Dr. Justin Lutz

Dr. Justin Lutz welcomes people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or angry about life changes. He acknowledges how hard the first step can be and speaks simply and directly to those looking for a steady, understanding presence. His opening goal is to create a place where people feel heard and able to begin handling the problem they brought in.

He uses warmth and empathy to reduce shame and defensiveness. Sessions focus on helping people tell a clearer story about what happened to them and what they want next. That can mean learning ways to notice and change unhelpful thoughts, practice calmer responses, and rebuild relationships strained by conflict or substance use.

Justin draws on a mix of client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and solution-focused strategies. That combination lets him tailor sessions to practical problems like anger, addiction, mood shifts, or parenting stress. He aims for work that feels relevant to everyday life, not just theory.

He has 23 years of clinical experience and holds the credential CA Psychologist 31972. Much of his background includes working with teenagers affected by the juvenile justice system and with adults navigating substance use, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

He also offers support to people along the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum as they explore identity and next steps. To begin, clients are invited to make initial contact and discuss what they hope to change before scheduling further sessions.

How his approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and creating understanding. In practice this means the therapist focuses on your experience and reflects it back so you can make sense of feelings like anger, shame, or grief. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers concrete steps to change unhelpful patterns, which is useful for mood disorders, impulsivity, and addiction. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention practices to notice strong emotions and reduce reactive responses, helping with anger and stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will ask about your goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past. Together you decide which mix of listening, skills training, or short-term problem solving makes the most sense for your situation.

Confirm current session options before booking to know which formats are available. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people practice new skills between meetings and bring real-life situations into sessions for immediate feedback.