Dr. Chad Drake

I personally know what it is like to struggle with anxiety and despair. I also know what it is like to go to therapy and to get little benefit from it. Many years ago, my emotional life changed dramatically when I stumbled onto resources that addressed my actual needs, and subsequently I devoted myself to a career promoting better mental health practices than I was taught when I was young.

Simply put, I teach people six interrelated psychological skills that you can use to transform your life. If all you want to do is explore the past, I'm not your best option - I focus on the past only enough to get us moving toward the future you want. I love to help people develop psychological superpowers that they can use to get the life they always hoped for, starting from where they are now and moving forward into a future they find worthwhile.

I specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is scientifically supported for a wide range of mental and emotional problems. The focus of ACT is to teach clients how to develop psychological flexibility. This is a multifaceted skillset that will transform your perceptions of suffering, challenge who you believe you are, and empower you to live with freedom, dignity, and courage.

I have almost 25 years of experience with this modality, not just as a clinician but also as a teacher and researcher. I understand ACT from the inside out and am an expert at teaching people about it. I have witnessed countless numbers of people who have learned to shift from an inflexible pattern of living to engaging the opportunities of their life with psychological flexibility. It is like being given a fresh new life.

During our first meeting, I will be working to get to know the essential details of your history and your current functioning. This will involve a conversation but also some questionnaires that will help me track your progress over time. We also will strategize for our meetings ahead. I care about giving you the most value for your money and your time. Ideally we will meet 10-20 times, which is usually enough for me to teach you the skills, help you begin using them in your day-to-day life, and get you solidly on the road toward the life you want.

Please note - currently I am available for sessions every other week. My session times are late evenings.