A space to feel understood, move forward, and be you.
You don't have it all figured out? Starting is enough!
Therapy is not about fixing what’s “wrong” with you.
Coming to Therapy does not means you are “crazy“, “weak“, or “ungrateful“. It is about giving yourself the space to grow. It is about take charge with your own life, and have lasting change.It may not always be easy, but you don’t have to do it on your own.
What I help with
Anxiety and mood challenges can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. In our work together, we will slow things down, understand what your symptoms are trying to protect you from, and build practical tools you can use in daily life. I draw from approaches such as CBT, mindfulness, and somatic awareness to help you reduce worry, improve mood, and feel more grounded and present. My goal is to help you move from constant survival mode toward a life that feels calmer, more connected, and genuinely enjoyable.
Many men are taught to push through, stay strong, and keep emotions hidden, which often leads to burnout, anger, or quiet loneliness. This is a space where you do not have to have it all together and you will not be judged for how you cope. We can explore stress, relationships, identity, work pressure, and past experiences in a straightforward and practical way that respects your values. Together we will build a version of strength that includes emotional clarity, healthier coping, and the ability to show up fully in your life.
This is an affirming, nonjudgmental space for LGBTQ+ individuals and those in diverse relationship or sexual lifestyles. You do not need to educate me about basic identities or terminology, and your sexual and relational choices are welcomed rather than pathologized. We can explore coming out, family and cultural pressures, internalized shame, dating, kink and non monogamy, or simply the stress of moving through the world in a marginalized body. My role is to support your safety, autonomy, pleasure, and authenticity while we address the concerns that brought you to therapy.
For many AAPI and BIPOC clients, mental health is deeply intertwined with immigration stories, intergenerational trauma, racism, and complex family expectations. In this space, your cultural background is not an afterthought but central to how we understand your stress and resilience. We might explore themes like perfectionism, guilt, code switching, boundaries, or the pressure to succeed, all while honoring your community values. Together we work toward healing that respects both where you come from and where you want to go.
High performers are often praised for their productivity, but few people see the anxiety, exhaustion, and self criticism that power it. I work with professionals, students, and driven individuals who feel stuck on a treadmill of “never enough.” In therapy, we explore the beliefs underneath your overachieving, learn how to regulate your nervous system, and build new ways of pursuing goals without burning yourself down. You can keep your ambition and standards while also gaining rest, joy, and a more sustainable pace.
Brainspotting is a focused, brain and body based therapy that helps access and process trauma, anxiety, and performance blocks that talk therapy alone often cannot reach. In session, we use eye positions, mindful attention, and nervous system awareness to safely connect with the deeper layers of your experience at a pace that feels manageable. This approach can be especially helpful for those who feel “stuck,” numb, or who intellectually understand their history but still feel triggered in their body. Together we work to release stored survival responses, increase resilience, and create more freedom in how you respond to life.
If you are questioning your use of alcohol, cannabis, or other substances, you do not need to have already decided on total abstinence to get support here. We will look honestly at what your use does for you, what it costs you, and what changes feel realistic right now. I use a compassionate, harm reduction and motivational style that respects your autonomy while helping you build healthier coping strategies and supports. Whether you want to cut back, take a break, or explore sobriety, we will move at your pace with a focus on safety and long term wellbeing.
Hypnotherapy can be a powerful adjunct to traditional counseling for issues such as anxiety, confidence, habits, stress, and performance blocks. In a hypnotherapy session, you remain in control and aware while guided into a relaxed, focused state that makes it easier to work with your subconscious patterns. We use this state to reinforce the changes you want, such as calmer responses to stress, healthier habits, or more balanced self talk. Hypnotherapy is always collaborative, consent based, and integrated with your broader therapy goals to support deep and lasting change.
Movement therapy integrates gentle physical activity into the therapeutic process to help you reconnect with your body, release stress, and process emotions that are hard to reach with words alone. Depending on your comfort level, this can look like simple breath and posture work, mindful stretching, or walking sessions that keep you moving while we talk. We pay attention to how your body holds tension, what it is trying to communicate, and how movement can support regulation and resilience. This approach is especially helpful if you feel restless, stuck in your head, or notice that traditional talk therapy has not fully addressed how stress lives in your body.
Video games therapy incorporates the games, stories, and fandoms you already love into our work together. Whether you connect more easily through anime, video games, tabletop RPGs, comics, sci fi, or fantasy worlds, we can use those narratives to explore identity, relationships, values, and coping skills in a way that feels natural instead of stiff or formal. This is a judgment free space where your interests are strengths, not distractions. Together we use the characters, quests, and systems you know well as metaphors and tools to better understand yourself, build confidence, and create real world change.
Why People Work With Me
And What You Can Expect
01
Warm, Gentle but Direct, Judgment-Free Communication
A supportive approach that respects your pace and helps you feel understood.
02
Affirming and Culturally Aware
Care that honors identity, community, and the experiences that shaped you.
03
Practical Tools for Everyday Life
Guidance that helps you build insight and create change that feels realistic.
04
Therapy That Matches Your Identity
Care that understands the layers of cultural, relational, and personal experiences you bring into the room.
05
A Calm, Grounded Environment
A space where you can slow down, reflect, and explore what is happening beneath the surface.
Your Wellbeing
In Strength
What Colleagues Say
“If you’re a high-performance adult navigating a demanding, stressful career, I highly recommend working with Dexter, who integrates Geek (Video Game) Therapy into the healing process. His approach blends evidence-based clinical skills with the creativity and engagement of video game worlds, helping clients reduce stress, build emotional resilience, and enhance self-care in ways that feel natural and enjoyable.”
Monet Goldman, LMFT, Founder of Video Game Counseling
“Dexter possesses a rare combination of profound clinical expertise and genuine human warmth. He is incredibly kind, compassionate, and down-to-earth, which allows him to build immediate rapport and trust with clients from all walks of life.”
Jiewen (Janice) Huang, LCSW, Certified Brainspotting Consultant, Certified Grief Educator, Founder of Present Moment Wellness
“Dexter is a compassionate therapist specializing in LGBTQ issues, dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome stigma and embrace their authentic selves, leading lives of greater freedom and fulfillment.”
Michael Grey, PsyD, LMFT, ABS, Founder of Grey Insight
Let's start your journey to healing.
1559 B Sloat Blvd Ste 254,
San Francisco, CA 94132
Fax Number: 415 876 5873