(805) 882-2424 x 105
rkravetz@ftisb.org
Education and Training
B.A. American Civilization, George Washington University, 1975
Juris Doctor, Southwestern University School of Law, 1979
M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University, 2006
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 2009 (46937, State of California)
Treatment Philosophy and Approaches
As a family therapist with nearly 20 years of experience, my work is primarily collaborative. Clients are my partners in their own healing. I seek to meet them “where they are” and work with them to identify their goals, as well as the issues that present obstacles to their sense of well-being and satisfaction. Together we explore the client’s (whether an individual, couple, or family) lives, values, goals and challenges. This may include the client’s trauma history, early childhood experiences and influences, as well as present-day challenges. I work in a variety of psychotherapeutic modalities including family systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, humanistic/person-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and trauma-informed therapy.
As someone who previously worked for 25 years as an attorney, I also help families, individuals and “high conflict couples, struggling with their relationships. This work sometimes involves my clients’ attempts to reconcile and re-connect after often long periods of estrangement. In other cases, the process can involve help in their attempts to separate, in a way that minimizes the trauma to children experiencing their parents’ divorce, and to pursue co-parenting cooperatively and with a minimum of conflict. I have also worked extensively with adolescents navigating a stage of life that somehow seems more and more challenging with every passing year.
As a husband of 45 years and a father of four, I believe I have a wealth of life experience that informs my ability to empathize and understand the complex problems of inter-generational trauma and the many, seemingly overwhelming challenges of family life.
Professional Interests and Approach
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist I enjoy working with families, teens, individuals and couples. Client concerns include depression, anxiety, trauma, relational challenges, life transitions, aging, changes in physical health, and end-of-life concerns.
At times, my work involves helping my clients’ identify, understand and change deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, as well as counter-productive behaviors that create obstacles both in their relationships with others and in their relationship to themselves.
Professional Experience
I have worked at the Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara since 2006, as an Associate MFT and then as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In addition, I served as the Executive Director to Domestic Violence Solutions of Santa Barbara County (2009-2012) and taught as an instructor in a variety of courses at Antioch University’s Masters Program in Clinical Psychology (2012-2018).
Personal Life
I live with my wife of 45 years in Santa Barbara, and together we have raised four children. I am also a sometime musician, an avid reader, and a dog owner.