About
A therapist who speaks both languages.
Analytical precision and emotional depth aren't opposites. They're both essential.
I'm Bart, the founder and clinician behind Gatewood Therapy. Before I became a therapist, I trained in geology, chemical engineering, and mathematics. I spent years in analytical environments where clarity, rigor, and precision were the currency.
That background shapes how I work. I understand what it's like to live in your head. I understand the comfort of frameworks and the discomfort of ambiguity. And I understand how disorienting it can be when the strategies that made you successful don't translate to your relationships.
I'm a certified Emotionally Focused Therapist, trained in the model developed by Dr. Sue Johnson. I specialize in working with high-functioning professionals, couples navigating emotional distance, and gay men exploring identity and intimacy.
My clinical approach is grounded in attachment science and informed by somatic awareness, meaning I attend to what's happening in your body and nervous system, not just your thoughts. I work with depth and precision, and I don't rush.
Where I practice
Gatewood Therapy is a telehealth practice. I am licensed in California and Montana, and I serve clients across both states via secure video. The majority of my California clients are based in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and Marin County, where a significant concentration of the professionals and couples I work with tend to be located. I also serve clients in Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto, and throughout the Peninsula.
In Montana, I am one of a small number of therapists certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy who is licensed to practice in the state. I work with individuals and couples in Missoula, Bozeman, Billings, Helena, Kalispell, and throughout Montana. For clients in rural areas, telehealth removes a significant barrier to depth-oriented clinical work.
All sessions are 50 minutes, conducted weekly for most clients, and scheduled at times that work around demanding professional schedules. Gatewood Therapy is a private-pay practice, which means no insurance requirements and no externally imposed constraints on the work.
What you can expect
Intellectual honesty
I won't simplify your experience or offer platitudes. If something is complex, we'll engage with the complexity.
Emotional precision
I track what's happening beneath the surface carefully, and I'll help you name things you may not have had language for before.
Relational warmth
Therapy is a relationship, not a procedure. The space between us matters, and I take responsibility for making it safe.
Pacing that respects your nervous system
Depth doesn't mean overwhelm. We go at the speed your system can actually integrate.
Credentials
Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist — Certified by the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT), the authoritative credentialing body for EFT training worldwide. Learn more about Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California — License #123896, issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Montana — License #BBH-LMFT-LIC-71399, issued by the Montana Board of Behavioral Health.
Professional Affiliations — Member, Northern California Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NCCEFT); Member, Marin County Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Marin CAMFT); Member, San Francisco Chapter of CAMFT (SF CAMFT).
Academic Background — Geology, chemical engineering, and mathematics. This foundation shapes a practice oriented toward precision, pattern recognition, and intellectual honesty.
LGBTQ-affirming practice. Telehealth throughout California and Montana.
Curious whether this is the right fit?
I offer a brief consultation where we can talk about what you're looking for and whether my approach makes sense for your situation. If none of the available times work for you, reach out directly at bart@gatewoodtherapy.com.
Schedule a Consultation