About Sean Neesley, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Cruz, CA
Something brought you here — and whether that's a relationship in distress, a chapter of life that feels heavier than expected, or a quiet sense that something is asking for your attention, I want you to know that reaching out takes courage. My work is to meet you where you are, with curiosity and without judgment, and to walk alongside you as you find your way toward something more whole.
How I work
I bring a depth-psychological lens to therapy — meaning I believe that much of what shapes our lives, our patterns in relationships, our inner conflicts, and our ways of coping, lives below the surface of conscious awareness. Rather than simply managing symptoms, I'm interested in helping you understand the deeper currents at work and in developing a more alive, integrated relationship with yourself.
My approach is also deeply person-centered and attachment-focused. I trust in your inherent capacity for growth, and I pay close attention to the relational fabric of our sessions — because healing, in many ways, happens in the context of a safe and genuine connection.
In practice, this means I draw from a range of evidence-based and experiential approaches depending on what you need. My practice often integrates elements informed by the following methodologies among others:
Internal Family Systems (IFS) — to help you understand and work with the different parts of yourself, including the ones that feel at war with each other.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — to help couples and individuals identify stuck patterns and move toward more secure, connected ways of relating.
Mindfulness and somatic techniques — to help you slow down, tune into the wisdom of the body, and regulate the nervous system from the inside out.
Who I work with
I work with couples navigating disconnection, conflict, or major life transitions — and with individuals, particularly men, who are ready to go deeper than surface-level problem-solving. Many of my clients are people who are thoughtful and self-aware but find themselves stuck in the same patterns, or carrying something they haven't fully had the space to explore.
I have a particular interest in men's psychological development — the ways that cultural conditioning around masculinity can cut men off from their emotional lives, their relationships, and their own inner depth. Therapy with me is a place where that kind of exploration is not only welcome, but central.
My background
I hold a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute — a program deeply rooted in Jungian and archetypal psychology, and in the tradition of taking the unconscious seriously. This training shaped not just how I think about the psyche, but how I sit with uncertainty, complexity, and the unknown in the room.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Santa Cruz, California. My academic foundation began with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent years immersed in the world of yoga and meditation as an E-RYT 500 — an experienced yoga teacher with over 500 hours of registered training. My work centered on leading Yoga Teacher Trainings, guiding groups of students through intensive programs that went far beyond posture and breathwork. These trainings were, at their core, containers for deep personal growth and healing — an experience that gave me an early and embodied understanding of how transformative it can be to hold space for others at a threshold in their lives. That foundation lives in my work as a therapist today.
Why this work?
Becoming a therapist felt, in many ways, like a homecoming. I grew up in a family of psychologists, couples therapists, and pastoral counselors — people for whom the inner life was taken seriously, and whose work was inseparable from their values. That shaped me. I knew early on that whatever I did would need to be meaningful, aligned with my deepest commitments to integrity, authenticity, and genuine human connection.
I am profoundly grateful for every client who has trusted me with their story. To be allowed a glimpse into another person's inner world — their fears, their longings, the places they've never shown anyone — is something I don't take lightly. I hold that vulnerability with great care and respect.
I've always been a natural peacemaker. Finding my way into another person's experience, understanding where they're coming from without losing myself in the process, comes easily to me — and it turns out that capacity is at the heart of good therapy, especially with couples and families. This work doesn't feel like something I chose so much as something I was made for.
Trainings & Certifications
Internal Family Systems experiential workshop with Dick Schwartz
E-RYT 500 — Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance)
500-Hour Yoga Therapy Teacher Training, 7 Centers Yoga Arts, Sedona, AZ
Yoga, Service and Community Program, Mount Madonna Center
Education
M.A., Counseling Psychology (Emphasis in Depth Psychology), Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA (2018–2021)
B.A. with Honors, Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (2004–2007)
Thesis: "A Contained Blaze: Explorations in the Therapeutic Value of Anger," ProQuest (2021)
Clinical Training & Past Work
Private Psychotherapy Practice, Santa Cruz, CA — Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (2023–present)
Shine a Light Counseling Center, Santa Cruz, CA — Associate MFT & Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (2019–2023)
Emotionally Focused Therapy internship and supervision at Empathi. San Francisco, CA — Associate MFT (2022)
Mount Madonna Institute, School of Yoga, Watsonville, CA — Admissions Coordinator, Registrar, Program Coordinator & Faculty (2016–2020)
7 Centers Yoga Arts, Sedona, AZ — Yoga Teacher Training Instructor (2013–2016)
Boys to Men Mentoring, Santa Cruz, CA — Mentor (2017–2018)
surfing
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meditation
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walking the dog
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yoga
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nature
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rock climbing
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cooking
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music
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playing with my kids
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prayer
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training & learning
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partnership
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camping
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outdoor adventures
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breathing
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colleagues
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hiking
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community
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sacred ceremony
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writing
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surfing 〰️ meditation 〰️ walking the dog 〰️ reading 〰️ yoga 〰️ nature 〰️ rock climbing 〰️ cooking 〰️ music 〰️ playing with my kids 〰️ prayer 〰️ training & learning 〰️ partnership 〰️ camping 〰️ hiking 〰️ outdoor adventures 〰️ breathing 〰️ colleagues 〰️ hiking 〰️ community 〰️ sacred ceremony 〰️ writing 〰️
How I resource
Ready to begin?
If you’re seeking support, I am here to guide you with care and intention. Reach out for a complimentary 20-minute consultation.