David Powers, LMFT, LPCC
Owner, Clinician
Direct, Practical Therapy for Real Momentum
Helping individuals, couples, and families in Santa Cruz break destructive cycles, resolve conflict, and rebuild traction.
No-Risk Initial Session
In-Person, Accepting Medi-Cal
Direct, Experienced Approach
Use of this website is for persons seeking information about obtaining therapy services at Powers Therapy only. No unsolicited sales.
David Powers
Owner of Powers Therapy
Clinician
Clinical Supervisor
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Lic# 110906
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Lic#7534
Certified Relational Life Therapist
Certified in Neuropsychotherapy
Owner of Powers Therapy
Grounded, Direct Psychotherapy to tackle Real-World Challenges.
People don’t end up in my office because they lack capability or intelligence—they come in because the skills and strategies that once helped them navigate demanding careers, family responsibilities, or personal adversity are simply no longer working.
Before becoming a therapist, I served as a U.S. Air Force non-commissioned officer and spent over 20 years in management and leadership. That life experience fundamentally shapes how I sit with clients. I know that personal challenges, relationship strain, and mental health struggles don't happen in a vacuum—they affect your daily life, drain your focus, and make it difficult to find a clear path forward. My work isn't about passive, open-ended analysis; it’s about active, collaborative, and pragmatic problem-solving.
How I Work
Individual Psychotherapy (Ages 15+):
I provide one-on-one therapy for adults and teens addressing a comprehensive range of clinical and life challenges—including anxiety, depression, chronic stress, trauma, grief, and significant life transitions. My approach is active, direct, and focused on practical solutions rather than passive talk therapy. Together, we focus on identifying what isn't working, developing practical skills to move forward, and building grounded, lasting stability.
Couples & Relationship Counseling:
For couples caught in destructive communication loops, I practice Relational Life Therapy (RLT). Rather than acting as a passive referee, I offer active, direct guidance to break gridlock, teach real-time boundary and repair skills, and rebuild authentic connection.
Background & Clinical Credentials
-
Dual California Licensure: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT #110906) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC #7534).
-
Clinical Supervision: Approved supervisor mentoring the next generation of therapists.
-
Specialized Clinical Training: Certified Relational Life Therapist (RLT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Neuropsychotherapy.
-
Real-World Leadership: U.S. Air Force veteran (NCO) and 20+ years of organizational and corporate leadership experience.
Getting Started
I see individual clients and couples in person at my Santa Cruz office.
Schedule a No-Risk First Session:
If you are ready to get to work, reach out through my contact form today to find out more. We will sit down for a full hour to explore what you're dealing with—and if it turns out we aren't the right fit, there is no charge.
Education
-
Master of Arts in Counseling - Palo Alto University
-
Bachelor of Science in Business Management - The University of Phoenix
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Specialty Training
-
Certificate in Neuropsychotherapy - Specialty Training
-
Certified Relational Life Therapist - Relational Life Institute
David's Appointment Hours
Monday - Wednesday
1PM - 6PM
Thursdays
11AM - 4PM
I provide in person therapy. I will consider online therapy for California residents residing outside of Santa Cruz or Monterey Counties on a case by case basis.
Services David Provides
Individual Therapy for persons 15 years old and older
Beyond the Surface: Finding Balance in Santa Cruz
We all experience emotional highs and lows. It is entirely natural to feel discouraged after a difficult week at work, or to feel energized and joyful when spending a sunny afternoon at the Santa Cruz Wharf. However, when your emotional state begins to feel unpredictable, overwhelming, or completely detached from your daily circumstances, it may be a sign of something deeper.
When emotional shifts begin to interfere with your relationships, your career, and your physical health, you might be navigating a mood disorder. Understanding the subtle differences between everyday stress and a clinical mood condition is the first crucial step toward reclaiming your balance and peace of mind.
Identifying the Shift: Signs of a Mood Disorder
Mood disorders—which include, but are not limited to conditions like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder—are more than just passing feelings. They are sustained emotional states that alter how you think, perceive the world, and handle daily life.
