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Larry O’Connor, Marriage and Family Therapist
(415) 225-3032
I’ve never related to the idea that therapists are paid to hear people’s problems, or be their friend. From my perspective I experience people, and try to lend constructive understanding to their concerns, based some on my training, but a great deal more on my experience. I do this by listening, asking whether I’m getting the person, pointing out strengths they may not be recognizing. I’m active, collaborative, and try to be real, not pretentious, or aloof. I believe therapy is a mutual, though professional relationship, and, in which both of us are invested. Because of this I get to know, and care about people I work with, and where it’s relevant and appropriate, open about about myself.
People I’ve work with have often expressed I get their nuances, and feel like they’re treated as equals working with me.
Couples Therapy
“The right to express our thoughts means something—only if we are able to have thoughts of our own.”
—Eric Fromm
Although relationships define much of who we are, they don’t define all we are. Thus it’s natural for couples to have difficulty balancing being part of a couple and maintaining a sense of self. Couples commonly think the solution is simply to compromise, however this usually means just adjusting to the other’s differences. Unfortunately, compromise in this way disregards each’s individuality and integrity, so neither are independently recognized, understood, or really accepted. While accepting our partners for who they are is essential, it doesn’t have to be at the expense of their individually actualizing who they are. I encourage couples to have individuality balanced with connectedness, and deepen their involvement in the relationship without losing themselves.
My Specialties Include:
- Improving Relationships and Communication
- Separation, Divorce, and Co-Parenting
- Successfully Managing Depression and Anxiety
- Finding Individual Meaning and Purpose in Life
- Making Successful Transitions
- Men’s Issues & Men in Relationships
- Addressing Substance Abuse, and Addictions
Theories I draw from:
- Existential psychotherapy
- Humanistic psychology
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Psychodynamics
- Interpersonal psychoanalysis
I have offices both in San Francisco and Palo Alto.
I always encourage you to read and post reviews on Yelp.
“Sanity is only that which is within the frame of reference of conventional thought.”
—Eric Fromm
