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Peter Bernstein, PhD, DAPA, MFT, CMT, grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and the surrounding areas in the rougher parts of town. In his early twenties, he was a stockbroker in New York City and ran a construction company with his father, overseeing sometimes as many as 150 subcontractors and employees. Peter's determination to succeed in business and life led him to consider a career change. Basic training at Fort Ord in Monterey during the Viet Nam war era had given Peter a love for Northern California, so he decided to come west. The counter-cultural lifestyle of California was very different, however, from the tough environment Peter had known in New Jersey. He decided to start out in a setting somewhat similar to his background, working in juvenile treatment facilities in Santa Clara, San Jose, and San Francisco. His concern for his employees in New Jersey and his work with incarcerated youth led to the discovery of his calling - caring for people in need.
Members of the faculty at San Jose State became aware of Peter's work with juvenile offenders, and encouraged him to begin his professional training. A college drop-out, Peter had almost impossible requirements placed on him to complete his bachelor's degree. He responded with the optimism and determination which are a hallmark of his career. He completed his bachelor's, went on to earn his master's degree in social psychology, and began clinical training as a psychotherapist. Work at drug and alcohol clinics, hospitals, and other kinds of treatment programs left Peter disappointed with their long-term results. In spite of extensive training and skills, and the best intentions of good professionals, the therapeutic techniques used didn't seem to produce lasting change in patients' lives. He was also disturbed by the ever increasing use of drugs in treatment, which could only cover over patients' symptoms and not cure them. Peter was sure there was another approach that could work, without drugs, and he was going to find it. He wanted to explore the connection between the mind and the body in healing.
Peter has always been a very physical and competitive person. High school wrestling, weightlifting, cutting horse competitions, and race car driving have been and are passions in his life. His desire to provide real healing for his patients led him to the work of Wilhelm Reich, a protégé of Sigmund Freud, who first established the mind-body connection in psychotherapy. Peter decided to change the direction of his doctoral work, choosing to study clinical psychology, with a specialty in the practice of Reichian psychotherapy. Peter earned his doctorate in clinical psychology and completed post-doctoral work as well. During this time, Peter obtained his license as a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist and started his own private practice. For over 36 years, Peter has helped individuals, couples, families, and children from offices in Larkspur, San Francisco, Novato, and Petaluma, where he is now located.
To continue to provide the most effective healing possible for his patients, Peter has explored many complementary disciplines. In early 2001, he became particularly interested in myofascial release physical therapy. As Peter trained extensively in myofascial release, and applied it to his practice, he and his patients noticed impressive results. Peter's combination of Reichian psychotherapy and myofascial release physical therapy created results that were exponentially greater than either therapy when used by itself, and accelerated the progress of his patients in remarkable ways. He calls his pioneering treatment Reichian-Myofascial Release Therapy. Reichian-Myofascial Release Therapy is foundational to all the work he does at the Bernstein Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy. Also foundational to his work is the team approach. Reichian-Myofascial Release is more effective when applied by more than one practitioner, and Peter selects members from his certified, professionally trained staff to create a team to work with each patient at the Institute.
Continual exploration and ongoing innovation have marked every stage of Peter's life and career, and will continue to do so. He looks forward to the challenges and rewards ahead for himself and his patients, as the Bernstein Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy grows and reaches out to people in need.
Dr. Peter Bernstein is a member of the American Psychotherapy Association, earning Diplomate status for his post-doctoral work. He is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, an associate clinical member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Peter is also a member of the American Academy of Pain Management.
The Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals have certified Dr. Peter Bernstein as a Body Therapist. He has completed over 350 hours of training in Myofascial Release Physical Therapy with John Barnes' Myofascial Release Seminars.
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