Dan Fink (he/him)
MA, LMFT
I am a nerd, a leader, and a supporter. I grew up moving between different homes, cities, and ways of life. I have an appreciation for unconventional childhoods, families, and communities. I love traveling the world and experiencing other cultures, mostly through their food.
My Story
During the dot com movement of the nineties, I worked as a computer and networking technician and by the turn of the century I was the manager of information technology for a large insurance company. Corporate tech was exciting, but I wanted to refocus my career on improving the well-being of others, so I returned to academia and earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus on cognitive science at UCLA, followed by a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in applied community psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles. I am a Founding Partner, Supervisor, and Therapist at Relational Associates, the Organization Development Director of The Relational Center, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
My Approach
I combine my 15 years of experience in the mental health field with the knowledge I gained in my past work in corporate technology and cognitive psychology research. My work is guided by the following values:
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Collaboration – We will work together to decide what we focus our sessions on, how we will explore new possibilities for your life, and what our goals are for work together.
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Transparency – Any knowledge from my education or experience as a therapist will be shared for us to make use of together. I will be open about my own process, hopes, fears, reactions, etc.
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Strengths-based – We will build on your strengths, hopes, and aspirations to find more connections and joy in your life. Simply reducing negative experiences is not enough.
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Context – Nothing happens in a vacuum. Every part of our lives relates is in some way interconnected. Let’s explore the history and context of your struggles and hopes to find sustainable support to live the life you desire.
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Social justice – Everything is political. There is no neutral. Let’s get honest with ourselves and each other about the values we hold and are willing to stand up for.
My Clients
The relationship between therapist and client is crucial to effective therapy. Building rapport, getting to know each other, and establishing a foundation of trust and respect are the first steps. While I believe this is possible with almost any type of client, there are certainly some clients that I have worked with more than others:
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Clients working on growing their self-awareness and trying to take an active role in who they want to be and how they want to engage with others.
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Clients in various leadership roles in their life, including corporate executives, nonprofit directors, community leaders, and anybody that carries a lot of responsibility for the wellbeing of others around them.
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Clients who want to unpack their privilege/assumptions and find their blind spots. For example: Unpacking masculinity, expectations of monogamy vs polyamory, narratives about gender, or navigating the complexities of independence, dependence, and interdependence.
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Clients aspiring to build their capacity to be in dialogue with others. Dialogue prioritizes curiosity, openness, and respect. When we are in dialogue, we are vulnerable with each other and open to being changed by the experience
Clinical Experience
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Develops curriculum and trains therapists in:
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Relational Gestalt (dialogue, field theory, hermeneutics, and phenomenology)
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Trauma responsiveness
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Harm reduction with drugs and alcohol
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Sexuality with kink and BDSM
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Deconstructing personality disorders
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Building awareness for whiteness and privilege
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Unpacking and understanding shame
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Led community and civic engagement groups
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Provides leadership coaching and mentoring to a variety of mental health professionals
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Practices individual, group, and family therapy, and psychological consulting
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Offers psychotherapy for community leaders and organizational executives
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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #12827