continue to make music & art, build/ride motorcycles, train in kickboxing, & explore life’s meaning. I cherish being present with my wife, daughter, beloved friends, & dog. I’m influenced by myriad individuals ranging from Thich Nhat Hanh & Noam Chomsky, to artists such as Joy Division, The Cure, & Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys.
I love my work & all of the wonderful people I’m privileged to connect with. It would be my honor to connect with you. Schedule a free consult so we can explore working together.
With Kindness,
Scott
contact me
Thank you! I will work to reply to your inquiry within 48 hrs during the work week. Please note, Search & Create Counseling is not a crisis service. If you are experiencing an emergency & need an immediate response, please call 911 or your local crisis hotline.
