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The Psychotherapist Association for
Gender & Sexual Diversity
Gaylesta: intersectional pride flag

Albert Pignataro

 

Member profile details

First name
Albert
Last name
Pignataro
Website
www.apmft.com
 

User photo

Member userpic
 

Background

Welcome
***If you are interested in setting an appointment or getting further information, please go to my website [apmft.com], click on the "contact" tab at the top right of the home page, and fill out the message form with your info. I will respond to you by email within 48 hours.***

I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist offering individual and couples therapy in San Jose and throughout California via telehealth. I work with adults across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and my practice is grounded in the belief that therapy should be both deeply honest and actually useful. I bring a direct, collaborative, emotionally intelligent approach to help people move through the stuck places—whether that means untangling anxious spirals, interrupting long-held patterns, or finally getting real about what’s not working.

I work with a wide range of issues, including OCD (with a specialty in Pure O), anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, relationship stress, religious trauma, and the long-term impact of growing up in emotionally unsafe environments. I also specialize in working with men and with couples—especially those who want more connection and less reactivity but keep running the same tired playbook. Many of my clients are high-functioning professionals who are successful on paper but feel disconnected, exhausted, or emotionally out of sync in their actual lives.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent nearly a decade in financial services. I know what it’s like to live in performance mode, and I also know what it takes to step out of that and build something more meaningful. I’ve been working in mental health since 2007, and I bring lived experience to this work—not just theory. I’m Level 1 trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Relational Life Therapy (RLT), and I integrate those models to support deep insight, real accountability, and lasting change.

Therapy with me is warm, real, and no-bullshit. I’ll challenge you when needed, bring humor when it helps, and stay in it with you when things get hard. This is your space—and I’m here to help you use it well.
Additional thoughts
This work means a lot to me—personally and professionally. I come from a background that includes family violence, religious trauma, OCD, and the long, nonlinear process of coming out. None of that defines me, but it does inform how I show up: with clarity, depth, and zero pretense. I'm not here to perform neutrality. I'm here to help you figure out what’s actually getting in your way—and what it’s going to take to move forward.

My therapeutic style is active and engaging. I don’t sit back and nod—I listen reflectively, ask strategic questions, and challenge beliefs or behaviors that are undermining your growth. I’ve been told I can cut through the noise and get to the heart of things, and I try to do that in a way that’s direct, nonjudgmental, and often infused with dry humor. I care a lot about the relationship — and, I also care about results.

In my practice, insight is only half the equation. The other half is action—and follow-through. I help clients clarify what matters to them, and then stay accountable to the commitments they’ve made to themselves through therapy. That might mean changing a long-standing pattern, speaking up in a relationship, or responding differently to anxiety or intrusive thoughts. Whatever it is, we’re not just talking about it—we’re working it.

If you’re looking for a therapist who can hold space and hold you accountable, I’m probably a good fit. I bring my full self to this work, and I invite you to do the same.

If you are interested in setting an appointment or getting further information, please go to my website [apmft.com], click on the "contact" tab at the top right of the home page, and fill out the message form with your info. I will respond to you by email within 48 hours.
Currently accepting new clients?
Yes
Would you like to be included in the therapist directory?
Yes
 

Telehealth (for Referral/Org. members only)

Telehealth: primary state
California
 

Main Office

Office #1: City
San Jose
Office #1: State
CA
Office #1: Zip
95125
Office hours
Sessions are by appointment only. I currently have office hours on Mondays through Thursdays, with hours varying from day to evening.

If you are interested in setting an appointment or getting further information, please go to my website [apmft.com], click on the "contact" tab at the top right of the home page, and fill out the message form with your info. I will respond to you by email within 48 hours.
 

Demographic info (optional).

Pronouns
  • he/him/his
Gender
  • Male
Sexual orientation
  • Gay
Ethnicity
  • White/Euro American
 

Credentials (required)

Prof. degree
  • MA
Prof. degree concentration
  • Clinical Counseling
  • Community Mental Health
  • Counseling
  • Counseling Psych.
  • Counseling/Psychology
  • Holistic Counseling
  • Marriage/Family Therapy
  • Mental Health
  • Psychology
  • Rehab. Counseling
  • Social/Clinical Psych.
Year degree obtained
2008
Educational institution
John F Kennedy University
License type
  • LMFT
Year originally licensed
2013
License number
LMFT 53486
License expiration date
June 30, 2026
 

Background and practice info

Theoretical approaches to my work
  • Client Centered / Person-Centered
  • Holistic
  • Humanistic
  • Narrative
  • Relational
  • Transpersonal
Clinical techniques
  • ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy)
  • Guided Imagery
  • Life Coaching
Clinical specializations
  • Addiction / Substance Use
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Coming Out
  • Couples / Relationships
  • Depression
  • Discrimination / Stigmatization
  • Ethnic or Cultural Issues
  • Families: Alternative
  • Mental Health of Family Members
  • Midlife Issues
  • Religious - Homosexual Conflict
  • Religious - Spiritual Abuse
  • Self Esteem
  • Sexuality
  • Spirituality
  • Stress / Burnout
Types of therapy
  • Consultation
  • Counseling
  • Couples / Relationship / Marriage Therapy or Counseling
  • Distance Therapy (Phone or Internet-based)
  • Individual Therapy
  • Long-Term Therapy
Languages (used in therapy)
  • English
Client ages
  • Adults
Sliding scale
Yes
Low fee
No
Insurance info
I currently do not accept insurance plans. However, I can provide a you a monthly invoice (sometimes called a “superbill”) that you may submit for reimbursement if your insurance plan has an out-of-network benefit.

Please note: many insurance plans require that a therapist provide a diagnosis for the client, and that the diagnosis be documented on the invoice/superbill, in order to qualify for reimbursement.

This means that your presenting issue must meet certain criteria to qualify for a diagnosis, and thus qualify for possible reimbursement.

If your presenting issue does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis, you will not receive one, which may negatively impact your reimbursement.

Please contact your insurance provider for information about out-of-network benefits and reimbursement.

Therapy sessions may also be covered by a Health Savings Account. Please contact your employer/HR department for more information.
Available 24 hrs?
No
 

Group Therapy Information

Group #1: Telehealth state
California
Group #2: Telehealth state
California
Group #3: Telehealth state
California
 

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