Fritz Bixler, APCC, AMFT
they / them / their
Title: Associate Therapist
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor: APCC #11440
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist: AMFT #132011
Registered: Madelaine Bixler, APCC, AMFT (aka Fritz Bixler, APCC, AMFT)
Supervised by: Katie Malone, LPCC, LMFT
Phone: 925-954-6229, ext. 111
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My Approach
As a therapist, my priority is helping you build a life beyond your wildest dreams. I am dedicated to meeting you where you’re at, and supporting you in carving out your own unique path towards healing and self-actualization. I believe everyone has the capacity to flourish, and I aim to create space for my clients to explore what wellness looks like for them.
I am passionate about working with neurodivergent communities—and have a special place in my heart for highly sensitive people, as well as for those of us considered “gifted”. I really get intensity and emotional sensitivity, and understand the blessings and burdens that come with diverse ways of seeing the world. I also have a deep love for working with LGBTQ+ clients, and provide gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary individuals.
I work with children, teens, adults, families, and couples, providing both individual and group therapy. I am primarily a drama therapist specializing in creative play, but also provide straightforward talk therapy.
“To open to creativity, and to play as a way to get there, is a radical turn away from a world in which we are conditioned to not make mistakes.” ~ Adam Blatner
Why Play Therapy?
Play is an important part of life! As children, we understand the world around us through play, and as adults, we make sense of our lives through the stories we tell ourselves and the roles we see ourselves playing. Drama therapy utilizes a range of embodied techniques to help clients reclaim their narrative, explore new roles, and tap into their creative energy. By engaging in creative play, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and hone the skills we need to improve our lives.
Experience and Education
I have a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, with a concentration in Drama Therapy. As an undergraduate, I double majored in Theater & Performance Studies and History at Stanford University, and have a background in playwriting, direction, and theater production.
Before coming to TheraThrive, I worked as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor, focusing on trauma recovery and the treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions. I also co-founded the Drama Therapy Coalition for Justice at CIIS, and am a member of the North American Drama Therapy Association.
I am a Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC #11440) and Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #132011), and am working towards completing my hours to become licensed as both an LPCC and LMFT. I am currently being supervised by TheraThrive’s Lead Therapist Katie Malone, LMFT, LPCC.