John Rivera Jr, M.S.

John is a retired United States Marine from Carolina, Puerto Rico, passionate about helping those in need. During his 23-year service as a Marine Infantryman and later as a Regimental Operations Chief, he gained a wealth of experience shared between service members, law enforcement agencies, and first responders. Witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of trauma on the human mind, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder, led him to realize the importance of therapeutic interventions, education, and resilience building. He graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Hope International University in 2020. John's operations background allows him to relate to commands and leadership roles, applying his understanding to his therapy work.

John was a Professional Clinical Counselor Intern at Anaheim Adult Recovery Center, providing mental health services to at-risk clients, including multi-generational groups, families, and adults. He developed individualized treatment plans for various mental health diagnoses, such as substance use disorders, personality disorders, and emotional or mood dysregulation. John was heavily involved in the organization's resilience programs, engaging in crisis intervention, suicide prevention and intervention, resilience training and education, and program implementation. He understands the unique demands and pressures of working in a command or leadership role, and he uses this knowledge to help clients in high-stress professions find effective ways to manage and cope with the demands of their work.

In addition to his work, John enjoys pursuing his hobbies, including parkour, weightlifting, running, karaoke (despite not being very good), art, and whiskey. He believes pursuing these hobbies helps him maintain a healthy work-life balance and enhances his well-being. John's approach to therapy is grounded in empirical research and tailored to his client's unique needs and circumstances. He takes cues from the work of Abraham Maslow and other pioneers in humanistic psychology, working collaboratively with his clients to develop individualized treatment plans. Whether you are struggling with trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, John is a compassionate and attentive listener who will work with you to find a way to growth, healing, and a fulfilling life - it's a journey that he takes with his clients.