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Monday 8am - 9pm Tuesday 8am - 3pm Wednesday 8am - 12pm Thursday 8am - 12pm Friday 8am - 12pm

Dr. Nate Psych

We take a modern, wrap-around approach to treating children, adults, and families. -Dr. Nate Balfanz

10/31/2025

DNP will be closing our doors early today as Dr. Nate will be out performing his obligatory dad duties of taking his kids trick-or-treating. Everyone have a fun and safe Halloween Weekend!

10/16/2025

🗞 Featured in South of the Pier Magazine

“How Do We Support Our Adolescents in Their Search for Identity and Acceptance?”
By Dr. Nate Balfanz, Founder of Dr. Nate Psych

Adolescence can be tough — identity, belonging, and confidence all collide. In this month’s issue, Dr. Nate shares how parents can guide teens through these challenges with empathy and balance.

💬 “Most mental health struggles begin with our effort to know and accept ourselves — and to feel accepted by others.” — Dr. Nate

⸻

3 Tips for Parents

1️⃣ Listen first. Teens often want to be heard, not fixed.
2️⃣ Let mistakes happen. Growth comes from learning, not perfection.
3️⃣ Skip “I told you so.” Support builds connection.

📍 San Clemente | 🌐 http://www.drnatepsych.com |

10/13/2025

“Mindfulness‑Based Individual Therapy for Stress Management.” Research has demonstrated time and again how mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions can help to reduce physiological stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall mental health.

Key Insight: Mindfulness practices aim to improve an individual’s ability to remain more present-centered by taking a non-judgmental stance of one’s thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. When we are able to remain more present-centered, it helps prevent us from perseverating on the unpleasant experiences of our past, or from becoming overly preoccupied with how things will turn out for us in the future.

Three Mindfulness Practices to Try on a Daily Basis:
1️⃣ Start the day with a 5‑minute body scan: notice tension, breathe into it.
2️⃣ Pause before reacting: take 3 slow deep breaths when feeling stressed to allow a moment of choice.
3️⃣ Cultivate non‑judgmental awareness: when thoughts about stress or anxiety come up, try labeling them (“worry,” “fear,” “pressure”) without pushing them away or getting consumed.

For Further Reference: George, C., et al. (2023). Developing a secure base in family intervention: using attachment theory in family difficulties. Frontiers in Psychology.

09/23/2025

Today officially marks the second-year anniversary of opening our doors at Dr. Nate Psych! ✨

From just 3 patients in our first month, to over 725 patients and families served since that time, we are humbled by the trust you’ve placed in us. Every number isn’t just data—it represents a story, a family, a person who chose to open up and do the hard work of healing and growth.

💛 Across these 2 years, we’ve supported individuals, families, and teens—through stress, grief, anxiety, and also through wins, resilience, and self-discovery.

At Dr. Nate Psych, we believe therapy is about connection, courage, and serving our community. Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you in that process. Here’s to continuing to grow together.

09/19/2025

For today’s Mental Minute, we are focusing on “Attachment‑Based Family Therapy (ABFT)” involving adolescent patients and their families. ABFT works by repairing broken attachment bonds, increasing family cohesion, and validating teen emotional pain.

Key Insight: ABFT stresses the importance of not only examining the current family dynamic, but also focusing on the unique attachment histories of parents/caretakers and how that informs parenting styles in the present day.

Three Ways Families Can Increase Secure Attachment and Reduce Risk:

1️⃣ Hold weekly “emotion check‑in” dinners: each member shares a high, a low, and something they wish others understood.
2️⃣ Increase parental validation: when a teen expresses distress, reflect back (“I hear that this makes you feel…”) rather than immediately offering solutions.
3️⃣ Practice consistent emotional availability: small acts like being physically present during emotional moments (e.g., sitting quietly together) help build trust.

For Further Reference: Diamond, G. S., et al. (2010). Attachment‑based family therapy for adolescents with suicidal ideation.

(📸 credit: Stock / Pexels)

09/16/2025

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Chrissie Morgan, host of the to discuss my experiences in working with adolescent boys and young men in therapy, what struggles they encounter that are unique to their age and generation, and how we as caretaking others can help to guide them through this process.

I really enjoyed this conversation, and I’m grateful to Chrissie for providing me with this platform to share our experiences!

You can find the full episode on YouTube at: https://tinyurl.com/DrNatePsych or wherever you get your podcasts.

09/12/2025

Mark your calendars! The latest installment of AIM High for 13-17 year olds is just around the corner. If you’re interested in having your teen participate, feel free to reach out to and team!

08/29/2025

For today’s edition of “From the Desk of Dr. Nate,” the focus is on “Anxiety and Avoidance.” Recently, my friend, former college roommate, and fellow therapist Kevin Foss, LMFT posted on his IG work page a hashtag challenge for all of his followers called . Kevin pointed out how often times many of us avoid taking healthy risks and trying new things because, even though we may not be happy with our circumstances, the anxiety that comes with uncertainty and the fear of the unknown keeps us stuck in place. In these moments, it can often be helpful to draw from artistic mediums such as books, movies, poems, or song lyrics to inspire us to take that next step. I took Kevin up on his challenge and thought I would share a quote from one of my favorite movies growing up (and to this day!) called Angus,which is about a boy who finds the courage within himself to stand up against a world that is trying to keep him down. Have a look, and feel free to share your own inspirations in the comments!

“Superman isn’t brave. He’s smart, handsome, even decent. But he’s not brave. No, listen to me. Superman is indestructible, and you can’t be brave if you’re indestructible. It’s people like you and your mother. People who are different, and can be crushed and know it. Yet they keep on going out there every time.”

To learn more about the wonderful work that Kevin does, you can follow his IG at: or check out his practice website at: https://calocd.com/

08/27/2025

💔 Our hearts are heavy today. Another school shooting. Another community left grieving.

It’s normal to feel fear, anger, confusion, or even numbness after events like this. For parents and kids, the ripple effect is real.

Here are a few gentle reminders for the days ahead:

✨ Limit media exposure. Repeated coverage can intensify anxiety.
✨ Stay connected. Talk to friends, family, teachers, and trusted supports.
✨ Be present with kids. Answer their questions honestly, validate their feelings, and hold routines steady.

We’re holding space for every student, parent, and educator impacted today. You are not alone.

—
📖 Source: National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – “Talking to Children About the Shooting” nctsn.org

08/19/2025

Right before the school year kicked off, we squeezed in one last adventure at the Holiday Tents in San Mateo Campground, San Clemente 🏕️.

From chasing squirrels around camp to sneaking in a morning surf session 🌊, it was the perfect end-of-summer reset. Nothing like campfires, fresh air, and a canvas tent to make the transition back to school a little sweeter ✨.

08/11/2025

A wonderful summertime send off at the San Clemente Fiesta yesterday. Great to see some old friends, and make some new ones!

07/04/2025

From all of us at Dr. Nate Psych, wishing you a fun and safe Fourth of July filled with laughter, connection, and a little time to relax. 💙❤️🤍

Address

101 S. El Camino Real, Suite 201
San Clemente, CA
92672

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 9pm
Tuesday	8am - 3pm
Wednesday	8am - 12pm
Thursday	8am - 12pm
Friday	8am - 12pm

Website

http://www.drnatepsych.com/

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