About Eric Metzgar, AMFT

Hi, I’m Eric. I’m an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), and I believe that no one should have to carry their struggles alone. As a Buddhist teacher once told me, “It’s hard to be a person.” In a world that demands we keep it all together, it is completely understandable to feel overwhelmed, isolated, anxious, sad, angry or lost. Or all the above… and more. I’m here to help. I invite you to a safe, confidential space where together we can slow down, process the feelings beneath the surface, explore what’s holding you back, guide you toward building healthy, lasting relationships, and discover greater joy, purpose, and ease.

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I specialize in helping individuals and couples dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, career issues, and life changes. I draw upon a depth psychological perspective to help clients gain awareness of the unconscious forces that often steer their present-day behavior and choices. My approach is experiential and psychodynamic, which means we will explore the patterns and defenses you developed to help you cope, while gradually building the internal resilience to grow beyond them. I am trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals and couples, as well as EMDR and Brainspotting for trauma. 

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For two decades I worked as a documentary filmmaker, traveling the world and collaborating with diverse communities and cultures to elevate stories of people striving to heal our systems and our planet. This work led me to teach Buddhist meditation and mindfulness in prison, where I learned about restorative justice as a powerful and positive alternative to our society’s paradigm of shame and exclusion. These experiences profoundly shaped my understanding of the psyche’s innate capacity for growth and change. 

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I welcome clients from all walks of life. I have experience supporting people across spectrums of economics, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, neurodiversity, politics, and age. I am the father of two ever-changing kiddos, so I have tremendous empathy for parents navigating the ups and downs of family life and the work/life balance.

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Starting therapy can be daunting, but I invite you to take the leap. You don’t have to carry the weight alone. Give yourself a chance to feel supported, to heal and to grow. 

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Locations: San Francisco and Telehealth

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Insurance: Carelon, Aetna, Optum and United Healthcare (Limited Availability)