Recognizing a mood disorder requires looking beyond a single bad day and noticing persistent patterns, such as:
-
Prolonged Depressive States: Feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness, emptiness, or a complete loss of interest in activities you used to love for two weeks or more.
-
Intense Emotional Fluctuations: Shifting rapidly from intense energy, irritability, or racing thoughts (mania or hypomania) to severe exhaustion and low mood.
-
Persistent Anxiety Spikes: A constant, underlying sense of dread or physical tension that makes it difficult to focus, sleep, or relax, even when there is no immediate threat.
-
Physical Exhaustion and Sleep Disruptions: Experiencing drastic changes in appetite, insomnia, or sleeping excessively without ever feeling truly rested.
The Importance of Professional Guidance
Living with a mood disorder can feel incredibly isolating. It is common for individuals to blame themselves, assuming they just need to "try harder" or adopt better lifestyle habits. But because mood disorders involve complex interactions between biological, psychological, and environmental factors, self-diagnosis and self-help strategies alone are rarely enough.
Partnering with a licensed therapist provides a safe, structured space to unpack these experiences. Professional therapy offers proven clinical modalities—such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or neuropsychotherapy—to help you identify underlying triggers, reframe negative thought loops, and build sustainable, practical coping mechanisms and skills.
If you or a loved one are ready to explore tailored strategies for managing anxiety, depression, or mood fluctuations, we are here to help. Reach out to today to ask a question or to schedule a no risk introductory session at our Santa Cruz office. Let’s work together to restore balance to your life.
Begin Your Healing Journey
You do not have to navigate this on your own. Long-term relief, stability, and emotional clarity are entirely possible with the right clinical support by your side.
Schedule a No-Risk First Session:
Ready to see if this approach works for you? Complete my contact form to schedule a no-risk first session at my Santa Cruz office. We will sit down for a full hour to look at what you’re dealing with—and if it doesn't feel like the right fit, there is no charge.
Men’s Issues & Mental Health
Action-Oriented Psychotherapy to Get Unstuck and Move Forward.
Men don't usually seek therapy to sit on a couch and talk in circles. They reach out when the ways they’ve always handled pressure, solved problems, and shouldered responsibility stop working.
When men experience depression, anxiety, or burnout, it rarely looks like classic sadness. More often, it shows up as a short fuse, irritability, a low tolerance for frustration, chronic exhaustion, emotional withdrawal, or feeling stuck in place. Between professional demands, family obligations, and personal expectations, it is easy to default to carrying every burden in silence until the strain spills into your health or your relationships.
Therapy isn't about overhauling who you are or telling you what you’re doing wrong. It is an active, confidential space to identify what isn't working, build practical skills, and regain clarity and traction.
Common Focus Areas
-
Irritability & The Short Fuse: Recognizing the early physiological warning signs of stress overload or depression, breaking the cycle of reactivity, and regaining composure before snapping at the people who matter most.
-
Career Pressure & Burnout: Managing the relentless weight of demanding roles, leadership stress, and the exhaustion of having to be "on" all day without bringing that depletion home.
-
Emotional Distance & Relationship Strain: Moving out of the default habit of walling off, shutting down, or retreating into work. Developing practical communication and repair skills to resolve conflict directly.
-
Life Transitions & Identity: Navigating career pivots, fatherhood, separation and divorce, retirement, or unexpected setbacks with a grounded sense of purpose and direction.
-
Self-Reliance vs. Isolation: Learning how to tackle complex challenges directly without feeling like asking for an objective outside perspective means losing your independence.
How We Work
My approach is grounded, active, and direct. We look at real-world dynamics, address what is breaking down, and develop concrete skills to handle the pressure and move forward.
Schedule a No-Risk First Session:
Ready to see if this approach works for you? Complete my contact form to schedule a no-risk first session at my Santa Cruz office. We will sit down for a full hour to look at what you’re dealing with—and if it doesn't feel like the right fit, there is no charge.
