About Me

Kris Spangler, MFT

I'm not any more "advanced" than you. Sometimes I'm the guide, sometimes the follower. I'm always looking for ways to help you to find your truth.

Why Psychotherapy?
Prior to beginning my studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in 1995, I was primarily a full-time activist and worked at non-profits whose aims were to promote peace and justice and to assist the unhoused. I felt a pull to transition to direct work helping people find peace with each other through the process of mediation.

Soon after I started graduate school, I entered psychotherapy, myself, for the first time. I came to believe that personal healing is what is often missing when people aren't coexisting happily with each other, whether the people are lovers or heads of state. I saw that psychotherapy could achieve that better than mediation; especially a psychotherapy that places the human psyche in the context of spirit, body and community. Now I love the work of psychotherapy.

Further Training
Since I obtained my Master of Arts Degree from CIIS I've continued to train -- I have studied at length Gestalt Therapy and transpersonal interpretations of Ericksonian, Object-Relations and Jungian models. I've completed EMDR training with the esteemed Laurel Parnell (see the page on EMDR). I also have extensive training and work experience in the areas of domestic violence and working with gender non-conforming people. Feel free to ask me what my training or experience is regarding what you wish to work with in therapy.

Diversity
My life and work experience has exposed me to a lot. It helps me bring a wide-open mind and a heart full of compassion to each person who walks through my door.

As an able-bodied white person from a middle class background who has also been privileged to receive a higher education, I have worked hard to confront biases and complacency in me and continue to do so. I humbly extend a special welcome to people of color and others who might be regularly hurt by people like me. I can never know your personal experience, but I can offer my best attempts to understand your heart.

As a genderqueer person I do have some experience of what it's like to be different, though I know it isn't the same as your experience.