“We live in the shelter of each other.” — Celtic saying

Who is RJ Thomas?

Family can be tough. Whether it’s your spouse, your parents or your kids - there’s no manual to tell you how to fix things once they go wrong. I specialize in helping people get things back together. Whether it is a parent and child, a family of 5, a couple or an individual struggling with life I help people communicate and understand each other better so that they can do better. I help people understand themselves so they can live happier, more productive lives.  

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and I earned my Masters Degree with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Washington and Lee University in Virginia. I have extensive post-graduate training in family therapy and training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples. In addition, I have done post-graduate training in crisis intervention, working with adolescents and assessment and diagnosis. 

I am a member of the prestigious American Family Therapy Academy, the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy and serve on the board of directors of the Long Beach/ South Bay California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. 

As part of my professional life I am a writer, podcaster and filmmaker. In my personal life I am passionate about photography, sailing, surfing and ice hockey.

TRAINING:

Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship

Structural Family Therapy

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Crisis Intervention

Assessment and Diagnosis

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: 

American Family Therapy Academy (afta.org)

International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists  (CAMFT) Serves on Board of Directors for Long Beach-South Bay Chapter

Psy Chi: National Honor Society in Psychology

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

Services

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

People seek counseling and therapy for many reasons. Whether it's a major life transition such as death, divorce, a new job or a new relationship or it's a more personal crisis something isn't working right now and you need help. Sometimes people seek help for themselves or their kids with depression and anxiety or things like ADHD, parenting, addictions and self esteem. And sometimes people can just feel overwhelmed and need help to make sense of things.  A therapist can provide guidance, encouragement and skills to help you cope, feel supported during difficult times and to help you navigate transitions and changes in your life. 

CHILD and ADOLESCENT THERAPY

Working with adolescents often focuses on helping them navigate the delicate balance between home, school, family and friends. When children reach the teen years they want to pull away from family, seek independence from their parents and greater approval from their friends. They may also start taking risks neither they nor their parents are comfortable with. This can be a challenge for kids and parents alike and can lead to family conflict and a host of emotional issues. Setting clear boundaries and making sure everyone in the family communicates is key during this time.

 FAMILY THERAPY

Family therapy can help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts. Family therapy works to help families learn new and better ways to interact and can even help individuals with specific problems or more general parenting issues. The whole entire family does not need to be present. The approach is adaptive enough to include individual therapy and couples therapy as well as whole families - and sometimes combinations of all those. In this way, family therapy is effective even when only one or two can participate. It is usually provided by a licensed therapist who has undergone specialized training to learn how to work with a family system. 

Family therapy can be relatively short term, but your specific treatment plan will depend on your family's situation.

MARRIAGE and COUPLES COUNSELING

Couples counseling can help couples of all types recognize resolve conflicts and improve relationships. It can help partners make thoughtful decisions about supporting, defining and rebuilding relationships. Keeping a relationship loving, vibrant and passionate isn’t easy. Money, kids, sex and who knows what else can all be a challenge to making it work. Couples counseling can help you identify and work toward the relationship you want.  

Marriage counseling is often short term and typically includes both partners, however sometimes partners might choose or need to work on issues individually either before, during or after couples work. 

Insurance

I do not accept insurance and I am considered an Out-of-Network Provider. I do not bill insurance, however I can provide you with a bill you may submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan but it is important to check your coverage carefully by contacting them and asking the following questions:

• Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
• What is my deductible and has it been met?
• How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?

I can provide you with information to submit to your insurance carrier for full/partial reimbursement.

Payment
Cash, check, Visa and Mastercard. Fees are collected at the end of each session unless other arrangements are made.

Cancellation Policy
If you do not show up for your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not notified me at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session.