First Responders and Tactical Personnel
Culturally Competent Psychotherapy for Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Dispatch, and Veterans.
You don't need a therapist who gasps at dark humor, spends half the session asking you to explain operational acronyms, or treats normal protective responses as personal defects.
In tactical and emergency services, compartmentalization and hypervigilance are necessary job requirements. The challenge begins when the operational switch gets stuck in the "on" position. Over time, cumulative exposure, disrupted sleep schedules, and organizational politics take a predictable toll—eroding patience at home, flattening emotional connection with your family, and creating a constant baseline of irritability.
Therapy here is active, confidential, and completely separated from your agency or chain of command. We focus on recalibrating your stress response, processing cumulative exposure, and building practical skills so you can stay sharp on duty without sacrificing your life off the clock.
Common Focus Areas
-
Hypervigilance & The "Off" Switch: Learning how to downshift your nervous system when the shift ends. Breaking the cycle of scanning for threats, situational paranoia, and baseline physiological tension at home.
-
Cumulative Stress & Compartmentalization: Addressing the cumulative weight of repeated critical incidents, difficult calls, and prolonged exposure before it leads to full operational burnout.
-
The Spillover at Home: Moving away from emotional flatness, withdrawal, or walling off from family. Developing communication and repair skills so you don't treat your household like an operational briefing.
-
Sleep Disruption & Physical Depletion: Breaking the cycle of broken sleep, shift-work fatigue, and reliance on adrenaline or alcohol to manage physical agitation.
-
Organizational Cynicism & Administrative Strain: Navigating the frustration, moral fatigue, and administrative dysfunction that often cause more burnout than the calls themselves.
-
Career Transitions & Identity: Preparing for retirement, medical discharge, or leaving the service while establishing a grounded identity and purpose outside the uniform.
Grounded Clinical Perspective
I grew up in a fireman's family. Before entering clinical practice, I served as an Air Force non-commissioned officer (NCO). I understand operational culture, the burden of command, and the unwritten rule that asking for help can feel like a liability.
Our work is straightforward, objective, and collaborative. We don't spend sessions theorizing or engaging in passive talk therapy. We look directly at the physiological and relational impact of your career and build durable skills to manage it.
Confidentiality First:
My practice is completely independent. Therapy is strictly confidential and is not reported to your department, agency, or command structure.
Schedule a No-Risk First Session:
Ready to see if this approach works for you? Complete my contact form to schedule a no-risk first session at my Santa Cruz office. We will sit down for a full hour to look at what you’re dealing with—and if it doesn't feel like the right fit, there is no charge.
Anxiety & Stress from Social Unrest & Political Division
The Cost of Living in High-Conflict Times
We are living through an era of relentless news cycles, intense political division, and ongoing social conflict. For many people, the constant friction isn't just news—it seeps into daily life, creating a background frequency of anxiety, hypervigilance, and exhaustion.
When societal unrest hits home, it can strain relationships with friends and family, create tension in the workplace, and leave you feeling perpetually on guard or deeply disconnected.
How Societal & Political Anxiety Manifests
-
Chronic Hypervigilance: Feeling constantly edgy, irritable, or unable to relax when consuming media or engaging in everyday conversations.
-
Ruminating & Doomscrolling: Getting caught in endless feedback loops of news and social media, leaving you feeling drained, angry, or powerless.
-
Relationship & Family Strain: Navigating hostile political arguments or feeling forced to distance yourself from loved ones due to ideological divides.
-
Loss of Agency & Meaning: Questioning your safety, stability, or future direction in the face of macro-level instability that you cannot directly control.
-
Physical Exhaustion: Experiencing tension headaches, jaw clenching, sleep disruptions, and nervous system fatigue driven by sustained stress.
Therapy for Societal Stress: Finding Stability in a Volatile World
You cannot control the news cycle, political landscape, or broader cultural conflict—but you can control your internal response, your immediate environment, and your personal agency.
