Robert Gardner, MFT
Brief Biography: I have had the great privilege of working with individuals, couples, and families since entering the practice of therapy as an intern in 2004 at New Perspectives Center for Counseling. The varied experience of working with widely diverse people and wellness issues that this 8 year service provided became solid foundation for my work. With this preparation, I established a private practice in June of 2013.
Specializations that have emerged over these 12 years are Couple therapy, Schema therapy for personality issues and DBT for mood regulation. Some of my primary teachers and mentors are Rob Fisher MFT, Dr. John Gottman, Dr. Sue Johnson, Wendy Behary LCSW, and Dr. Daniel Siegel.
My working philosophy is based on the science and biology of relationship (attachment research and neuro-science) as well as the literature and experience of health. My experience and training have demonstrated to me that the quality of relationship to self, other and the environment are essential to the complex living systems that we all are as human beings. Both as a provider of therapy and a consumer, I feel that the best results come from a combination of empathic relationship and skillfulness. So, I practice the art of connection in therapy that also is methodical and provides those I work with the tools to develop their own skills.
Informing influences include an ongoing study of diverse spiritual traditions I have explored since childhood. Since young adulthood I have been practicing and receiving training in the responsibility of guidance counseling in spiritual community. As extensive research demonstrates, those who find spiritual experience and practice a vital factor in their lives benefit from therapy that includes this as a resouce in recovery and ongoing wellness.
In addition, as a graduate of the Hakomi Comprehensive Training program for psychotherapists. my work is greatly enhanced by the non-violent, mindful, somatic and experiential principles and practices that I find so effective and respectful of those I accompany on their paths.
EXPERIENCE:
- Therapist at New Perspectives Center For Counseling (2004-2013) Training and practice working with diverse clients and clinical Issues such as personality and mood disorders. Recieved on-going supervision and instruction in various clinical methods with emphasis on DBT and Gottman and EFT Couples methods.
- Therapist in Private Practice (2013 to present)
- Spiritual guidance and community leadership in Buddhist organization (1971 to present)
- Buddhist Mental Health Support Group Co-founder and Co-facilitator (2002 to the present)
- Supervisor for interns at Marina Counseling Center (2015 to present)
- Group and individual supervision for interns at New Perspectives Center For Counseling (2016 to present)
- Training staff of New Perspectives Center For Counseling (2015 to present) providing couple therapy training to interns.
TRAINING:
- Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, MA, Counseling Psychology (Graduated in 2005)
- Hakomi Comprehensive Training (Graduated in 2007)
- Additional training at Hakomi Institute including: The Unbroken Client-Jon Eisman, Making Friends with Anger-Scott Eaton, Making Trauma Therapy Safer-Babette Rothschild, Out of The Trauma Maze-Manuela Mischke-Reeds, Babette Rothschild, Responding to Life, (character styles)- Jon Eisman, Re-Creation of The Self-Jon Eisman
- Partial list of other training: Trauma Conversion and Resilience-Melissa Bradley, Attachment Focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma-Laurel Parnell, Healing and Transformation-Dan Siegel & Jack Kornfield, Disarming the Narcissist-and Schema Therapy with Wendy Behary, Healing Shame-Sheila Rubin & Bret Lyon, Bipolar: An Updated Slant On The Disorder-Jay Carter, Experiential Couples Therapy-Sue Johnson & Rob Fisher
AFFILIATIONS:
- CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)
- SF CAMFT