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

Who is RJ Thomas?

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and I earned my Masters Degree with an emphasis in 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 couples counseling. In addition, I have done post-graduate training in crisis intervention, working with adolescents and assessment and diagnosis. I am very comfortable working with high conflict situation. 

As a father and husband I have personal experience raising children and know what it’s like to work hard on a good relationship.

Prior to becoming a therapist I had extensive experience running a business and understand the forces and pressures that come with professional life. In addition I have spent the last 6 years volunteering as a leader in a youth program working with kids from 7 to 18-years-old. This experience has given me a glimpse into their lives and the issues they face that I could not have gotten anywhere else. 

I have had high level training in leadership skills and believe these help me to connect with people on all levels and allow to me to help others succeed. 

In my personal life I am passionate about photography, the outdoors, sailing, surfing and ice hockey. I have also trained and served for 12 years as a scout leader mentoring and guiding young people through outdoor adventures, skill-building activities, and community service, helping them develop confidence, leadership, teamwork, and life skills that foster personal growth and responsibility. Click here to read more about why serving as a scout leader enhances my therapeutic skills.

TRAINING:

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples

Structural Family Therapy

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Crisis Intervention

Assessment and Diagnosis

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: 

International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists  (CAMFT), Served 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)

A Better Divorce, Regional practice group promoting respect and helping individuals maintain control of their process whiling staying out of court.

Services

MARRIAGE and COUPLES COUNSELING

Are you worried about where your relationship is heading and looking for couples therapy to repair it rather than end it? As a marriage and family therapist specializing in couples counseling in Redondo Beach and the South Bay, I help partners who feel stuck in painful patterns, emotional disconnection, or repeating arguments find their way back to safety, understanding, and connection.

My work is grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a well‑researched, attachment‑based approach to couples therapy that focuses on the emotional bond between partners and the negative cycles that pull them apart. In EFT, we slow things down, identify the reactive patterns that keep you feeling distant or alone, and create new ways of reaching for each other so both of you can feel safer, more understood, and more secure. I have advanced training in EFT, and I am an active member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) as well as the EFT community in Los Angeles (EFTCLA), which keeps me closely connected to current best practices and ongoing professional development in this model.

In couples therapy, I often help partners heal from affairs, betrayals, and deep attachment injuries—working to rebuild trust after infidelity, repair emotional wounds, and restore a sense of closeness and safety in the relationship. Together we work to move from blame and withdrawal toward more open, vulnerable conversations where each of you can express your needs and feel more emotionally connected.

Working with couples is some of the most meaningful and rewarding work I do, and I approach it with warmth, curiosity, and deep respect for both partners. My style is collaborative and supportive: I don’t take sides, and I stay actively involved in helping you practice new, more hopeful ways of relating.

FAMILY THERAPY

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in family therapy and family counseling, with extensive training and long-standing experience in structural family therapy. I earned my master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in family therapy from Pepperdine University, and completed two additional years of intensive post‑graduate training in family systems therapy at Airport‑Marina Counseling Service. I have also taught and presented on structural family therapy for graduate programs and professional organizations, reflecting both my expertise and my ability to mentor other therapists.

Structural family therapy (SFT) looks at how a family is organized—roles, boundaries, and hierarchies—to understand the patterns that keep conflict, distance, or worry in place. In family counseling, I work actively and collaboratively with you to “map” these dynamics and then guide you in making concrete changes so communication improves, boundaries become clearer, and relationships feel safer and more supportive. The aim is not only to resolve current problems but to strengthen the family’s ability to navigate future challenges together.

Many families seek therapy when they are struggling with an adolescent or emerging adult at home. This stage of life can bring intense emotions, increased conflict, and confusion as teens push for independence while parents try to stay connected and provide guidance. I help families reduce power struggles, repair communication, and create a structure that respects growing independence while still providing clear expectations and emotional support for everyone involved.

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. 

CO-PARENTING

Co-parenting counseling is a specialized form of family therapy that helps divorced or separated parents work together more effectively for the well-being of their children and for themselves. It focuses on improving communication, resolving conflicts, and developing shared strategies for parenting across two households. The goal is to minimize the negative impact of divorce on children and parents and to foster a cooperative, stable environment where kids and adults can thrive.

As a skilled and compassionate co-parenting counselor, with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and extensive post-graduate training — including family systems therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, crisis intervention, and collaborative divorce — I bring a robust clinical background to helping families in transition.

Deeply knowledgeable about the unique challenges faced by divorced parents and their children, I specialize in guiding families through the difficult process of adaptation after separation or divorce. My training in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Structural Family Therapy allows me to address grief, communication breakdowns, and high-conflict dynamics that frequently impact co-parents and their children. I am particularly adept at helping parents refocus on their children's best interests and rebuild stable, nurturing family routines despite ongoing legal or emotional disputes.

My experience includes years of hands-on work with children, adolescents, and adults, helping me to be attuned to the developmental and emotional needs of young people and parents adjusting to new family structures. I am recognized for a calm and supportive manner, which helps me navigate even the most contentious co-parenting situations. My approach combines directiveness with empathy—offering clear guidance while validating the emotional realities of both parents and children.

I use collaborative strategies to draw on principles proven to reduce conflict and help families move forward with respect and dignity. Through a blend of clinical expertise, real-world insight, and unwavering support, I provide families in transition with the tools and understanding they need to thrive after divorce.

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” - Pericles

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.