MAKAI DORFMAN

Marriage and Family Therapy Intern

Have you ever noticed how your pain, anger, or anxiety gets in the way of living and relating to others in a way that you would like to? Do you have moments when you feel disconnected from your loved ones and don’t know how to restore the closeness you once felt?

Well, you have come to the right place. Whether you are navigating a challenging transition or loss in your family, are seeking to heal and repair connection after a breach of trust, or restore intimacy but do not know how, I am here to help. Through the use of Emotionally Focused Therapy, mindfulness and somatic techniques, and other trauma-informed practices, I hope to support you in better accessing your inner resources to live with more freedom and confidence in your life and in your relationships.

I view the work that we will do together as a sacred calling—to bear witness to the pain and hurt that you are holding and tend to it gently, with deep care and compassion. Together, we will become clear with what your needs and desires are, both individually and collectively, and work to dismantle the barriers that are keeping you stuck in a place of hurt and disconnection.

As we work together, it is important that we move at a pace that you set. I recognize that it is not always easy to share from a place of vulnerability, especially when there has been a history of trauma. Know that I have every intention to move slowly and ask permission when exploring particularly sensitive topics. You can trust that you will be held in a non-judgmental space and one in which your full self and your partnership—with any fear or uncertainty— is welcome.

It would be an honor and privilege to join you in your journey through whatever challenges you are facing. Together, we will move toward a new direction where healing is possible, clarity can be found, and more meaningful and secure relationships can be formed.

A little about me:

I come from a multi-cultural and ethnic background and identify as a Mexican-American man with Jewish ancestry from both the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Although it has not always been an easy task locating myself socially, as it changes geographically, I have deep appreciation for my multi-cultural heritage and am constantly looking at both my privilege and difference in each context I am in. I aspire to be an ally for BIPOC individuals, especially those who are navigating interracial relationships, race-based trauma, and other struggles that come from living in a white-dominated culture and society.

When I am not working as a therapist, I love being outside—whether walking in the forest, biking, or gardening. Additionally, music has been a part of my life since a very young age and I am filled when I am playing guitar and singing with friends or dancing at live shows. Lastly, self-growth and healing has always been an important value of mine as I have sought to live and be of service in the world with deep care and intention. I have attended several Vipassana and mindfulness meditation retreats for the last 12 years and have engaged in a variety of other spiritual practices and techniques including chanting, yoga, dance, journaling, and more.

On the weekends you can often find me organizing intentional gatherings with song, ritual, and food. I am dedicated to building intentional community that is spiritually nourishing and is rooted in relationship with the earth.