My name is Dr. Patrice Wolters, and welcome to my practice. I have dedicated over twenty five years to developing my own evidence-based model of change, “Go From a Maze to Amazing.” I aim to help couples, adults and teens from different cultural backgrounds become aware of how they are stuck and how they sabotage themselves. Common problematic patterns are: a) negative constrictive ways of thinking; b) faulty beliefs about self; c) family of origin issues; and d) multiple relationship issues. As we work together, I will teach you cutting edge tools and strategies for life-lifting habits. I love to see people get involved in the exciting process of Self-Discovery and resolve to cultivate their strengths, gifts and capacities over their life journies. It is commitment over time that enables us to gradually EVOLVE into more fulfilled versions of ourselves. I help clients define their vision and lay out measurable results, such as an increase in self-esteem, energy, empowerment and/or effective communication skills.

After being licensed, I initially treated teens in residential treatment facilities where I gained valuable experience working with young people who struggled with mood challenges, ADHD, anger management issues, law violations and family issues. In 2000, I worked for Stanford University developing a program for at-risk teens. Additionally, I had the honor of being an Associate at the world famous Couples Institute in Menlo Park, founded by Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson. Over the course of my career I have worked intensively and extensively with thought leaders, and in 2009 I created my own Model of Change: “Go from a Maze to Amazing.” Rather than focusing on pathological labels, I look at where Couples, Adults and Teens are stuck, help them identify their vision, and teach them cutting edge habits to discover their Passion, Purpose and Path in life.

One goal I had a couple of years ago was to get my home well-organized. I was wasting valuable time trying to find things, so I began to get a very detailed vision of my organized home. The process was fun and rewarding! When I work with teens on Teen Organization projects, I help each one imagine in detail an organized room and desk and many like showing me their new room. Essential to realizing your Visions is to Involve yourself, Activate, Dive in, Start anywhere but get going! As you get involved in new projects, potential passions and goals, you will Resolve to bring yourself to new levels. I call it climbing higher. You will gradually Evolve (reach new heights) as you refine the tools, habits and strategies I am teaching and make them your own. I bring a life-long perspective to this work and so trust you, too, can evolve to heights you never dreamed possible. It is your commitment over time that leads to your Involvement in your Original, True self. So come on Involve, Resolve and Evolve!

Education

Dr. Patrice Wolters graduated with honors with her B.A. in Psychology, and graduated magna cum laude with her M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth Campus. She later received her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.

Dr. Wolters also taught psychology at the University of Minnesota, and later taught psychology at the University of Oregon as part of her teaching fellowship. She has also trained at the Oregon Center for Social Learning, which at the time was a national program for helping parents successfully learn effective behavior management skills to use with their children.

Post-Graduate Training in Individual and Couples Therapy

Dr. Wolters initially trained at the Western Institute for Group and Family Therapy with thought leaders Bob Goulding, MD, and Mary Goulding, LCSW. She trained with 30 therapists from all around the world and this was a game changer for Patrice in that it propelled her later, life-changing move to California.

It was in this setting that Patrice learned the theory and techniques of the Transactional Analysis approach to psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy, dream work, movement therapy, and the Systems Approach to families developed by Salvador Minuchin.

Specific Training in Working with Young People

Dr. Wolters has taken many courses from Dr. Hans Steiner, the former head of the Child Psychiatry Department at Stanford University. Patrice is especially interested in helping both her teen and adult clients develop “resilient traits” and resiliency in general so they can more easily cope with and overcome life’s challenges.

In addition to the many other courses Dr. Wolters has taken over the years to further her abilities to help adolescents, teens, and younger children, she has also attended a week-long training seminar offered by the Child Psychiatry Department of Stanford University, and in 2000 she held a contract position at Stanford University and worked with high-risk teens.

Teaching Experience

Dr. Wolters began teaching in the Educational Psychology Department of the University of Minnesota and later taught Child Psychology at the University of Oregon. After moving to California in the late 1980s, Patrice provided radio presentations on topics such as Coping with Depression and the Holiday Blues.

