Mark Maxwell, PsyD, LMFT

Bio

Mark Maxwell is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the director of Pacifica Group Counseling and Wellness. Mark specializes in couple therapy as a trained EFT therapist (Emotionally Focused Therapy) grounded in attachment theory and integrated with trauma-based treatment of Brainspotting. He also specializes in the integration of spirituality and psychology and the treatment of trauma related to faith, spirituality, and religion.

Mark grew up in the Sacramento area of Northern California before traveling to Los Angeles for film school at Loyola Marymount University. After some time in television and film, including stops in Phoenix and San Diego, Mark went to Louisiana State University for his MA in Community Counseling. Mark returned to San Diego for his doctoral work in Couple and Family Therapy at Alliant International University, where he eventually started in private practice specializing in couple work. Everything changed when Mark studied Liberation Psychology in the summer of 2009 in Mexico City.

This experience over time led to the formation of Conexa, a 501(c)3 non-profit focused on community transformation and the expansion and growth of mental and relational services to communities of need. The work of Conexa is grounded in community psychology through the lens of Liberation Psychology. Mark’s passion is transforming mental and relational health systems to make counseling and therapy of all kinds more accessible, affordable and effective for all people, especially in marginalized and low-income communities.

Interests

Along with healing trauma and restoring relationships, Mark enjoys traveling, writing, devouring books, binging a good tv show, going to a movie, baseball, football, basketball, sharing a drink, and searching for the best taco.

Publications

Publications: (2020) Covenant Attachment: A constructivist grounded theory of Christian Couples and God - JMFT