Please Note: Due to the COVID-19 virus, I am offering Telehealth video sessions via SimplePractice. If interested, please provide your email address. Phone sessions are also available.
Paul Agustinovich, Ph.D., MFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
License #MFC 32652
My name is Paul Agustinovich, and I’m a licensed MFT with a private psychotherapy practice in San Mateo, California, that I’ve owned and operated since 1995.
The focus of my practice is helping clients who have been affected by trauma, as well as those who are suffering stress, anxiety, or depression – mostly commonly brought on by a current life transition or past traumatic experiences.
During my formal training as a therapist, I counseled diverse populations in a variety of settings. This included counseling individuals, couples, and families at the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Center of San Mateo County in the 1980s, as well as working in the Psychological Services Department of the College of San Mateo, where I helped students and their families in need of counseling services, provided crisis intervention, and taught peer counseling classes.
I’ve also developed and lead support groups for men in San Mateo, and provided stress and anger management support groups for men convicted of assaulting their significant others for Family Stress Service of Burlingame.
Since 2002, I’ve been mentoring students enrolled in the Marriage & Family Therapy Masters Program at the University of San Francisco (USF). This involves supervising two students per week who work primarily with teenagers and adolescents.
I’m a humanist at heart and my doctorate is from an existential/humanist-based institution, the Saybrook Graduate School and Research Institute.
I like to understand people on an emotional level and am a very good listener. Whether I’m with a client, friend, or acquaintance, I’m always interested in what “makes them tick.” I respect boundaries, both other peoples’ and my own, but also have an interest in what people experience at any given moment.
Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, I studied music and have a life-long passion for jazz and classical music. I also enjoy theatre and films and am an avid reader.
Each client who comes into my office can expect to be treated with compassion, understanding, and respect. From your first contact with me, I will be determined to help you find the services you need and the help you seek.
I personally return all phone calls and e-mails in a timely fashion. I offer a free phone consultation in order to answer questions and give you the opportunity to make a considered decision about choosing me as your therapist. In the event you find we aren’t a good fit, I provide referrals to colleagues who may better suit your needs.
I am connected to my community of fellow therapists through a consultation network that I access on a regular basis. I am also a member of several professional organizations, and I routinely acquire more units of continuing education than that required by the state licensing board.
My goal as a therapist is to create a relationship with clients based on mutual honesty, respect, knowledge, and compassion.
My job is not to “fix” people but to facilitate my clients’ healing with the understanding that they can solve their own problems, discover their own life purpose, and create the change they seek.
I will strive to ensure you feel supported, heard, and understood, learn effective coping skills, and begin letting go of behaviors that aren’t serving you so you can move forward in life with confidence that you are on the right path for you!
Education
- Ph.D. – Psychology, Saybrook Graduate School & Research Institute, 2004
- M.S. – Counseling Psychology, California State University, Hayward, 1988
- B.S. – Psychology, California State University, Hayward, 1984
Licenses
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, License #MFC 32652
Professional Organizations
- Member, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) – http://www.camft.org
- Member, Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (SCV-CAMFT) – http://www.scv-camft.org
- Member, EMDR International Association – http://www.emdria.org
Specialty Training
- EMDRIA Certified EMDR Practioner (attend ongoing monthly consultation/trainings)
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Training
- Focusing (completed levels 1-4 with Ann Cornell, Ph.D.)
If you have any questions or are interested in scheduling a free phone consultation, I encourage you to contact me by phone at 650-348-0755 or by e-mail at drpaul@humanisttherapy.com. I look forward to speaking with you.