Wendell Perkins

As a therapist I facilitate the conditions that foster your innate ability to heal and to flourish. I love working with individuals as well as couples as they discover ways healthy connection leads to a sense of joy and satisfaction. In therapy we will work to live in a more open-hearted state of feeling: Calm, curious, compassionate, connected, confident, courageous, clear. We will strive to find your best self and learn ways to access it!

My training as a marriage and family therapist encourages me to view mental health through a lens of relational health. I believe that we heal in community, and we heal in relation to others. I have come to believe that trauma stems from our valiant attempts to heal alone. In therapy, WE will work to undo the aloneness that has been in the way.

Have your methods of connection been replaced with methods of protection? I have specific training in Trauma, Complex Trauma, as well as spiritual and relational abuse. I am here to help. I hold certifications in EMDR, AEDP, Domestic violence counseling and have training in narrative therapy and psychedelic integration. I stay current with the most recent behavioral science discoveries and offer you solutions that have been scientifically proven to work.

I have a lived experience recovering from a high demand religion, narcissistic abuse, and navigating LGBTQIA+ identities. I have the strength to hold your overpowering emotions while we work to enhance your ability to hold them on your own. Please reach out if there is anything I can help you with.

Experience and How I Work

Having clinical experience in a variety of settings including residential treatment facilities, wilderness and recreation programs, court mandated, private practice, and juvenile deferment programs, I have gained a wide range of experience providing couples counseling, teen & child therapy, family counseling and individual therapy for a variety of issues.

Integrating my education in fine arts with my experience as a professional athlete and coach allows me to offer clients a wealth of interventions to assist in healthy strategies of mindful relaxation.

I currently provide therapy as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in California here at STDC and online through Telehealth serving all of California. I am constantly working to improve my skills. See below for a list of my additional trainings and certifications.

Education:

• Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy – Alliant International University 2024
• Bachelors of Fine Arts – Weber State University 1994
• Certificates and Training:
• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist – Registered
• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) – Certified Level 3
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) – Certified Level 1
• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Certified
• Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – Certified
• California domestic violence survivor provider – Certified
• California domestic violence offender provider – Certified
• Tele-mental health (telehealth provider) – Certified
• Gottman Level 1 – Completed
• Narrative Relational Accountability 60 hours training.
• AEDP Psychedelic Integration – training
• CAMFT Psychedelic Assisted therapy – training
• Gender Health Institute – training
• Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP) – training
• Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) – Externship

Associations

• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Q&A with Wendell:

What makes you stand out as a San Diego Marriage and Family Therapist?

I am only half joking when I say, “I am old and man.” Gender can be important in the early stages of a therapeutic relationship, and it can be difficult to find a male therapist. I am so glad I attended graduate school in my 50’s. Having lived experience to weigh against my psychotherapy training was incredibly valuable on my pathway here.

The AIDS epidemic killed the majority of bisexual/gay men my age. My social location is a rare one. I bring much lived experience to my practice and can relate to a full spectrum of: financial, housing, physical, emotional and academic success and failure.

Do you see individual clients?

Yes!

The therapy models that I use are: Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) to help you know you, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help you in relationship to others, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) to help you move past trauma, and Narrative therapy to make sense of it all.

These therapies complement each other and have been shown to be extremely helpful to both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals.

EFT and Narrative are recognized as valuable “family system” models and are excellent at strengthening couple and family relationships. EFT, EMDR and AEDP are also “evidence based” models that stand up to scientific rigor.

Why did you become a therapist?

The short version: When I am helping, I am happy.

Growing up in a large family I learned the importance of connection and belonging. I had considered being a therapist most of my life and I completed the prerequisite coursework for graduate school with my Fine Art degree.

In my 20’s I chased dreams of snowboarding professionally and supplemented my income through coaching, childcare, and as a youth corrections counselor. I later used my art training to build a career as a teacher, sign maker and quilter. I realize now, that much of what I did in my other careers was its own version of therapy.

In my 50’s I finally had an opportunity to slow down and ask myself what I really wanted in life. Three of my eleven siblings (yes, eleven) had become licensed therapists and in the summer of 2021 after spending a week with them I was inspired! I decided that being a therapist was how I wanted to spend the remainder of my life. My spouse was similarly moved and both of us enrolled in graduate training. It has been exciting for us to build our house of healing. I am grateful for the ongoing support of my siblings and husband as I continually expand my understanding and ability to strengthen others.