Marty Cooper is an absolute gem. If you are looking for a therapist that is warm, kind, smart and devoted, then call him right now. I am so grateful for him. He has very positively affected my life and done so in ways that I doubt he knows. I have shared many very personal things with him and always felt that I left our conversations feeling appreciated, respected and deeply seen and heard. We can all feel like aliens sometimes because we are in pain, or worried, or hurt. But many times, after I've talk with him I feel like I've been welcomed back into the human race. He helps me get perspective and forge ahead even when I've taken a rough blows. Many therapists can be very validating, but Marty always adds a little bit extra something makes me feel that he truly gets how difficult it is to be a human being. His support is not naive or saccharin; it's informed by a great, wise understand of life. One of the things I value most is that he gives honest feedback in a kind and respectful way. In my life, I have had a lot of therapy. I'm well aware of the range of people in the psychology profession. Marty is at the top...and when my loved ones are looking for some help, he is the first I point them to. read more

If you're looking for someone who is an expert on depression and anxiety therapy, you've come to the right place! Marty has dedicated himself to understanding and treating the "wild moods" and besides one on one psychotherapy he also leads mindfulness based groups. When you're looking for a therapist you want someone that has walked the path themselves and that has experienced the pain as well as the growth through their own life. Marty is definitely someone like that. He is also down to earth, accessible and a real person. His work is grounded in mindfulness meditation and in an integral approach and is therefore more holistic and it also honors the best of what we all can be (or in fact already are). As a psychotherapist I have consulted with Marty regarding some of my clients and have always appreciated his big picture view and his practical advice. Bottom line, I highly recommend him. read more

I have been working with Marty for over a year after completing his MBCT class. I got a lot out of the class about working with depression - it was different from any other technique I had used, and inspired me to begin weekly therapy with him. Marty's approach is mindfulness-based, and non-dualistic. I have found him to be non judgmental and very warm and supportive although he is not directive, but rather encourages you to learn about yourself and question false assumptions you may have, as well as learning about the bodily states associated with your feelings. He is reassuringly intelligent. I have seen a couple of other therapists over the years, one psychoanalytic and one cognitive, and he has been by far the most helpful. I recommend him wholeheartedly! read more

I have to be honest. Even as a therapist it's not always easy to talk about your stuff--not even when the person you're talking to is a fellow therapist. Not so with Marty. He has a way, I think, of gauging how to listen and how deeply to respond. With friends we don't want to burden, but in our natural need to talk about things, we often test the other to see how much their willing to hear. With Marty it's almost the opposite in that he tests how much is willing--and needed, to be heard; and as he does this, you can practically sense his intent, offering his responses, their depth or relevancy in accordance to this need. When I engage with Marty on a personal level I always come away feeling regarded and with a shift in perspective I can then add to the on-going mix of understanding myself. But then there's the professional aspect, because prior to our friendship outside of a professional context, I regularly consulted with him regarding my own practice. First off, he's (insert expletive with ing ending) intelligent. Despite his informal, comfortable presence, he has read, understood, and can apply what I imagine most of us only get through; from traditional psychotherapy texts, deep, insightful spiritual works, high-brow and clinical theories, punk manifestos (perhaps this is a projection), and a range of literature and fiction. But here's the thing, he can apply these usefully and appropriately to any context. For example looking at psychoanalysis through a Buddhist perspective. He always provided a different way to theoretically conceptualize my work. Amazing! But then he'd go and add his own take, and though our styles are different, he'd see my cases, not so much through his own eyes, but the eyes I needed mine to be. He quickly got where I was going, suggested where I may've stumbled, and helped me to see where I needed to go next. And each time (honestly), like when he we get together outside the profession, I always came away feeling regarded and with a shift in perspective I could then add to the on-going mix of understanding myself and my practice. The thing about therapists is that even though we sit in the chair, we still put ourselves, in one way or another, on the couch--but we have a context by which to evaluate the one sitting across from us. In my experience therapy is a lot about the relationship, but what I most often hear clients asking for are "tools." Marty provides these, but seamlessly, and out of an understanding of what and form whom they will be useful. That being said, you're in good hands with Marty Cooper, and it's doubtful you'd find a better therapist out there. Larry O'Connor, Marriage and Family Therapist read more

Marty has remarkable clarity, flexibility, and intuitive reach. His grasp of his field of expertise is comprehensive and multidisciplinary: an open, non-dogmatic approach that allows him to address his clients' individual needs without the one-solution-for-everyone mentality. Marty's depth of study in the field of depression in particular has given him a sense of the general structure of depression, its transpersonal anatomy, and how its mechanisms operate within the individual psyche. So he's able to address both the personal and non-personal elements at play, and helps his clients to tease out and untangle these threads. I would recommend Marty without reservation. read more