Patrice is currently finishing her first book, Cultivating Resilient Relationships in a Mood-Challenged World, and plans to return to teaching both nationally and internationally once it is complete.

Published Articles

You can read some of the articles Dr. Wolters has published under the “Articles” section of this website and at Marriage.com.

Mental Health Advocacy

Dr. Wolters is the Founder and Director of the Music and Mental Health Initiative and her vision is to use positive, uplifting, and fun lyrics to gradually change the mental health landscape.

Patrice comes from a family of music lovers and was a pianist herself. With a strong commitment to the early detection and treatment of mental health challenges in young people, she has been working on the Music and Mental Health Initiative since 2006.

Her interest in writing song lyrics has been a gradual progression that began with her work with juveniles placed by the courts in residential treatment facilities, as they taught Patrice about their lives through their music. Her involvement with ballroom dancing (where she performed to a fusion of Latin and hip hop) further sparked her interest. Dr. Wolters’ love for writing lyrics has also evolved out of her regular use of journaling and poetry as forms of self-expression.

Her mental health lyrics have been put to music by top jazz musicians from New York University, and you can find her song “Eyes on the Prize” on YouTube.

After her book is published, Dr. Wolters will be devoting more time to her Music and Mental Health Initiative. Currently she has 25 songs relating to mental health under copyright at the Library of Congress and her new song and video, “Let’s Work Together,” will be available on her Facebook page soon.

Credentials

Education:
B.A. and M.A., University of Minnesota
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Certified Depression and Mood Disorder Treatment Professional

Teaching Experience:
Martin Luther King Center, St. Paul, MN – Taught preschoolers
University of Minnesota – Taught Educational Psychology
University of Oregon – Taught Child Development
The Couples Institute – Taught a group of therapists

Memberships & Associations:
American Psychological Association
Santa Clara Psychological Association
Former member Monterey Bay Psychological Association

My name is Dr. Patrice Wolters, and welcome to my practice. I have dedicated over twenty five years to developing my own evidence-based model of change, “Go From a Maze to Amazing.” I aim to help couples, adults and teens from different cultural backgrounds become aware of how they are stuck and how they sabotage themselves. Common problematic patterns are: a) negative constrictive ways of thinking; b) faulty beliefs about self; c) family of origin issues; and d) multiple relationship issues. As we work together, I will teach you cutting edge tools and strategies for life-lifting habits. I love to see people get involved in the exciting process of Self-Discovery and resolve to cultivate their strengths, gifts and capacities over their life journies. It is commitment over time that enables us to gradually EVOLVE into more fulfilled versions of ourselves. I help clients define their vision and lay out measurable results, such as an increase in self-esteem, energy, empowerment and/or effective communication skills.

After being licensed, I initially treated teens in residential treatment facilities where I gained valuable experience working with young people who struggled with mood challenges, ADHD, anger management issues, law violations and family issues. In 2000, I worked for Stanford University developing a program for at-risk teens. Additionally, I had the honor of being an Associate at the world famous Couples Institute in Menlo Park, founded by Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson. Over the course of my career I have worked intensively and extensively with thought leaders, and in 2009 I created my own Model of Change: “Go from a Maze to Amazing.” Rather than focusing on pathological labels, I look at where Couples, Adults and Teens are stuck, help them identify their vision, and teach them cutting edge habits to discover their Passion, Purpose and Path in life.

One goal I had a couple of years ago was to get my home well-organized. I was wasting valuable time trying to find things, so I began to get a very detailed vision of my organized home. The process was fun and rewarding! When I work with teens on Teen Organization projects, I help each one imagine in detail an organized room and desk and many like showing me their new room. Essential to realizing your Visions is to Involve yourself, Activate, Dive in, Start anywhere but get going! As you get involved in new projects, potential passions and goals, you will Resolve to bring yourself to new levels. I call it climbing higher. You will gradually Evolve (reach new heights) as you refine the tools, habits and strategies I am teaching and make them your own. I bring a life-long perspective to this work and so trust you, too, can evolve to heights you never dreamed possible. It is your commitment over time that leads to your Involvement in your Original, True self. So come on Involve, Resolve and Evolve!

