LCSW, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! I’m Jose Galindo, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and seasoned psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience in mental health and child welfare. Based in California, I provide compassionate, evidence-based support to individuals, couples, families, and groups who are ready to navigate life’s complexities and take steps toward meaningful growth. I’m here to help you nurture your emotional well-being, build resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies in a safe and supportive space. Whether you're struggling with personal challenges or seeking stronger relational connections, I will walk alongside you—empowering you to explore, heal, and transform. Therapy is a unique and personal journey. My role is to meet you where you are and help shape the process with care, flexibility, and respect for your goals. Together, we’ll work to uncover insights, cultivate strengths, and move toward lasting change.
Our initial session is a meaningful opportunity for us to begin building a foundation of trust, compassion, and collaboration. We’ll take time to explore your background and understand what has brought you to therapy, with the goal of creating a space where you feel safe, heard, and respected. It’s absolutely normal to feel nervous or uncertain before your first appointment. Know that we’ll take things step by step, honoring your pace and comfort. There’s no pressure to “get it all out”—the process unfolds gently and organically. Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Together, we’ll shape this journey in a way that fits your needs, preferences, and goals. Whether you're seeking relief from emotional pain, clarity around life decisions, or deeper self-understanding, I’m here to support and walk alongside you. Above all, I’m committed to creating a therapeutic environment that feels affirming and empowering. This is your space—where progress is not rushed, healing is not linear, and your growth is guided with care.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I bring a unique blend of empathy, clinical expertise, and advocacy that allows me to support clients with compassion and integrity. Some of my greatest strengths include: Clinical Insight & Evidence-Based Practice: I integrate a range of evidence-based modalities—including CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy—to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs. My training through the Beck Institute strengthens my capacity to address anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and more with precision and depth. Empathic Communication & Rapport Building: I establish trust early by creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard and validated. My ability to attune to emotional undercurrents and respond with genuine warmth fosters strong therapeutic alliances that promote healing and growth. Client Empowerment & Strength-Based Focus: I help clients reconnect with their resilience by highlighting strengths, nurturing self-efficacy, and supporting agency. Whether working with individuals, couples, or families, I aim to amplify the potential within each person and support meaningful progress. Holistic, Trauma-Informed Perspective: I approach therapy with sensitivity to how past experiences, social systems, and relational patterns affect current functioning. My trauma-informed lens helps ensure clients feel safe and empowered as they process and rebuild. Cultural Humility & Inclusivity: I actively practice cultural humility and strive to create an affirming, inclusive space for clients of all backgrounds. I adapt interventions in ways that respect identity, lived experience, and unique belief systems—helping clients feel truly seen and understood. Versatility & Collaboration Whether working in private practice, community settings, or interdisciplinary teams, I excel at adapting my approach to diverse clinical presentations and collaborating with other providers to ensure continuity of care.
In my practice, I am honored to work with individuals who are committed to meaningful change—even if they are not sure where to begin. My ideal clients are not necessarily “ready” or “put together:” they may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain. Wha makes them ideal is their openness to exploration and their willingness to engage in the therapeutic process. Emotionally Insightful or Curious Clients who value reflection and are curious about the connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors tend to thrive. Whether they are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, or relational challenges, these individuals are often seeking not just relief—but deeper understanding. I work best with clients who are interested in both insight and action. They may appreciate evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy, and they are open to practicing new skills between sessions. Even when progress feels slow, they show a commitment to growth and self-compassion. Many of my ideal clients are in the midst of change—professionally, relationally, or personally. They may be re-evaluating long-held beliefs, processing past trauma, or striving to build healthier patterns. They come to therapy seeking clarity, healing, and forward momentum. Therapy is most effective when it’s a partnership. My ideal clients value that collaboration and show up authentically. They’re open to feedback, invested in their progress, and appreciate a balance of empathy and structure. I welcome clients from all walks of life and work especially well with those who appreciate a culturally affirming, socially conscious therapeutic space. I strive to honor each person’s lived experience, identity, and values.
In my clinical practice, I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a foundational approach to support clients in identifying and challenging maladaptive thinking patterns, managing emotional distress, and cultivating healthier coping mechanisms. I have received formal training from the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy in several key areas, which has deeply informed and enriched my therapeutic work. CBT Basics Through training in the fundamentals of CBT, I developed a structured, goal-oriented framework that guides my sessions. I help clients explore the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and use evidence-based techniques like cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and thought records to foster meaningful change. CBT for Anxiety My training in CBT for anxiety equips me to work effectively with clients experiencing generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, and specific phobias. I incorporate interventions such as exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, and cognitive reframing to help clients reduce avoidance behaviors and regain a sense of agency. CBT for Depression For individuals struggling with depression, I utilize CBT strategies to address patterns of negative thinking and inactivity. Guided by my Beck Institute training, I emphasize behavioral activation and cognitive interventions to re-engage clients with valued activities and challenge hopelessness, enhancing mood and motivation over time. CBT for Personality Disorders My work with personality disorders is grounded in the nuanced CBT protocols I learned through the Beck Institute. I prioritize building a strong therapeutic alliance, teaching emotional regulation skills, and addressing deeply ingrained core beliefs. These tools help clients gradually shift rigid patterns and develop more adaptive interpersonal functioning. Overall Approach CBT allows me to work collaboratively with clients, set clear treatment goals, and use empirically supported techniques to foster resilience and lasting psychological well-being. The Beck Institute's training has strengthened my ability to personalize treatment plans, adapt interventions to diverse clinical presentations, and uphold the integrity of CBT as a scientifically grounded modality.
