Justin Packham is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor who brings both professional expertise and deeply personal understanding to his work with clients navigating trauma, grief and loss, and relationship struggles. Having experienced the transformative power of therapy in his own life, he approaches his practice with unwavering belief in the possibility of redemption and healing, even when the path forward feels uncertain. Justin has had the joy of serving clients from all backgrounds, with specialized experience supporting aviators, first responders, and those in similar high-stress fields who face unique challenges in their professions and personal lives.

His therapeutic approach varies based on each client's individual needs, primarily drawing from psychodynamic principles, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), narrative techniques, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) where appropriate. This flexible methodology allows him to meet clients exactly where they are while providing the specific tools and support needed for their unique healing journey. Justin's psychodynamic foundation helps clients understand how past experiences shape current struggles, while his SFBT and narrative approaches empower them to envision and create meaningful change. His EMDR training provides specialized tools for processing traumatic memories that continue to impact present functioning.

With a Bachelor's degree from Westmont College and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University, Justin brings strong academic foundations to his clinical work. His unique background also includes experience as a commercial pilot and former flight instructor, providing him with distinctive insight into the psychological demands of high-stakes professions where split-second decisions carry enormous weight. This combination of clinical training and aviation expertise allows him to offer particularly effective support to clients in aviation, emergency services, and other fields where stress, trauma exposure, and performance pressure intersect with mental health needs.

Beyond trauma, grief, and relationships, Justin also supports clients navigating anxiety, stress, identity questions, crisis situations, faith and spirituality concerns, anger and frustration, and suicidal ideation. His personal experience with trauma and grief has made him deeply passionate about these areas of specialization. He has sought wisdom from many seasoned supervisors with vast expertise and attended specialized trainings in EMDR, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, and other evidence-based modalities. What sets Justin apart is his commitment to never making assumptions about anyone's story. He arrives with ears open, eager to know what it has been like for you, creating space where you feel genuinely heard, understood, appreciated, and encouraged.

"I want my clients to feel heard, understood, appreciated, encouraged, and to know that their struggles are real, and that there is hope and redemption ahead," Justin shares. "My goal is to sit with you, and help you make the next best, right decision moving forward, and help you be well and at peace doing so."

Outside the therapy room, Justin is a passionate baseball and football fan who works part-time for the Los Angeles Chargers during the NFL season. His mental health benefits tremendously from ripping on his guitar at the end of the day, particularly to punk rock favorites like Green Day and Blink-182. In a fascinating blend of interests, Justin is also captivated by seismology and geophysics, diving into the data whenever an earthquake rattles Southern California. These diverse interests reflect his curiosity about the world and his understanding that healing often requires both serious therapeutic work and the grounding joy found in personal passions.

• Justin's personal experience with trauma and grief, combined with specialized training in EMDR and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, allows him to provide deeply empathetic, evidence-based support to clients navigating their own painful experiences while maintaining hope for healing and redemption.

• His unique background as a commercial pilot and flight instructor provides specialized insight into the psychological demands of high-stakes professions, creating an authentic connection with clients in aviation, first responder roles, and similar fields where performance pressure meets trauma exposure.

• Justin's commitment to helping clients "safely plant themselves on a firm foundation" and find ownership of their stories reflects his belief that the goal isn't to make bad things good, but to redeem them and find healing and purpose in their midst, giving clients agency, autonomy, and confidence moving forward.

Supervised By: Sydney Caballero, LMFT #138247