Manuel Manotas Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist (PSY 26343)
As a clinical psychologist, I have the most amazing job in the world. On a daily basis, I get to witness the strength of courageous individuals willing to look inwards and open their hearts to those parts of themselves they’ve rejected in the past. I strive to help people connect with what is real about them. I love to see people open their hearts and align themselves with their intrinsic goodness.
I was 23 when I started my journey of self-discovery and healing from past trauma. Continuous medicating and running away from myself had made my life spiral out of control, but therapy and spiritual practices helped turn my life around. Gradually, I began to connect with my inner self, freeing and seeing through the old conditioning, past traumas, and unhealthy habits. Eighteen years later, my life is completely different. Although my life is not without its share of challenges, today I experience much more goodness inside me than ever before. While I saw my difficulties as problems before, today I see them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
Each individual is different and requires a personalized approach that is best suited to your experiences and needs. I believe strongly that the more you develop an attitude of openness, curiosity and kindness towards yourself, the faster will be the process of growth. As an experienced clinical psychologist and somatic experiencing practitioner, I can help you work on this using the methods of somatic therapy, mindfulness, and spirituality as well as cognitive and other techniques.
Once we start working together, you will begin to find freedom from the tyranny of your inner critic; you will learn how to soothe yourself and work with the energy of anxiety; you will begin to loosen the grip that past trauma has on your life; and you will find more joy and goodness in your life.
Dr. Manuel Manotas holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has completed a three-year training and certification program in Somatic Experiencing to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. While his approach is informed by science and the different theoretical orientations in psychology, he also draws from his personal experiences with healing and therapy as well as 18 years of meditation and other spiritual practices.