Licensed to practice in California and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Autism, ADHD, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
(he/him)
New to Grow
Hi, my name is Ben. I'm a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) man. While I am open to working with adults of all brain types, my practice focuses on neurodivergence-affirming therapy for autistic adults. As an autistic individual myself, I am keenly aware of and recognize the challenges and strengths of having a brain that works differently than the majority. I consider myself to be primarily a person-centered therapist, but often utilize many other modalities in my work with clients, including, but not limited to, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and EMDR. During my time as a pre-licensed therapist, I completed EMDR training and became very fascinated by its potential to help individuals recover from traumatic experiences and change maladaptive self-concepts. I'm proud to be able to offer this evidence-based treatment to my clients.
While being a neurodivergent therapist offers its own set of unique challenges, I do believe that my autistic traits help me in my work with clients. I am good at recognizing patterns in the therapeutic space and pointing them out to clients when appropriate. I am an active listener, often spending more time listening than talking. Having a good memory helps me remember details that my clients share with me about their lives. Being a highly sensitive person allows me to feel deeply with my clients and form close connections. Lastly, I think I bring to the therapeutic space creativity, an enjoyment of problem-solving, and nonjudgmental curiosity. My desire is for therapy to be a space that adds value to my clients' lives.
EMDR is utilized to help clients heal from traumatic experiences and replace unhelpful self concepts with ones that are more helpful. I utilize this modality when clients have adverse experiences which may have led to impaired functioning. While EMDR has a ton of evidence backing its effectiveness for treating PTSD/trauma, it can also be an effective treatment for many other challenges such as grief, depression, anxiety, etc.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment based on the theory that our thoughts influence how we feel and how we feel influences how we behave. When we look at thoughts that are not helpful and lead to undesirable behaviors, we can challenge these unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more helpful thinking, which can lead to more desirable behavior. Our internal self-talk can play a huge role in how we feel and behave.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a therapy modality that acknowledges that it is okay to be unsure about change. MI is about helping clients resolve ambivalence and move towards an internal desire for change. I utilize motivational interviewing when clients feel stuck or are ambivalent about making a change in their life, or doubt their ability to make changes.
Psychodynamic therapy is about exploring your past and how it affects you in the present. I utilize psychodynamic therapy with clients who are willing to go deep within the therapeutic space to better understand themselves and their lives.
I am primarily a person-centered therapist. In this modality, the client is not directed by the therapist but is encouraged to choose the path we travel during each session. The therapist aims to meet the client where the client is during each session rather than having an agenda or strict plan for the client. A person-centered therapist is guided by principles including empathy, authenticity, and acceptance without judgment. Person-centered therapists tend to do more listening than talking.