Dustin Pappas
Dustin has many life experiences that give him a genuine empathy for those who find themselves in detours on life's journey. Dustin has a long history of working with families, teens and men on their specific issues. He has been a public high school teacher and adult education teacher. Within the Christian community, he has served as a youth pastor, a director of creative ministries and in many various leadership roles. In his professional life, Dustin worked for thirteen years in the feature animation and special effects industry in such studios as Disney Feature Animation and DreamWorks Feature Animation. This experience gives him a unique understanding of the stressors related to those working in the film and television industry.Dustin has lead men groups and has helped men both in and outside of the church navigate through issues unique to growing into the fullness of their own masculinity. He holds a special burden for those men serving in the ministry and in the military. Dustin has felt the pain of having close family members suffering from addiction to substances. He has been through the recovery process with loved ones and understands both the sides of the addict and of the loved ones that struggle through life with the pain and the depression that is so common in these families. Dustin believes that recovery is a family process. Dustin is the father of four children and for many years raised them as a single father. He knows the world of parenting and the importance of giving children a good home. Dustin is a martial artist and enjoys the MMA fighting arts.
I'm thankful for the experiences I've had in my life. Both in the easy and the difficult, I have found that the Lord has used everyone of them to prepare me to be the best I can be as a man and as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18: 1-4
Dustin is pursuing a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at Phillips Graduate Institute. He obtained a B.F.A. in Illustration from California State University, Fullerton. Dustin also has a Secondary School single-subject teaching credential for the State of California. Dustin Pappas is a Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee under the supervision of Joanne Weidman, M.S., MFT.
- License Type & Number: Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee
- Areas of Specialization: Bowen Family Systems, Jungian Archetypes, Development of Spiritual and Emotional maturity, Men's issues, Depression, Addiction and Recovery, Co-dependency, Pornography and Sexual addictions, Military Service Personnel and Families, Support for Those in Christian Service, Career Crisis, Aging Athletes and Actors.
- Modality: Couples, Families, Individuals, Children, Groups
- Hourly Rate: $45
- Accepts Insurance: No
- Sliding Scale: Yes
