Dr. Terence "Terry" Rooney

Dr. Terence "Terry" Rooney is a California licensed psychologist who brings four decades of clinical experience to his practice. He is listed as CA Psychologist 18919 and works with adults facing grief, stress, addiction, depression, and other life changes. Terry tends to meet people where they are and focus on practical steps forward.

He trained in both public and private settings and describes his approach as classically based with an eclectic toolbox. That means sessions can be short and solution-focused or longer when issues need more time. He often uses straightforward methods to help people manage anxiety, cope with loss, or address relationship and parenting concerns.

Terry draws on Client-Centered techniques to make space for each person's experience, and on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. He also uses elements of mindfulness and existential reflection when people want to examine values, meaning, or life direction.

People who prefer clear goals, practical exercises, and honest conversation tend to fit well with his style. He has worked with many concerns over 40 years, including trauma, addiction, compassion fatigue, and caregiving stress. He also supports people facing cancer, aging challenges, adoption and foster care issues, and other complex life situations.

His manner is direct but caring, focused on real-world coping and achievable change. To begin, clients follow a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Practical approaches and online care options

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting the person's experience so they feel understood and can decide their next steps; it helps when someone wants a supportive space to talk through grief, stress, or career and relationship choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and uses simple exercises to change patterns that keep a problem going; CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Existential Therapy invites people to examine meaning, values, and responsibility in the face of loss or life transitions, which can be helpful for grief and major life decisions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and adapt methods over time. Clients and the therapist work together to choose exercises, pacing, and focus areas that fit the client's life.

Confirm current session formats before booking so you know what is available. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow check-ins during a workday break. It also makes it simpler to continue care when life changes make in-person visits difficult. Ask about specific session options and scheduling when you complete the matching questionnaire.