In my clinical practice, I offer couples therapy to help partners deepen emotional connection, improve communication, and navigate relationship challenges with greater clarity and compassion. Whether couples are dealing with conflict, intimacy concerns, life transitions, or trust issues, I create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where each partner feels heard and validated. Therapeutic Approach My approach blends evidence-based methods, including aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and communication skill-building strategies. With these tools, I guide couples in identifying destructive interaction patterns, exploring the beliefs and emotions driving their behaviors, and developing healthier ways of relating. Common Focus Areas • Enhancing listening and empathy through structured dialogue • Addressing and reworking negative communication cycles • Supporting emotional regulation in conflict situations • Rebuilding trust following ruptures, such as infidelity • Navigating shared goals and values, including parenting or financial decision-making • Strengthening intimacy and mutual appreciation CBT Integration Drawing from my training in CBT—especially from the Beck Institute—I help couples recognize cognitive distortions and automatic thoughts that contribute to misunderstandings or resentment. Together, we work on replacing these patterns with more constructive thinking and behavior that promote mutual understanding and connection. Guiding Values Above all, I help couples move toward a more resilient partnership by fostering mutual respect, emotional safety, and collaborative problem-solving. Therapy isn’t about choosing sides—it's about building bridges that allow both individuals to grow together with greater empathy and intention.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a central component of my therapeutic approach, especially when working with clients who feel ambivalent or uncertain about change. I use MI to foster a collaborative and empathetic environment, helping clients tap into their intrinsic motivation and align their goals with their personal values. Guiding Principles MI is built on four key principles that guide my interactions: • Expressing empathy through reflective listening • Developing discrepancy between a client’s current behavior and future goals • Rolling with resistance rather than confronting it • Supporting self-efficacy to empower clients toward change During sessions, I use open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing to help clients explore their thoughts and feelings. MI allows me to meet clients where they are, honor their autonomy, and gently guide them toward making choices that support their well-being. I often integrate MI at the beginning of treatment to build rapport and clarify goals, and return to it throughout the process whenever motivation wavers. Motivational Interviewing blends seamlessly with the other evidence-based approaches I use—such as CBT—to help clients address ambivalence before engaging more deeply with cognitive or behavioral interventions. It’s especially helpful in cases where individuals might be struggling with substance use, lifestyle changes, or mental health challenges that require long-term commitment. By using MI, I support clients in strengthening their commitment to change.
In my clinical work, I use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to empower clients by emphasizing strengths, successes, and future possibilities. Rather than focusing on problems or past difficulties, I help individuals identify practical steps they can take to move toward their preferred outcomes. SFBT is particularly useful in brief, goal-oriented settings and with clients who value a forward-looking and resource-driven approach. Core Principles I Apply • Future Orientation: We focus on what clients want to achieve rather than what they want to avoid. • Strength-Based: I help clients recognize existing skills and coping strategies they may not have realized were working. • Goal-Driven: We collaborate to set clear, realistic, and meaningful goals that reflect each client’s values and priorities. • Small Steps, Big Change: I encourage incremental progress through solution-focused questions like "What’s already working?" or "What would be different if this problem were solved?" In Practice Sessions often include techniques such as: • The Miracle Question: Encouraging clients to imagine life without their current struggle to uncover hidden goals • Scaling Questions: Tracking progress and confidence to promote self-efficacy • Exception Seeking: Highlighting times when the problem was less severe or absent to build on success • Amplifying Strengths: Reinforcing the resilience and resourcefulness clients already possess Integration with Other Modalities SFBT works seamlessly alongside other therapeutic frameworks I use, like CBT and Motivational Interviewing. In combination, these approaches help clients gain insight while taking practical, hopeful steps toward change. Empowering Perspective Solution-Focused Brief Therapy brings a refreshing energy to sessions by centering the conversation around growth and possibility. My aim is to help clients become the experts of their own lives, equipping them with the mindset and tools to make meaningful changes—often in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy models
I utilize DBT as a structured, skills-based approach to help clients build emotional resilience, improve interpersonal relationships, and navigate intense or fluctuating emotions. DBT is especially effective for individuals struggling with emotion dysregulation, self-harming behaviors, or traits associated with borderline personality disorder, though its benefits extend to a broad spectrum of clients. Core DBT Components I Incorporate I integrate the four primary modules of DBT, tailoring them to each client’s needs: • Mindfulness: Cultivating present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance • Distress Tolerance: Teaching crisis survival strategies to manage acute emotional pain • Emotion Regulation: Helping clients understand and modulate intense emotions • Interpersonal Effectiveness: Equipping clients with assertiveness skills and tools to build healthy boundaries In Session I weave DBT techniques throughout therapy by using: • Skills coaching and worksheets to help clients practice concepts in real life • Diary cards to track emotional patterns and behavioral urges • Chain analysis to explore behavioral sequences and identify intervention points • Validation strategies alongside change-oriented techniques to strike DBT’s “dialectical” balance Combining DBT with Other Modalities I often integrate DBT with CBT, especially when working with complex presentations involving mood disorders, trauma, or personality disorders. This allows clients to explore their cognitive processes while developing concrete coping skills and emotional safety. Therapeutic Intentions DBT helps me support clients in accepting themselves where they are—while also building toward positive, sustained change. It empowers them to live more mindfully, relate more effectively, and tolerate distress without resorting to harmful behaviors.