Dr. Kenneth Dowling

I earned my PhD in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University. Starting in 2016, I trained and worked at 3 private practice groups for adults, 3 university counseling centers, community clinics for older adults and for LGBTQ young adults, and group therapy for neurodiverse kids and college men. From the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve lived around the US (SoCal, DC, Iowa, Chicago, NYC) and the world (England, Spain, Taiwan). I strive to implement cultural competence and humility in working with many ages and racial, cultural, regional and international identities.

I use an integrative, client-centered approach, weaving together cognitive-behavioral (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic, compassion-focused, and relational interventions. My clients value our therapeutic relationships as a warm space for empathy and validation. And for humor, interspersed with depth when we need to “go there”. And for bold but supportive challenges to make the tough decisions you need to grow by. Therapy is not about being mean to the parts we're not so proud of and want to change. Actually, we change the most by accepting and loving these parts - neither shaming them nor making excuses. Once we bring them into the light, we can integrate & heal them, then live healthier and happier.

I’ll go over policies and procedures for ~10 minutes, then I’ll ask you about your presenting problems, behavioral health, and life history. I may already suggest a little homework, and we will schedule our next sessions. If it’s your first time or you’re nervous, I’ll do my best to answer your questions and make you comfortable, so we can build trust and start doing the work. I'll ask you how you want your life & mental health to improve in the next few months. I often suggest journaling, reading, exercise, and substance use reduction. To learn more, see https://www.lionsmindpsych.com/my-approach