Through a combination of cognitive skills and nervous system regulation (Neuropsychotherapy), our work focuses on:
-
Differentiating Threat from Noise: Recognizing when your body's survival instincts are being triggered by headlines, and mastering skills to reset your nervous system.
-
Focusing on Your Sphere of Influence: Shifting focus away from outrage loops and reinvesting your time and energy into the areas of your life where you have real, tangible impact—your health, family, local community, and work.
-
Building Healthy Media & Social Boundaries: Developing practical skills around news consumption and unproductive arguments, allowing you to stay informed without letting the noise consume your life.
Schedule a No-Risk First Session:
Ready to take the first step? Complete my contact form to schedule a no-risk first session at my Santa Cruz office. We will sit down for a full hour to look at what you’re dealing with—and if it doesn't feel like the right fit, there is no charge.
Couples/Relationship
Counseling & Relational Life
Therapy (RLT)
Stop having the same argument. Start building authentic intimacy.
“You can be right, or you can be in a relationship. You don’t get to be both.”
— Terry Real, Founder of Relational Life Therapy
Are you caught in these common cycles?
-
The Endless Debate: Spending hours litigating who said what, keeping score, and fighting to “win” the argument while the connection dies.
-
The Distancer & Pursuer: One partner demands engagement; the other shuts down and retreats into walling off or work.
-
Passive Resentment: Walking on eggshells, avoiding conflict to keep the peace, and slowly drifting into emotional detachment or roommate syndrome.
The RLT Method: Active, Direct, Accountable
-
Real-Time Intervention: We don't spend sessions rehashing weekly grievances while you talk past each other. I actively intervene the moment defensive patterns show up.
-
A Fierce Relational Stance: Neutrality does not heal relationships when destructive behaviors are present. I will directly call out grandiosity, shame, and walling off—with compassion, but without hesitation.
-
Skill-Building, Not Endless Venting: You will walk away with concrete relational skills: how to regulate emotional reactivity, speak without blame, and execute clean, meaningful repairs.
Application to Families & Organizations
-
The same mechanisms driving marital gridlock—blame loops, grandiosity, and boundary collapse—paralyze family systems and workplace leadership teams. RLT provides an active, rapid framework for resolving systemic conflict outside the couple dynamic.
Ready to see if this approach works for you? Complete my contact form to schedule a no-risk first session at my Santa Cruz office—if we sit down for an hour and it isn't the right fit, there is no charge.
I also offer weekend intensives at my office. A great solution for clients who reside out of the area. Contact me for details and cost.
Complete my contact form today to find out more.
Emotional Support Animal Letters
I do not write, sign or provide Emotional Support Animal Letters.
David's Therapeutic Style
Active, Collaborative Psychotherapy Focused on Practical Solutions.
My therapeutic approach is an active, two-way dialogue focused on tangible change in your day-to-day life. I bring an engaged, straightforward presence to the room—listening closely, speaking plainly, and telling you what I actually see.
The work is collaborative, direct, and grounded in practical skills. We look honestly at the patterns and habits keeping you stuck, address what isn't working, and build durable skills to help you handle pressure, resolve conflict, and move forward with clarity.
FAQ
What clinical modalities and approach does David Powers use?
David Powers utilizes an integrative, evidence-based framework focused on practical growth and long-term momentum. Core modalities include:
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying and reframing cognitive distortions to change unhelpful emotional and behavioral patterns.
-
Neuropsychotherapy: Integrating neuroscience insights to support brain health, stress regulation, and neuroplasticity.
-
Relational Life Therapy (RLT): Action-oriented couples counseling designed to break destructive relationship cycles and foster genuine intimacy.
Does Powers Therapy offer other modalities?
Yes. Other modalities practiced by the other members of my practice include Gottman Method, EMDR, Walk and Talk Therapy, and others.
What kind of clients does David Powers serve?
-
Individuals: Persons 15 years and older navigating anxiety, depression and other mood and personality disorders
-
Clients who want to learn to navigate profound life changes—whether coping with loss, divorce, or career disruption—or are seeking to build resilience against political stress, news fatigue, and anxiety related to social unrest.
