Guy Albert, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
PSY20961
"Believe that with your feelings and your work you
are taking part in the greatest;
the more strongly you cultivate this
belief, the more will reality and the world go forth from it." Rainer Maria Rilke
My education as a psychologist
I consider my psychotherapy profession to be a life path, a journey into the depths of human nature. I give of myself fully to this work, because I have benefited and continue to benefit from receiving the same gift from other therapists. My own unfolding and my ongoing inquisitiveness led me to help others in similar ways. I have studied and worked in a variety of
mental health and social services settings for over 20 years--as a caregiver, a social worker, a psychotherapist, and now an analyst in training. I currently practice as a Licensed Psychologist, a doctorate-level license for mental health professionals in California.
Along with my private practice, I am a part-time faculty member and supervisor of clinical interns. My research on the positive resolution of mental health crises was selected for presentation at the American Psychological Association annual convention in Washington, DC, in 2006. In the recent past, I developed and managed a child counseling program, addressing individual and family therapy, intake, assessment, and complimentary care. I also worked for many years with adults in inpatient and outpatient settings.
My approach to psychotherapy
I was trained in both brief and long-term interventions in psychotherapy. I am currently in my candidacy process at the C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco. This is a post-license program for experienced professionals to deepen our understanding of the human psyche, both for our own growth and for the benefit of those we serve. This work provides a means of navigating and transforming serious mental health conditions and repetitive patterns of behavior. I offer it as an alternative for those who wish to explore their life with greater understanding and guidance. The choice is always yours to be involved in brief or long-term psychotherapeutic work.
In my work with children, sand tray or play therapy are often the best ways of communicating with the child and for understanding his or her unease. (See What Is? for more information on
these approaches to therapy.) My work with teens and adults may involve relational dynamics, dreams, transitional issues, and various expressive methods to investigate the underlying causes of
stress or concern. Human beings are complex creatures. Yet I have no hesitation in exploring the depth and breadth of human experience with you or your child/teen.
My hope is that through our investigation, you or your child will get a glimpse of your own perfect wholeness and find greater ease in
being who you are.
My background
I was born in a French-speaking area of Canada, and I have lived in the US for the
greater part of my life. I enjoy the Bay Area's social diversity and the many outdoor and
cultural activities the area provides. I keep a healthy outlook on life by
taking care of myself as best I can, including Yoga, meditation, physical exercise, and the use of alternative therapies. In this regard, I believe psychotherapy provides the basis for an integrative approach to health and well-being. The right kind of psychotherapy provided the necessary container for me to contain and embrace my life experiences, the epiphanies, the challenges, and everything in between.
My experiences have taken me through many different channels
that are wide-ranging and that may seem complex and disconnected. I've led support groups for men, facilitated creative expression groups for children, and offered
psycho-spiritual support for the dying. I have been
in intimate partnerships and raised children, and I have also experienced separation
and the difficulties of personal crises. A common thread ties these
experiences and many others together: my desire to be an embodiment of compassion
and presence in the world. With careful unwavering support, I've learned to live with my failures and recognize my strengths. I've learned to trust in the deep healing that occurs when two people, psychotherapist and client, make a commitment to this healing process together. I know this will be
my profession until well past common retirement age.
Confidential Voice Mail: 510-496-3447
Copyright 2011