Mitch Gale M.A.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist I think of therapy as a deeply collaborative venture that provides people with the opportunity to gain insight, modify thinking and behavior, and more easily navigate life’s challenges. During my time in the field of mental health, I have garnered experience working with children, adolescents, and adults around presenting issues such as trauma, disordered eating, depression, anxiety, and concerns related to the academic and workplace settings.
In order to be as effective of a therapist as possible I have pursued training in a variety of different modalities. I often incorporate mindfulness and meditation into my work, as I have seen this be effective in helping individuals cultivate greater self-compassion, and then recognize and change unhelpful patterns of thought, and action.
Licensed MFT #139262
I am also trained in in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and approach to therapy that has been scientifically demonstrated to be highly effective in assisting individuals recover from post-traumatic and trauma related issues. I have also trained in Family Based Therapy (FBT) for Eating Disorders, which is currently the only evidence-based therapy for treating anorexia in adolescents.
Part of what makes therapy successful is choosing a therapeutic approach that makes sense not only to the therapist, but to the client as well. I like to say that therapy is not surgery, in that it is not something anyone can do “to” and individual, it is a cooperative endeavor that can only be done “with” them. One of my favorite descriptions of the opening phase of therapy is “a process of gentle exploration.” With the knowledge gained from this exploration, it is possible to instigate lasting change.
Education
2011-2015
B.A. of Psychology (research empahsis)
University of Nevada, Reno
The psychology department at the University of Nevada emphasied the importance of applied, and basic, research. During my time as a student I worked as a research assistant on a study investigating the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
2016-2019
M.A. of Counseling Psychology
Santa Clara University
This three year program provided education in areas including counseling skills, psychological theory, human development, research, and ethics. The final year of SCU's program includes a clinical practicum, where students gain experience provided therapy under close supervision. I completed my practicum at West Valley Community College's Student Health Services.