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Men in Transition: Navigating Life Changes with Supportive Therapy in Marin and Santa Cruz By DaVeed Castillo, AMFT



Transitions are a natural part of life—but that doesn’t make them easy. Whether it's becoming a father, ending a relationship, facing job loss, entering retirement, or simply reckoning with identity in a changing world, men often struggle to find safe, non-judgmental spaces to explore their inner worlds. Too many are told to “tough it out” alone.

At De La Paz Therapy and the Center for Embodiment Medicine, we offer specialized therapy for men in Marin and Santa Cruz who are navigating these pivotal life changes. We support men in creating meaningful relationships, reconnecting to their values, and developing emotional resilience—even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.


Common Transitions Men Face


We work with men facing a wide range of transitions, including:

  • Divorce or separation

  • Parenthood (including new fathers and blended family dynamics)

  • Career shifts, burnout, or unemployment

  • Midlife and aging

  • Gender, cultural, or spiritual identity changes

  • Grief and loss

  • Re-entry after incarceration

  • Recovery from addiction


While each man’s experience is unique, many share a sense of disconnection—from themselves, from others, or from purpose. Therapy offers a space to slow down, reconnect, and move forward with integrity.


Why Therapy Can Be Hard for Men to Access


Many men were raised with messages that discourage vulnerability. Cultural expectations often prize independence and emotional stoicism, leaving men unsure how to ask for help—or even how to name what they’re feeling.

At our clinics, we work with a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach. We don’t expect you to be fluent in “therapy speak.” We’ll meet you where you are and walk alongside you.


Embodied, Relational Therapy


Both of our practices offer a whole-person approach to healing. This includes:

  • Talk therapy grounded in relational depth

  • Somatic therapy to explore where emotions live in the body

  • Mindfulness and eco-therapy practices to reconnect to the land and self

  • Support for men of color, queer and trans men, and those from mixed cultural or indigenous backgrounds


Medi-Cal Clients Are Welcome


We proudly serve Medi-Cal clients through Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH) and Partnership HealthPlan of California (PHP). Our clinics in Santa Cruz and Marin County are Medi-Cal behavioral health providers.


✅ If you're a CCAH member in Santa Cruz, you can access therapy at no cost to you. Learn more about CCAH behavioral health services here.


✅ If you're in Marin County, you may be covered through PHP. Learn more about Partnership HealthPlan mental health benefits here.


How to Get Started


You don’t need to be in crisis to begin. In fact, therapy is often most powerful when used as a proactive resource during times of growth or transition.



Local Resources for Men’s Wellness


Here are a few helpful organizations and groups for men in Marin and Santa Cruz:


Final Thoughts

Men deserve places to be real—to talk about shame, confusion, hope, and change. Therapy is not about fixing you; it’s about walking through life with greater awareness, skill, and connection.


If you’re in a season of transition, reach out. You don’t have to go it alone.


📍 Therapy in Marin and Santa Cruz

🌿 Medi-Cal welcome via CCAH and PHP

🤝 Real support for real men.

 
 
 

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