Marty was my clinical supervisor for two years during my MFT internship--an extremely vulnerable time for a training therapist. At every turn and under every circumstance, Marty was a gentle, clear, and supportive force in my development. I always felt seen and respected as a colleague and a fellow human. What's more, he discussed all my clients with the greatest care and sensitivity, without cynicism or platitudes. His mind is incredibly sharp, and I found it to be in lovely balance with his warm heart. I felt like I could be myself with him, and he celebrated the parts of me that other supervisors or would-be mentors held at a distance. His sense of humor is pretty great too, and was a good reminder that even when we're serious, we needn't be grim, and that healing comes through laughter as well. Working with Marty was a formative experience for me, and I carry his lessons with me in my own practice. read more

Marty helped me a lot. I was thrashing around in my life when a girl friend of mine who had taken a class with Marty said I should go see him. I was never in therapy, so I didn't think much of the idea. But I was getting more and more depressed and anxious, even though my life wasn't really falling apart on the outside. So I finally went to see him. Seems like a duh now--you're hurting, you get some help. I saw Marty about a year, and learned a lot about my self that I thought I alredy knew. We dug around in my past a bit, but focused a lot on actual concrete things to do about the depression that I still use regularly. And I learned to use mindfulness from him, which has been a godsend. Mostly though I felt really comfortable talking to Marty and getting out stuff I'd never told anyone, that was weighing me down a lot. A lot! I still get little bits of depression and anxiety here and there, but I can say that now I don't go anywhere near that deep hole I fell into, and know a lot of things I can do to be happy--to choose my mood. And also that hole isn't near as deep any more because I'm facing things in my life more and not letting stuff hide out in my corners. Hard in moments, but I'm really really glad I worked with Marty and did therapy. read more

I had a therapy session with Marty Cooper to deal with difficult work issues and found him to be extremely helpful. I felt safe and "heard" and appreciated his insight and his ability to help me clarify and resolve painful issues - as the previous poster noted - in a supportive but not overly directive manner. I would definitely recommend him to anyone dealing with any number of problems in their lives - whether for short term or long term therapy. read more

Marty is a highly intelligent, compassionate and insightful therapist. I was a client for approximately 1 year and a half and gained a tremendous amount of practical suggestions that I was able to incorporate into my life. With guidance I was able to notice behaviors and patterns before choosing to act, instead of mindlessly acting in response to feelings of overwhelm, fear, etc. Marty challenged my previous and long held assumptions about myself and life. From the safety of his office I was able to test certain hypothesis I had about myself and find out that they were not actually true. From a place of compassion I slowly began the process of rewiring my brain. While I imagine it will be a lifetime process each time I practice what I have learned I become more adept and consequently more grounded. Thank you Marty, you are one in a million! read more

I have known Marty for several years as a friend and colleague and I must say I have found him to be a remarkable person and and a highly skilled therapist. He is truly gifted; a brilliant mind that he uses in service to kindness, compassion and joy of life. He has what in Buddhism refers to as "Prajnaparamita" a deep wisdom that is rooted in the heart. As a colleague, I consider him a "master therapist." I have found that he has deep understanding of the psyche and how to work with people to liberate themselves from the pain and suffering of depression and anxiety. He is one of the first people I refer others too, and I consider those who work with him fortunate. read more

Marty Cooper is a rare therapist, trained in a wide range of therapeutic techniques but open and eclectic in his approach and unusually perceptive, insightful and creative. I have sought Marty's skilled services during some of the most difficult times in my life, and during each have gained not only comfort, but new strategies and perspectives. I originally learned about Marty from reading his blog, and recommend that resource to anyone who wants to get a sense of Marty's approach. Though San Francisco is dense with psychotherapy schools, groups and practitioners, we are very lucky to have Marty Cooper in our town. read more

This man is a gift to human kind. He has truly walked the walk and his perspective on depression/anxiety is utterly inspiring. There are so many theories out there, so much information. And what Marty brings to his clients is personal experience and an ability to speak from a place of having lived through some serious darkness and having arrived at a place of great clarity and wisdom. I would absolutely refer anyone struggling with anxiety and depression to Marty, and I would recommend Marty to those who don't struggle with depression and anxiety as well! The interviews and talks on Marty's website have changed my paradigm and perspective so profoundly. I would highly recommend having a listen if you'd like to understand him more deeply. Marty has been a colleague of mine for some years now and I have the pleasure of hearing about his work and receiving his insights through a regular consultation group that we share. I'm extremely fortunate to have Marty as a peer and a mentor. read more