Psychotherapist and marriage counselor Dr. Jeff Sharp, psychologist: Background.

Dr. Jeff Sharp I began studying psychology as an undergraduate at Yale in the early 1970's. I was fortunate to study with a wise, generous mentor--Father Henri Nouwen--who taught me the importance of taking my own gifts, wounds and yearnings seriously--but not too seriously--while also recognizing the universality of human experiences. Henri helped me appreciate the importance of the ongoing pursuit of solitude amidst the onslaught of external stimuli we all encounter in the modern world. He was an inspiring mentor who had an enduring impact on me; I've written an article (references are in my C.V.) that details the many ways in which he facilitated my growth and development.

I went on to get a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from U.C. Berkeley. During that time I primarily studied family dynamics, and became licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 1983. Throughout the 1980's I worked with families with acting-out teenagers, helping the adults cope with the challenges of being a parent and helping the kids face the challenges of adolescence. I learned a great deal about the needs and resources of families from diverse social and economic backgrounds, and co-wrote a series of articles about adolescent and young adult substance abuse. During my final six years at the clinic I ran a training program for psychology interns. Since then I have taught at clinics and graduate schools throughout the Bay Area, and written a chapter on the training of psychotherapists.

Eventually I became more interested in working with couples and individual adults, which led to a series of new learning experiences. I studied depth psychotherapy at the Existential-Humanistic Institute, the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group (previously known as the Mt. Zion Psychotherapy Research Group), and the Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis. I studied and collaborated with Jim Bugental and Irv Yalom, two gifted therapists who have been inspiring mentors. I became licensed as a psychologist in 1993.

During the past twenty years I've continually studied numerous models of couples therapy, and taught graduate courses on this topic. This comprehensive, ongoing training--along with the wisdom and humility I've gained by being married and raising a family for over 25 years--has helped me develop expertise in working with diverse couples who confront a wide range of problems.

Collectively these training experiences have enabled me to develop a comprehensive approach toward conducting psychotherapy with individuals, couples, and groups. My foremost goals are to create a safe context for individuals to explore their hopes and concerns, and to foster a collaborative effort, with each client, that promotes desired change and growth. Since every client is unique, the course of therapy develops its own narrative and unfolds at its own pace, guided primarily by the concerns and resources of each client.

Curriculum vitae