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Bryan Balvaneda, PhD - California Psychologist at Grow Therapy

Bryan Balvaneda

Bryan Balvaneda

(he/him)

PhD
7 years of experience
Virtual

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and have been practicing for about 8 years. I graduated with a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Boston before returning home once again to San Diego, where I am currently based. I am deeply appreciative that I have found a calling as therapist and can do something I enjoy as a full time job. I enjoy seeing people grow and utilize their strengths to overcome difficult challenges, and am grateful I can be a part of that experience. I enjoy regularly learning about new research and well supported methods for growth and healing, and share this with my clients.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Our very first session will be an introductory one in which I ask many questions and get to learn more about what brings you to therapy, get to know you more, and start to identify goals. This initial session can be quite different than other sessions with me as I take the lead more to cover some important questions. This helps me consider a plan for how to best approach your goals. From there, the next few initial sessions involve initial steps towards your goals as I share with you my thoughts on how to best approach your goals.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My greatest strengths are providing structure and guidance to clients. I like to share with clients an understanding of the issue(s) you're facing with a plan for working through those issues that matches that understanding. People who work with me leave with skills or exercises to work on between sessions to make sure that you're able to work through these issues between sessions and not just in our sessions.

About Bryan Balvaneda

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I provide therapy primarily through Cognitive Behavioral methods - looking at the role of thoughts, behaviors (actions), and emotions on our experiences and responses to situations. I guide individuals to healing and growth by promoting more helpful thoughts, identifying steps to take towards our goals, and learning how to cope with difficult emotions.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

I consider mindfulness to be both a helpful skills for navigating challenging situations and a framework for understanding the role of our emotions and the importance of being present-focused. I encourage regular mindfulness practice through meditations and acceptance and understanding of experiences that arise in the moment.

Acceptance and commitment (ACT)

I primarily use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to guide an understanding of the meaning behind our emotional experiences, even difficult ones, and how to guide ourselves to take actions on our values. Moving into a values-based life can be especially helpful for navigating difficult emotions, one in which we become the drivers and our emotional experiences continue to exist but take the passenger seat. Many individuals find that clarifying their values can guide them to healing and a fuller life.

Culturally Sensitive Therapy

I incorporate cultural sensitivity into all aspects of my practice , which includes understanding cultural values and how they manifest in our choices and experiences and clarifying the social context in which we live our lives. This is a priority for me and one in which my training has heavily emphasized from the beginning.