Dr. Steven S. Steele has thirty years of counseling experience working with couples, individuals, and families in Los Altos and the San Francisco Bay Area, California. He specializes in couples counseling, affair recovery, premarital counseling, and relationship counseling for executives and high-performing professionals.

As a Level 3 trained Gottman Method practitioner and a certified practitioner in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), his work integrates the research-based framework of the Gottman Method with the relational directness of RLT — focused, practical, and built around the specific situation each client brings. He works with couples and individuals navigating communication breakdown, betrayal and trust repair, major life transitions, and the relational pressures of demanding careers.

Dr. Steele did his graduate work at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned his doctorate with an emphasis in Organizational Psychology.  He also has a Master’s of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, with an emphasis in Family Systems.  Worked at the USC Arcadia Hospital and received his Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E.) certification and has served for over 20 years as a Senior Pastor/Head of Staff at churches through Southern and Northern Californa.  As a Pastoral Counselor, he has served as Supervisor of Field Education for students at Princeton Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Western Seminary.

Taking the step to seek support takes immense courage, and I want to honor the brave decision you are making.  Having worked with couples and individuals of all kinds, I truly love what I do.  In fact, I often feel like I am walking on sacred ground like I am in the Potter’s House from Jeremiah watching the clay molded by God and seeing Him visibly at work before my eyes when I have the opportunity to listen to your story and walk alongside you in this season of your life. It takes courage to look honestly at your life, and I consider it a privilege to witness up-close the real transformations that happen in the lives of my clients and their families.

At the heart of my practice is the belief that we are fundamentally relational beings, constantly navigating our relationship to ourselves, to others, and to the Triune God who is greater than ourselves. In our work together, my hope is to help both individuals and couples become whole by integrating all the parts of who they are. We will explore how you connect with your history, your emotions, and your goals to create a more unified sense of self.

In my practice, one of my core philosophies is this: in order to become a good partner to others, you must first learn the skills needed to become a good partner to yourself. Counseling with me is a collaborative, non-judgmental space where we will cultivate that internal partnership. I am looking forward to meeting you exactly where you are and walking alongside you on this journey toward healing and growth.

He is available for in-person sessions in his Los Altos office, or online for clients living in or beyond the Bay Area and internationally. Initial consultations are complimentary.