Manny Burgess, Psychotherapist in South Pasadena, 91030

Manny Burgess, Ph.D.

Profession(s):
Psychotherapy, Marriage & Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
Clinical Psychologist - PSY10843

My Approach to Helping

Having helped many men and women during my 30 years of experience, I am honored that people come to share their personal stories with me, and am fascinated by the many ways in which their lives unfold. As I learn more about your history and unique experiences, I understand how and why you suffer today.

I believe that good therapy should accomplish three things. First, therapy should help to ease your emotional burdens and provide some relief from feeling alone. Second, good therapy should also teach you how and why you are vulnerable to the challenges of life. And third, therapy should make you more aware of your personal psychological landscape, thereby allowing you to achieve more fulfilling relationships and a more satisfying life.

Generally, people who receive therapy are better able to gain control over their lives, and are more confident about their future. And with greater control over your life and increased confidence about the future, you are better able to live your life with love and optimism.

As a relationship specialist, I've helped people of all ages and at all stages of a relationship; single, married, divorced, friends, lovers, and the "I don't know what I am." I know how to help you improve whatever
relationship has caused you difficulty, including the one you have with yourself.

As much as I enjoy and take my work seriously, I also include a bit of humor in my approach to working with others, as I believe it is essential for surviving and thriving in today's world.

The important thing is to talk to a professional who can help you. Don't let fear or shame get in the way of seeking the help that will change your life and make you a happier person. When you are deciding on a therapist, look for someone with years of experience, compassion and understanding, and who makes you feel safe ...someone you can trust. Hey...that's me ! And did I mention that a good sense of humor can do wonders.

Give me a call and let's talk about it. You've got nothing to lose.

More Info About My Practice

My fee range is $150 - $200
I accept some insurance, but please contact me to see if I accept your insurance coverage.

My hours are Mon. - Fri. 9am - 6pm

In my private practice as a Clinical and Family Psychologist, I see children, adolescents, and adults. And I have extensive experience providing individual, couples and family therapy.

People come to me for therapy for the following reasons:

DEPRESSION due to low self-esteem, relationship problems, aging, illness, employment stress, a painful family history, or difficulties coping with the demands of life.

ANXIETY and NERVOUSNESS due to fear of the future, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of not having control over your life, and fear of losing love.

PARENTING PROBLEMS due to guilt, overindulgence, fear of rejection, difficulty providing discipline or setting limits, and lack of confidence about what a parent's job should be.

RELATIONSHIP STRUGGLES due to inability to communicate effectively, conflicting personalities, not having your physical and emotional needs met, a lack of trust and intimacy, and not knowing how best to show love and caring.

IDENTITY CONFUSION due to expectations of family and friends, not knowing what makes you happy and how to achieve it, difficulty in deciding on a career or school path, not knowing who you are, what you stand for, or how to find meaning and satisfaction in life.

Why Going to Therapy Does Not Mean You are Weak or Flawed

The notion that going to therapy means you are a weak person is comparable to the notion that the Earth is only 5000 years old....just ignorant and ridiculous. The origins of this caveman attitude can be found in other publications. However, the reality of the situation is that the person who undergoes psychotherapy is the person with the most courage, intelligence, common sense, understanding of how to succeed in the world of people, and the person most likely to evolve into a more advanced human being. In the future, psychotherapy will be as common and necessary to our learning and adaptation as is driver's training and sex education.

My View on the Nature of 'Disorders'

All of us have some mental health problems, even mental health professionals. The difference, hopefully, is that the professional has worked on and resolved their issues. This can only be done by a trained and experienced therapist. So, it's a pretty reasonable thing to say that the therapist who has had a good deal of therapy, at least 5-10 years, is probably better able to help you. As to how people develop problems, there is quite a bit to say about this topic...actually, it's why we go to school for such a long time. Simply put, we are all very psychologically fragile and vulnerable beings who need a number of critical relationship experiences while we grow up. And we also need these experiences for the rest of our lives, if we are to be healthy and happy. I think it's also fair to say that most people have not had some of these critical relationship experience, and some have had very painful disappointments. Some have even had abusive and destructive experiences. When people come to see a therapist, it is the therapist's job to figure out which of these critical experiences have been missing or damaged, to help the person understand what this has done to them, and to help them get those very important relationship experiences and needs met. The more training and experience the therapist has, the better able the therapist is to help others in this process of discovery and healing, understanding and growth.