By Michael Giancola on April 13, 2026 Verified by Google

As a Marriage and Family therapist in San Diego, I'm grateful to call SoCal Narrative Therapy a welcoming place to help me grow as a practitioner. The ethic that Dr. Tom Carlson, Dr. Sanni Paljakka and Dr. Garrett Rutz have helped me to bring to my own work is one of constant curiosity and inquiry about the lived experiences of the people who I work with. Asking people to richly develop detailed stories of their present, past and future is inspiring for the people I work with. The ways that Tom, Sanni and Garrett speak about moral agency leaves people inspired about how they bring care and attention to cherished relationships and initiatives in their lives. If you are looking for a therapist who is keenly interested in the way your stories help to construct your identity, relationships and community during challenging moments of your life, look no further. Thanks to SoCal Narrative Therapy for being a caring, guiding presence in San Diego and beyond.

By Ben Kreader on April 9, 2026 Verified by Google

My participation in the SoCal Narrative conferences has been genuinely valuable. Through my previous apprenticeship with director Tom Carlson, I know him to be warm and generous in his guidance with clinicians and quietly provocative in his approaches with clients. The conferences reflect this same spirit of support and surprise in the rich array of narrative practitioners they assemble and the breadth of narrative practices they explore. Watching Tom and Sanni's innovative approach to couples counseling has directly informed my own work. I'm grateful for the ways SoCal Narrative Therapy continues to honor and advance the practice of narrative therapy and I recommend them wholeheartedly.

By Lucy Merrill Cotter on April 4, 2026 Verified by Google

I have greatly appreciated the numerous SoCal Narrative Therapy workshops and conferences I’ve attended. As leaders in the field, they offer trainings that deliver specific, applicable narrative practices for working with individuals and couples while capturing the magic and spirit of the work. I value SoCal Narrative Therapy’s preservation of narrative’s history while introducing creative contemporary approaches. Their presentations balance client transcripts, theory, and invitations to a heart-led presence. I highly recommend these unique and excellent learning opportunities.

By Mike Perkins on April 3, 2026 Verified by Google

Insightful and exceptional, SoCal Narrative Therapy produces excellent, thought-provoking conferences that include powerful interventions that have made a difference in my clients' lives. The owner is a world-class leader in Narrative Therapy who has decades of experience with trauma and complex client situations. He has introduced me to new ways of working in grief therapy and collaborating with couples that focus and clarify my perspectives and allow me to optimize my therapy.

By Wendell Perkins on April 3, 2026 Verified by Google

This is a great place to heal your relationships and heal yourself. It is a great support to help you recognize and embrace and celebrate the life you have. The director of this place is a delight to be around. His resume and long list of publications reflect his lifelong commitment to welcoming others into their own unique type of love, relationships, and mental health. His position as the department chair of a Masters program in Marriage and Family Therapy has uniquely positioned him to be able to recruit the best of the best new and upcoming therapists. I have spent several hours watching him work. Together we have tirelessly explored ways to make therapy more effective and accessible. You are in good hands with him and his people. I invite you to experience the collaborative support and empowerment that a well supported narrative therapist can offer. Rest assured with the knowledge that your provider will regularly access to several leaders in the field to ensure the best care is delivered to you in a meaningful way. This is the kind of practice where your therapist is willing to work harder than you. Call them, get in and begin to celebrate your life.