MEET YOUR GUIDE
Get to Know Your Therapist
Hi, I'm Bartholomew (Bart) Kovacs
I’m a licensed therapist and certified Emotion-Focused Couples Therapist.
I bring a relational lens to everything I do. My own layered identities help me notice how belonging and disconnection move through our lives. If you’ve ever felt overlooked or left out, I want you to know that with me, you will be seen.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working with individuals, couples, families, and professionals. Whether you are navigating anxiety, healing from trauma, or working to restore safety and closeness in your relationships, I hold space with both presence and warmth.
Therapy with me is not about fixing you. It’s about creating a place where you can slow down, feel understood, and grow into a life that feels authentic and whole.
"A therapist is a compassionate guide through the labyrinth of the human soul."
A Journey into Authentic Growth
My passion for psychology led me to write the book, "Authentic Growth: From Self-Help to Therapy," which explores the profound transformation that therapy can offer on your path to self-discovery. In this eBook (and audiobook), I delve into the power of therapy, debunk common myths, and guide you towards healing, growth, and embracing your authentic self.
About Bart
Before becoming a therapist, I studied geology and chemical engineering at the University of Houston and even completed a post-baccalaureate in mathematics. I have always been drawn to patterns, systems, and the deep structures that shape our world. Eventually, I realized the same curiosity that led me to science also pulled me toward the inner landscapes of people—their emotions, relationships, and stories.
I earned my Master’s in Clinical Counseling at Point Loma Nazarene University and became a licensed therapist. Since then, I have worked in private practice, residential substance use treatment, outpatient mental health, and acute psychiatric care. These diverse settings taught me to hold both complexity and tenderness: the analytical skills to understand what’s happening and the compassion to sit with what hurts.
Today I bring that blend of science, heart, and lived experience into my work with individuals, couples, and families. My passion is helping people feel seen and safe enough to change, guiding them toward deeper awareness, connection, and fulfillment.
Professional Background
My work is grounded in evidence-based practices and informed by attachment-focused therapies. I am certified in Emotion-Focused Therapy for couples and received extensive training in CBT and Substance Use Treatment from Georgi DiStefano (author of “The Paradigm Developmental Model of Treatment” and inducted into the California Social Work Hall of Distinction in 2014).
Personal Interests
Outside of therapy, I find grounding in nature and adventure. I love hiking, cycling, mountain biking, sailing, and skiing—ways of being fully alive in my body and connected to the world around me. I also value mindfulness, creativity, and the arts as essential parts of healing and expression. These personal passions shape the way I practice therapy: bringing curiosity, presence, and a belief in the power of both stillness and movement to transform our lives.
Gatewood Therapy
(415) 212-8685
©2023 by Gatewood Therapy.
CA LMFT 123896
BBH-LMFT-LIC-71399