MARY R. BATES

My name is Robin Bates and I am Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am licensed in California with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, codependency, depression, anxiety, motivation, self-esteem, confidence, & coping with life changes. My approach I am here to support & empower my client's journey towards mental wellness, using tools and theoretical approaches such as Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered approaches, art therapy, and 12 steps. My focus I have worked with clients from ages 4 to 90 in a variety of settings. Currently, I am focusing on adults who are seeking help for depression, anxiety, self-esteem, spiritual issues, addiction, codependency, grief, and life transitions. My communication style I believe that my clients are the experts of their stories and have many strengths that will assist them in overcoming challenges, becoming more self-aware, and reaching their goals. My goal is to create a safe, nurturing space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in their own ways. Each person is unique and I will approach their perspective with compassion and without judgement. My journey to mental healthcare My journey toward being a therapist is a long one! After working with my own therapist for a while in my late twenties, I decided to return to school and pursue a degree in psychology. The more I studied, the more I wanted to learn! I continued my education in graduate school at Sofia University and graduated with a master's in counseling psychology. I did internships at hospices, addiction clinics, k-12 grade schools, family trauma specialists, and private practice. Everywhere I went, I learned more and grew more curious about what it means to be human and support each other. I received my license in Marriage and Family therapy in 2016. Every year, every client and every session still brings new things for me to learn and I am still growing professionally and personally as I continue my career. My goals for you Sometimes clients aren't sure what their goals are in the first session, and some clients know before meeting me for the first time. I will meet them where they are and help them discover or get clarity on their goals as we create a plan to start working on together. My first session with you In our first session, I will simply spend time getting to know my clients, answer their questions and explain what it is like to work with me. My hope is that my clients feel a sense of hope at the end of our first session together and feel they have things to think about over the days until they meet me again.