Start Psychotherapy
Bently Anderson, LMFT#146945
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been practicing in the Bay Area over the last 4 years. I have experience working with a diverse group of clients with respect to presenting concerns, family constellation, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity.
Regardless of their background, the majority of clients are people who are interested in personal growth and improving the quality of their personal and professional relationships. My therapeutic approach integrates lived experience with evidenced-based modalities to support meaningful personal growth. My goal is to create a therapeutic relationship that can be used to increase self-awareness and find effective strategies to navigate challenging situations.
Presenting concerns typically addressed
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- History of Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Neurodiversity
- Grief-Ambiguous Loss
- Neurodiversity
- Chronic Stress
- Disrupted Sleep
- Relationship Issues
- Lonliness / Isolation
- Men’s Issues
Treatment modalities
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR): Reprocess distressing memories through bilateral stimulation, helping reduce emotional distress and integrate previously overwhelming experiences. Techniques may include: history-taking, resourcing and stabilization, targeting a specific memory, bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory sounds), and integrating a positive beliefs.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Building skills to identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to emotional distress or self-defeating behaviors. Techniques may include: worksheets, thought records or automatic thought logs, developing skills for problem solving.
- Motivational Interviewing: Enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. Techniques may include: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, identifying sustain vs. change talk, and summarizing.
- Client-Center Therapy: Creating a safe and accepting environment where clients can explore themselves without judgment and a process of building trust in your own internal guidance. Techniques may include: unconditional positive regard, empathetic attunement, reflective responses, use of silence, and minimal therapist direction.
- Mindfulness: Enhance present-moment awareness, reduce stress, and support emotional regulation for individuals seeking greater clarity and balance in daily life. Techniques may include: guided breathing, body scans, and mindful observation of emotions or experiences without judgment.
- Coping skills: Learning strategies to manage emotional distress. Techniques may include: grounding exercises, relaxation techniques, and distress tolerance skills.
Cultural background
My full name is Bently James Watanabe Anderson. As a therapist with a multicultural background, I’m aware of the significant underrepresentation of Asian-American men in the field of psychotherapy. For much of my life, I downplayed my minority identity, leaning into parts of myself that allowed me to move through the world with less friction. My mixed heritage and physical appearance gave me a kind of social invisibility, while internally I was suppressing key parts of who I am. I have chosen to share aspects of my cultural background because I believe that representation in mental health care matters deeply. I understand that unspoken pressures around masculinity, emotional expression, and family roles can lead to reluctance in seeking support.
Prior to becoming a therapist, I managed a skateboard company in San Francisco. My experience included content creation for social media, working closely with business owners, industrial designers and engineers, customer service and fulfillment. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to provide mental health services to creatives, entrepreneurs, and people who love action sports.
Education
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology – Santa Clara University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Sociology – Sonoma State University
