Areas of Specialty:
- Depression and anxiety
- Social anxiety and performance-related stress
- Trauma and PTSD (including childhood trauma and accidents)
- Work-life balance and burnout in Silicon Valley
- Couples issues (communication breakdowns, affairs, and intimacy repair)
- Pre-, during-, and post-divorce support
- Dating and single life challenges
- Therapy for adults and teens 16 and older
- Family therapy and parenting support
- Grief and loss
- Individuals seeking EMDR-certified, IFS-trained, and somatically informed psychotherapy
People usually call Mr. Sarlin when they:
- Feel stuck in repetitive behaviors, beliefs, or emotional cycles
- Are navigating anxiety, panic attacks, or chronic stress
- Need support with separation, divorce, or rebuilding after an affair
- Want to strengthen emotional intelligence (EQ) or deepen relational skills
- Experience work-related stress, burnout, or relational conflict on the job
- Are overwhelmed by parenting or managing blended family dynamics
- Are curious about how past experiences influence their current relationships
- Need concrete tools for emotional regulation, boundaries, and resilience
- Want an active, skilled therapist who offers practical insight and steady support
What Makes Mr. Sarlin’s Approach Different
Mr. Sarlin’s style is collaborative, warm, and results-oriented. Clients describe his approach as equal parts emotionally attuned and practically helpful. He integrates psychodynamic depth with present-moment strategies for change, helping clients build insight while also taking meaningful steps forward.
What to expect working with Mr. Sarlin:
- A personalized roadmap informed by your values, goals, and life stage
- Integrative techniques drawn from EMDR, IFS, somatic, and mindfulness-based therapies
- Direct support with real-time tools for navigating anxiety, boundaries, or emotional overwhelm
- Optional between-session practices and collaborative check-ins to support momentum
Therapy for Adults
- Shift self-sabotaging patterns and increase emotional resilience
- Reconnect with a sense of groundedness, confidence, and vitality
- Navigate transitions with clarity—whether personal, relational, or professional
Therapy for Teens 16 and Older
Teens and young adults often find a natural connection with Mr. Sarlin’s calm, respectful, and engaged presence. He offers a space where young clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow.
He supports teens with:
- Anxiety, panic, and emotional regulation
- Social stress, self-esteem, and identity development
- Family transitions (divorce, relocation, loss)
- Risk-taking behaviors, peer pressure, and school adjustment
- Building emotional tools and communication strategies
Mr. Sarlin often includes parent collaboration through a structured 3:1 session model and, when helpful, works with schools or medical providers to ensure continuity of care.
Therapy for Couples and Families
Mr. Sarlin brings a steady and empathic presence to work with couples and families, helping them rebuild trust, shift communication patterns, and strengthen emotional connection.
His couples and family work includes:
- Repairing trust after breaches or ongoing disconnection
- Improving communication and emotional safety
- Co-parenting through or after separation/divorce
- Addressing long-standing family dynamics or cultural patterns
He draws from:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Gottman Method
- Attachment theory
- Somatic and experiential techniques
Evidence-Based. Emotionally Present. Globally Informed.
Before becoming a therapist, Mr. Sarlin worked as a journalist focused on mass psychology and cultural storytelling. He has lived and studied in New York City, Europe, and Japan, and speaks fluent German and conversational French and is learning Catalan.
Mr. Sarlin brings cultural sensitivity, intellectual curiosity, and deep emotional insight to every session. His practice is shaped by a commitment to practical results, grounded presence, and respect for each client’s unique journey.
Credentials & Advanced Training
Mr. Sarlin earned his undergraduate degree at Columbia University, where he studied psychoanalytic theory and philosophy. He completed his graduate studies in counseling psychology at John F. Kennedy University, with a focus on integrative, experiential, and relational therapies. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California (LMFT53795) and brings over a decade of clinical experience to his work with teens, adults, couples, and families.
Advanced Training:
- EMDR (Certified by EMDRIA)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS Level 2 trained)
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness, Somatic, and Experiential Therapy
Additional influences:
- Psychoanalytic, object-relations theory
- Hakomi
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
- Positive Psychology
- Family Systems Theory
Outside the Therapy Room
Mr. Sarlin is a parent and lifelong learner who enjoys time with his family, playing music, cooking, yoga, tennis, and skiing. He draws inspiration from diverse thinkers and modalities, including Esther Perel, Zizek, Stan Tatkin, Sue Johnson, Pat Ogden, Peter Levine, and Bessel van der Kolk.