We’re San Francisco Therapists, specializing in developing romantic intelligence for singles and couples.

Our work integrates the following modalities into state-of-the-art psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, stepfamilies, and groups:

• Body-centered approaches
• Attachment theory
• Family systems
• Relational Gestalt
• Expressive Arts

 

Michael Griffith MA MFT MS DDS

California State MFT License 28859
Available for virtual appointments
(415) 546-6548 griffithmft@gmail.com

Our Approach

You will find us to be interactive and relational therapists. Our goal is to create a supportive and healing environment in which we explore and understand you and your world — your relationship to yourself, your family of origin, your relational life with your partner (if you have one), your children or stepchildren, your friendships, your work, and your creative life.

When we are hurt or frightened as children, we protect ourselves by organizing defensive patterns, constricting our breath, our bodies, our feelings and thoughts, our hopes, and our dreams. These survival strategies safeguard us when we are young, but they restrict our authentic, loving, spontaneous, pleasurable lives as adults, diminishing our relationships with ourselves, others, and the world.

Body-centered psychotherapy focuses on identifying and transforming our physical and emotional defenses, thus supporting the usual human tendency towards health, wholeness, and integration – the fully experienced, alive, and relational self. We utilize the therapeutic relationship to develop not just insight but to expand your “felt sense” of yourself.

We work on the basics: the right to exist; identifying and dealing with emotions; allowing needs and expanding wants; feeling free to be yourself, learning to tolerate more pleasure, and, most importantly, we work on growing your capacity for love.

Our work draws extensively from Attachment theory, particularly in our work with couples and families. We also integrate Gestalt, family systems theory, Expressive arts (play therapy, sand tray, art, and psychodrama), and characterological approaches, creating a nourishing and restorative atmosphere, caring for the whole person, the couple, or the family in treatment. While many people report helpful insights from traditional talk therapy, they often find themselves ready for more dynamic, interactive, and engaged work.

Our workshop Cultivating Romantic Intelligence draws from attachment theory, mindfulness, somatic awareness, family systems, and relational Gestalt, in a supportive, safe environment.