Education

Dr. Patrice Wolters graduated with honors with her B.A. in Psychology, and graduated magna cum laude with her M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth Campus. She later received her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.

Dr. Wolters also taught psychology at the University of Minnesota, and later taught psychology at the University of Oregon as part of her teaching fellowship. She has also trained at the Oregon Center for Social Learning, which at the time was a national program for helping parents successfully learn effective behavior management skills to use with their children.

Post-Graduate Training in Individual and Couples Therapy

Dr. Wolters initially trained at the Western Institute for Group and Family Therapy with thought leaders Bob Goulding, MD, and Mary Goulding, LCSW. She trained with 30 therapists from all around the world and this was a game changer for Patrice in that it propelled her later, life-changing move to California.

It was in this setting that Patrice learned the theory and techniques of the Transactional Analysis approach to psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy, dream work, movement therapy, and the Systems Approach to families developed by Salvador Minuchin.

Specific Training in Working with Young People

Dr. Wolters has taken many courses from Dr. Hans Steiner, the former head of the Child Psychiatry Department at Stanford University. Patrice is especially interested in helping both her teen and adult clients develop “resilient traits” and resiliency in general so they can more easily cope with and overcome life’s challenges.

In addition to the many other courses Dr. Wolters has taken over the years to further her abilities to help adolescents, teens, and younger children, she has also attended a week-long training seminar offered by the Child Psychiatry Department of Stanford University, and in 2000 she held a contract position at Stanford University and worked with high-risk teens.

Teaching Experience

Dr. Wolters began teaching in the Educational Psychology Department of the University of Minnesota and later taught Child Psychology at the University of Oregon. After moving to California in the late 1980s, Patrice provided radio presentations on topics such as Coping with Depression and the Holiday Blues.

Patrice is currently finishing her first book, Cultivating Resilient Relationships in a Mood-Challenged World, and plans to return to teaching both nationally and internationally once it is complete.

Published Articles

You can read some of the articles Dr. Wolters has published under the “Articles” section of this website and at Marriage.com.

Mental Health Advocacy

Dr. Wolters is the Founder and Director of the Music and Mental Health Initiative and her vision is to use positive, uplifting, and fun lyrics to gradually change the mental health landscape.

Patrice comes from a family of music lovers and was a pianist herself. With a strong commitment to the early detection and treatment of mental health challenges in young people, she has been working on the Music and Mental Health Initiative since 2006.

Her interest in writing song lyrics has been a gradual progression that began with her work with juveniles placed by the courts in residential treatment facilities, as they taught Patrice about their lives through their music. Her involvement with ballroom dancing (where she performed to a fusion of Latin and hip hop) further sparked her interest. Dr. Wolters’ love for writing lyrics has also evolved out of her regular use of journaling and poetry as forms of self-expression.

Her mental health lyrics have been put to music by top jazz musicians from New York University, and you can find her song “Eyes on the Prize” on YouTube.

After her book is published, Dr. Wolters will be devoting more time to her Music and Mental Health Initiative. Currently she has 25 songs relating to mental health under copyright at the Library of Congress and her new song and video, “Let’s Work Together,” will be available on her Facebook page soon.

Credentials

Education:
B.A. and M.A., University of Minnesota
Ph.D., University of Oregon
Certified Depression and Mood Disorder Treatment Professional

Teaching Experience:
Martin Luther King Center, St. Paul, MN – Taught preschoolers
University of Minnesota – Taught Educational Psychology
University of Oregon – Taught Child Development
The Couples Institute – Taught a group of therapists

Memberships & Associations:
American Psychological Association
Santa Clara Psychological Association
Former member Monterey Bay Psychological Association

Dr. Patrice Wolters – Licensed Psychologist – Relationship Counseling provided by a Licensed Psychologist and Relationship Counselor in Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Cupertino, and San Jose, CA, California