Phillip McKinnon

I'm a therapist based in the Coachella Valley with a broad scope. I work with individuals, couples, families, and children navigating some of life's most difficult terrain: trauma and PTSD, anxiety and depression, substance use and addiction, family conflict, grief, anger, and the particular pressures that come with being a man in a culture that rarely teaches men how to ask for help.

I offer both in-person sessions in the valley and telehealth appointments throughout California. My approach is direct but never harsh, structured but never rigid. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all therapy, I meet you where you actually are.

I draw on CBT, DBT, solution-focused therapy, and psychodynamic work, not because I follow a single school of thought, but because different people need different tools at different points in their lives. If you're in crisis and need coping skills now, we'll build them. If you want to understand the deeper patterns shaping your behavior and relationships, we'll go there too.Sessions feel like real conversation. I don't sit silently waiting for you to figure it out alone, I'm active, engaged, and honest. I'll reflect back what I'm hearing, offer perspective when it's useful, and challenge you when it helps. The work is collaborative, and the pace is yours.

Expect to be heard without having to perform or explain yourself perfectly. The first session is yours to use however feels right, some people come in knowing exactly what they want to work on; others need space to figure that out. Either is welcome.

I'll ask questions to understand your history, what's bringing you in now, and what you're hoping therapy will actually change for you. By the end, we'll have a clearer sense of direction. There's no pressure to commit to a long-term plan in session one, just show up, and we'll figure out the next step together.