John A.Martin, Ph.D. California Licensed Psychologist
Here are some things you might like to know:
- I'm a California licensed psychologist in independent private psychology practice.
- I have more than 25 years of experience as a psychologist, and work both with individuals of all ages (18+) and pairs, and occasionally with groups of three.
- I see clients in two locations:
- in downtown San Francisco (close to Union Square and the Sutter/Stockton parking garage)
- in a private residence in the Castro Street neighborhood of San Francisco
- I don't define my work with clients as psychotherapy and I don't bill health insurance carriers, nor do I participate in any preferred provider panels. For an explanation of why I believe most people should pay for their own psychological work and why “psychotherapy” may not always be the best descriptor of that psychological work, see my essay on insurance reimbursement, mental illness and psychotherapy.
- I was educated at Harvard (AB summa cum laude, 1974) and Stanford (PhD with distinction, 1978), and spent many years teaching and doing research before turning to full time private practice.
- Here are a few of the practice areas where I have the most experience:
- Psychological consulting, coaching and mentoring. My goal is to help people find their way to healthier, happier, more successful, more productive lives, and to meet and confront the challenges and obstacles that may stand in their way by working with them collaboratively.
- Gay Men and Lesbians: Since the beginning, around half of my practice has been with gay men and lesbians, individuals and couples. I was co-director of Gay Men's Therapy Center for ten years.
- Relationship issues: In both my academic years and in my years as a clinician, my core interest is in two-person relationships
- what makes them work
- how different people express themselves differently in relationships
- how relationships can meet challenge and crisis
- People in "Midlife": I work with men and women who are facing major life-transitions and re-evaluations in mid-career and/or in mid-life.
- Older Adults: I work with older people who are confronting issues relating to aging and mortality.
- Spiritual/Religious issues: I work with people on issues ranging from spiritual/religious (re-)awakening to healing the wounds inflicted by religion.
- Other services include:
- Consulting to organizations, mainly on issues related to the impact of interpersonal relationships (including teams)
- Statistical consulting and advice on research design (see my Vita for details about this part of my professional experience)
- Supervision of other psychologists, including (but not limited to) psychotherapists, particularly on professional development matters and on issues relating to counter-transference (explorations of the relationship between psychologist and client)