Chris Mendoza is a dedicated doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute, with a focus on Depth Psychology. This therapeutic approach explores the unconscious layers of the mind, aiming to uncover hidden emotions and deeper patterns that shape behavior and relationships. Chris integrates these insights to help clients achieve profound personal growth and transformation.
Chris’s extensive and varied career journey has uniquely informed his approach to therapy. His background spans leadership roles, business management, and service in uniformed professions at the city, state, and federal levels. These experiences have provided him with a rich understanding of the diverse challenges people face and a deep empathy for those in high-stress professions.
In his practice, Chris combines trauma-informed care with a blend of psychodynamic, relational, cognitive-behavioral (CBT), and existential-humanistic perspectives. He views symptoms not merely as challenges but as valuable guides or road maps, signaling what the body and mind may be communicating. By understanding and interpreting these symptoms, Chris helps clients explore underlying issues and develop effective strategies for healing.
Chris is committed to supporting clients in finding their own paths to deeper meaning and purpose. His focus includes exploring early attachment experiences, examining patterns in interpersonal relationships, and clarifying life values and goals. By integrating these elements, Chris helps clients uncover and cultivate a more meaningful and purposeful life, fostering self-learning, self-expansion, and self-compassion.
As part of his doctoral work, Chris is developing a dissertation focused on the treatment of PTSD in combat veterans through a Depth Psychological approach. This research aims to enhance understanding and treatment methods for individuals who have faced intense and transformative experiences.
Passionate about guiding individuals through their personal growth journeys, Chris uses psychotherapy as a tool for profound self-discovery and healing. His approach is both compassionate and comprehensive, offering a unique and empathetic framework for addressing life's challenges.
Chris Mendoza is a Registered Psychological Associate (PSB94028512) under the supervision by Maggie Ateia, PsyD (22157).
pronouns: he/him/his
languages: English