Individual Psychotherapy in Santa Cruz, CA
In-person in Soquel. Online throughout California.
Nothing is technically wrong. That's often the hardest part.
The job is fine. The relationship is fine. And yet you're running on a low hum of dread you can't trace, or you've stopped looking forward to things, or you're irritable with people who don't deserve it and you can hear yourself doing it while it happens.
Plenty of people wait to seek therapy until something breaks, on the theory that what they're dealing with isn't bad enough to count. It doesn't have to be bad enough. Therapy works better before the crisis, not after.
I'm Christopher Greer, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Soquel. I work with adults across Santa Cruz County and, by secure video, anywhere in California.
What Brings People In
Anxiety that won't turn off. The 3am wake-up. Rehearsing conversations that haven't happened. A body that stays braced even when nothing is coming.
Depression that looks like flatness more than sadness. Getting through the day but not really in it. Things that used to register just don't anymore.
Burnout. Not tired. Depleted. The specific exhaustion of doing work you can no longer find the point of.
Life transitions. Divorce, a move, a career change, kids leaving, a parent declining, a version of yourself you've outgrown but haven't replaced.
Relationship patterns that keep repeating. Same conflict, different person. Or the same distance.
A sense that something's off you can't name. This is a completely legitimate reason to start therapy, and it's more common than people assume.
How I Work
Collaborative, not prescriptive. I'm not going to hand you a worksheet and a diagnosis in session one. We figure out together what's driving what.
Direct. If I see a pattern, I'll say it. Warmly, but I'll say it. Most people who've done therapy before tell me this is what was missing.
Present-focused, with history where it's relevant. We're interested in your past insofar as it explains your present. This isn't an archaeology project.
Practical. You should leave with something usable, not just insight. Insight that doesn't change behavior is just a more articulate version of the same problem.
Who I Work With
Professionals and high-achievers who are functioning well and feeling terrible
Parents with nothing left over at the end of the day
Adults in their 30s through 60s navigating a transition
People who've tried therapy before and found it too passive
Adults in Soquel, Capitola, Aptos, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville, or anywhere in California online
If what you're carrying is primarily trauma-related, that has its own page: trauma therapy →
If substances are part of the picture, see substance use counseling →.
Plenty of people need some of each, and we can work on both.
Practice Details
Location: 5905 Soquel Dr., Ste. 350, Soquel, CA 95073
Online: Secure, HIPAA-compliant video anywhere in California
Sessions: 50 minutes, usually weekly to start
License: Christopher Greer, LCSW — CA License #104054
Common Questions About Individual Therapy
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You don't have to meet a threshold. If it's affecting your sleep, your work, or the people around you, or if it's been going on longer than it should, that's enough.
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Some people come for three months around a specific transition. Others stay for a year or more. We'll talk about it honestly rather than leaving it open-ended by default.
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Tell me about it on the consult. Often the issue was fit or approach rather than therapy itself, and knowing what didn't work is useful information.
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No. As an LCSW I don't prescribe. If medication seems worth exploring, I'll refer you to a psychiatrist or your primary care provider and coordinate from there.
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For most of what I treat, research says yes. Some people prefer a room away from home. The Soquel office is available if that's you.
Start With A Conversation
A free 20-minute phone call. You tell me what's going on, I tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.
(831) 480-5292 | chris@gcpsychotherapy.com