-
Clients needing guidance on professional or career development.
-
Couples, Partners, Families or Organizations: Relational counseling focused on communication, conflict resolution, and relationship repair and rebuilding.
-
Veterans & First Responders: Support for stress management, operational fatigue, work related family issues and trauma processing.
-
Professionals & Executives: Tailored mental health care addressing burnout, high-stakes decision-making, and work-life integration.
Where is Powers Therapy Located?
-
Our offices are located at 127 Jewell Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Do you offer online therapy?
-
David Powers primarily provides in person therapy services. Online services and walk and talk therapy are offered by other members of Powers Therapy
What credentials and licenses does David Powers hold?
David Powers holds dual licensure in the state of California:
-
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
-
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Certifications:
-
Certified Relational Life Therapist
-
Certified in Neuropsychotherapy
Does David Powers accept insurance?
-
Yes, for individual therapy clients. I accept MediCal (Central Alliance for Health) and I partner with Headway to process and accept commerical insurance claims seamlessly.
Does David Powers accept insurance for couples or family therapy?
-
No. Couples and family counseling and Relational Life Therapy (RLT) are strictly private-pay (out-of-pocket). I can, however, provide you with a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance to see if they will reimburse you.
Powers Therapy is a Group Practice. Here Are The Other Members of the Powers Therapy Team
Powers Therapy is a collaborative group practice. Along with the care David provides directly, we offer a diverse team of clinicians tailored to meet your unique needs. You can contact my colleagues directly at their phone number or website. You can also use my contact form to let me know you'd like to speak with one of them and I will forward it to them.
.png)
Jessica Wilson
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist - Registration #145995
Jessica uses an integrative, trauma-informed approach incorporating CBT, ACT, EMDR, and somatic techniques. Her strengths include building strong therapeutic relationships, creating a safe and collaborative space, and helping clients develop practical tools for lasting change. She tailors treatment to each client’s needs while supporting greater insight, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
For more information about Jessica, please contact her directly by phone or email:
Phone: (408) 359-7744
Email: jessicawilson.therapy@gmail.com
Caroline Smith
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist - Registration #152141
Caroline focuses on self exploration, guidance and establishment of your therapeutic goals while encouraging you to view yourself with curiosity as you work towards meeting them in a safe, caring and empathetic space.
Contact by phone or email:
Phone: (408) 641-1687
Email: careinextherapy@gmail.com
Tonjia Leonard
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist - Registration #154454
Tonjia uses an integrative person-centered approach to help foster authentic connection and growth. Her style emphasizes curiosity and compassion to help you move through life's challenges with confidence.
Contact by phone or email:
Phone: (831) 316-4619
Email: tonjialeonardmft@gmail.com
.jpeg)
Fees, Insurance, Scheduling Info
Flexible Scheduling
With appointments available at accommodating times, my practice includes myself and and 3 colleagues. My practice offers in-person sessions for local clients and possible online sessions for clients located outside of Santa Cruz County.
Insurance Info
Navigating Your Care in Santa Cruz County
Taking the first step to find clinical support can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already managing emotional exhaustion. Navigating insurance plans, verifying coverage, and finding a therapist who is a good fit shouldn't stand in the way of your mental well-being.
As a local practice, we recognize how vital accessible healthcare is to our community. If you are looking for support, our office accepts regional insurance options, including Medi-Cal through the Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH), and Headway, making it easier for Santa Cruz residents to get the consistent, high-quality care they deserve.
Affordable for Non-Insurance Clients
Affordable fees and sliding scale fee discounts are available.
Good Faith Estimate
The No Surprises Act of 2022 mandates that if you are paying out of pocket for services, you are entitled to a good faith estimate from your healthcare provider.
Contact
Use of this form is for persons seeking information about therapy services only. No unsolicited sales.
Appointment Only, No Walk-Ins
Please do not send mail here. It will not be received. To mail, please use my PO Box below.