Ed Chwekun, LMFT

I have many years of experience effectively assisting clients in achieving their goals as quickly as possible. Prime issues are guilt, shame, anxiety, chronic anger, depression, procrastination, unhappy relationships and pessimism.

My goal is to assist you in achieving YOUR goals, whatever they may be. Note that sometimes this process of change is painful, and avoiding that pain, whether through drugs/alcohol, distraction, denial, avoidance, etc can keep you stuck. A sense of humor and compassion for both self and others can make the journey easier. And more fun!

Often the choice is between "short-term pain/long term gain" and "short-term gain/long-term pain".  All addictions pursue the latter strategy: Fly now, Pay Later.

We will go no faster than you choose, and will work to reduce the discomfort as much as possible consistent with getting unstuck. How long therapy takes depends mostly on how much you want to change and how much work you do between sessions.  Some people need as little as a single session, though most need more.

A major factor for many is working to change the "hypnotic-trance-like" story we tell ourselves: who I believe I am, what I believe I'm worth (and deserve), and what I believe I can expect of others are the essential elements. I have many years of experience working with Trauma, both military and non-military, and how that impacts narratives. I was for many years the Clinical Director of VVSD (Veteran's Village of SD), a nationally respected Veteran's Treatment Center here in San Diego.

Studies show that the courage to face truth is one of the best predictors of change in therapy. The good news is that the truth you may fear is almost certainly not as terrible as you think. And significant life-altering change does not have to take years.   Whether you know it or not, you deserve joy and peace.
I am trained iin EMDR, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, Narrative, DBT, CBT, and a bunch more. I am available in-person Saturday mornings and many other times and days via Video Conferencing.