The Story Once I set on this path there has been no looking back. I studied many modalities of therapy and became a licensed marriage and family therapist 30 odd years ago. My love of this work has led me to continue my training over the years in many areas of treatment: narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral treatment, positive psychology, mindfulness & spiritual awareness as well as learning how our minds, brains and emotions work in relationships. In my quest to bring the best to my clients I have also trained and been certified as a life and relationship coach through the Coaches Training Institute. On the personal front, my life has also been my best teacher. Paradoxically for me, I have yearned for a good marriage yet experienced failure in this area more than once. Though each failure was painful, I didn’t stop looking for the truth in the cause both personally and in the bigger picture. Personally I discovered new ways of engaging with the people in my life and have been blessed with a good marriage for a number of years. In the bigger picture I learned that the work of relationships is worthy of a lifetime commitment. I bring my professional credentials, my own life experience and a passion for being in the “relationship trenches” with those who are in trouble and seeking a “warrior in service of the heart” as a guide. The Philosophy I believe troubles are our greatest teachers. By engaging with them (instead of avoiding) we learn what’s important to us and how to stay true to ourselves no matter what the circumstances throw our way. We develop creativity and resourcefulness as we rise up from our failures and work through our darker emotions and reactive patterns. We learn essential life skills. We become whole and authentic people, the people we were meant to be, as we heal. There is nothing more valuable than that. Though we curse them as we go through them, we end up being grateful for our troubles once we have surmounted them. That’s the paradox in which I love to work. The Offering A Marriage and Family Therapist for 32 years (CA license #12725) and a Certified Professional CoActive Coach for 9 years, Curtis is an expert relationship coach and psychotherapist. He uses assessments, exercises and the latest social neurobiological research in creative and effective ways. Born and raised in San Francisco, Curtis earned his MA in Psychology through Antioch University and trained with the Coaches Training Institute. Whether you're seeking guidance with relationship or individual troubles, Curtis will not only give you exactly what you need to address your current circumstances, but also the tools you need to handle relationship issues and other obstacles as they come up in the future. As one of his clients told him, “therapy provides the healing and moves obstacles out of the way so that coaching can be used to achieve what you really want.” Curtis works with clients in person in Ventura and over the phone. His coaching and therapy services are custom designed to fit the needs, the budget and the issues of each client. His fee is $125 per hour and he always provides a free consultation to make sure there is a fit between what you are seeking and what he has to offer. Call to get your FREE consultation 805.641.3281 or email
The Testimonial "I just want to say THANK YOU. I think [Curtis] is the most gifted and on-the-mark therapist and coach! I just wanted to say that I truly appreciate the way that you are in communication with us, the way you listen, the way you teach and your beautiful values. I feel honored to be working with you!" The Exercise The Gratitude Journal is any small notebook that is only used for this purpose (no grocery lists or phone numbers allowed). Each day, write that day's date and two sentences that begin with these exact words: "I am grateful for..." followed by a simple moment that you have experienced recently in your life which you are grateful for, something that has given you a spark of delight or meaning. It can be as “insignificant” as the Santa Rosa burrito I ate for lunch at Fresh Grill today or as “meaningful” as the Father’s Day conversation at lunch with my son and daughter that connected us in a sweet moment of love and laughter. Leave your judgment at the door when doing this and just scan for anything that you feel a spark of gratitude for having experienced. The purpose is to develop the habit of reminding yourself of what you have in your life that makes it worth living. Doing this daily develops an awareness that is invaluable, especially when things are not going the way you want. When we are going through troubled times, it is essential to focus our minds on gratitude as it keeps the neurological channels open to our most creative and resourceful parts of the brain. Only from there do we heal and grow. The impact of developing these two habits is simple: it increases the overall positive atmosphere in your life and your relationships. The Gratitude Journal is a personal and individual experience. Have fun with it. Play around and find the right times to do it every day. You'll be surprised by the results after 3 weeks of consistent practice.
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