WELCOME. I’M CHRIS RESTIVO.
I’M A LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
Chris Restivo, MFT # 103275
I specialize in working with issues related to:
~ ADHD
~ Addiction
~ Bipolar Disorder(s)
~ Chronic Illness
~ Coping Skills
~ Depression
~ Dual Diagnosis
~ Grief
~ Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
~ Life Transitions
~ Psychosis
~ Self-Esteem
~ Spirituality
~ Stress
~ Substance Use
~ Trauma, Complex Trauma, and PTSD
We are all inherently whole - we’ve just forgotten… Underneath the tumult and overwhelming flood of uncomfortable emotions is a core unscathed by the stress and trauma. My role is to help you find your way back to your center where life again feels manageable, satisfying, and vibrant. Ultimately you’re the expert; yet each step of the way I will be there with you to collaborate and support your efforts.
HOW I THINK ABOUT OUR WORK
Finding a therapist who is “the right fit” is a crucial part of your healing journey; yet understanding the array of technical terminology describing the approaches of potential therapists can add to the confusion and overwhelm of an already difficult time.
Simply put, my emphasis is on meeting you with a genuine sense of compassion, curiosity, and care. While my client’s generally report that they benefit from my active and engaged approach (including sharing skills, practices, and psychoeducation), I also never pretend to be the expert on your experience. In essence, my intention is to act as a co-collaborator, walking beside you with a lantern, lighting the way as you learn to navigate your own path towards meaning, purpose, and fulfillment.
My background and trainings are diverse and allow me to tailor my approach to your specific needs. In our work together I will combine interventions pulled from years of training with Evidence-Based Practices (EBP’s), such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), CBASP, and Schema Therapy, while consistently interweaving a compassionate understanding that hardship and trauma are generally the culprits of psychological distress, rather than individual deficits or shortcomings. And while I may utilize these more formalized methods in our work together, my background in Buddhist Psychology, mindfulness, and Somatic Psychotherapy (body-based), will help ensure the changes you are making integrate on all levels of your being.
Most of my clinical work has been spent treating individuals with mood disorders (major depression, bipolar disorder, etc.) and psychosis. That said, I’ve also worked with a range of diverse individuals, with a wide variety of life experiences, on issues such as life transitions, trauma, anxiety, grief, and gender and sexual identity.