What patients are saying
Overall rating
5.00
Average wait time
4.75
Bedside manner
5.00
“The couples therapy my wife and I participated in with Kaleo helped me to uncover and take responsibility for my triggers and to not take responsibility for hers. The clarity I attained gave me the courage to make decisions that are much more in line with my core values. I highly recommend Kaleo for couples therapy. The process he uses is effective and he is skilled and compassionate therapist.”
LKLess than 6 months ago
“Kaleo supported my husband and I as we navigated a season of loss and uncertainty. He provided a safe and compassionate space to ground (virtually) and explore our fears, frustrations, and grief together. He armed us with the communication and self- /co- regulation tools to support and connect with each other rather than push the other away. I really feel that he helped us be able to find pockets of happiness together amidst an immensely challenging time. I highly recommend Kaleo to partners who are navigating life’s challenges and joys together! ”
JBMore than 1 year ago
About Kaleo Kaluhiwa
Focus areas
BIPOC Mental Health Issues
Life Transition
Relationship Counseling
Caregiver Burnout
Men's Mental Health Issues
Sex Therapy
LGBTQ+ Counseling
Premarital Counseling
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Families
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Seniors (65+)
Groups
Treatment approaches
Attachment-based
Culturally Sensitive
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Dialectical (DBT)
Compassion Focused
Existential
Identity
Gender
MaleSexuality
GayFaith
BuddhistEthnicity
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White
Languages spoken
English
Getting to know Kaleo Kaluhiwa
Aloha. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California. I provide psychotherapy via online Telehealth throughout California and also see clients in person at my office in Santa Cruz.
I have been offering therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups since 2000. My work spans young adults to elders, with a focus on couples and relationships, premarital counseling, life transitions, gender and sex issues, LGBTQI+ communities, BIPOC individuals, and healthcare professionals. I strive to affirm the full spectrum of diversity in sexuality, gender, neurodiversity, ability, and racial/ethnic and immigrant experiences and identities.
I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Sofia University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
My advanced training includes:
– Couples and Relationships with the Developmental Model (Bader), Real Life Therapy (Terry Real), Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (Stan Tatkin), Emotionally Focused Therapy, Gottman Method, and work with Esther Perel.
– Trauma Therapy, including Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Structural Dissociation (Fisher).
– Sex Issues with Martha Kauppi.
– Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
I participate in monthly professional consultation groups—one focused on gender care providers and another on sex issues. These confidential spaces allow colleagues to seek and offer support on anonymous client cases and stay current with developments in the field. I also engage in my own therapy, which I find essential to providing the best care to my clients.
For 20 years, I worked as a psychotherapist on a care team alongside social workers, nurses, and doctors in a county government health clinic.
What should a new client know about working with you?
I am a relational therapist, which means our relationship and especially the one you have to yourself are the fundamental vehicles for successful therapy. I work to ensure that whatever is important for you to explore, we can do just that by creating a safe container. I help you create a safe and comfortable space, where curiosity, courage, creativity, connectedness, confidence, and compassion work together to change your life for the better. While attuning to you and welcoming your responses, we move at a pace that ensures progress, yet is not overwhelming. We often strengthen internal resources, so that we can sustain the sometimes uncomfortable edge, where change and growth happens. We explore thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and behaviors--holding it all with kindness and curiosity-- in the service of healing, skills development, and growth. I expect clients to do specific activities we agree to outside of our therapy time. This may include readings, listening to or viewing material. It will involve reflection and doing practices we learn in session. This effort is critical in learning more helpful ways of thinking, feeling, and being that become habitual, thus leading to accomplishing your therapy goals. In most cases, I offer weekly sessions to start, as that best provides for building momentum and gains from session to session, in reaching your goals more efficiently and quickly. Not all methods work for everyone or every goal, so with your ongoing responses, I develop a therapy unique to you, that incorporates who and how you are today with who and how you'd like to be in the future.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
In our first session, we look at who and how you want to be at the end of our therapy journey, in order to start setting clear therapy goals and begin addressing your concerns. In early sessions, we may do problem solving on specific immediate issues, or look at family of origin and primary relationships as our template for how we got the be who and how we are today, which can inform and focus the work.
Oftentimes, we need to work on immediate symptom relief to feel better first, and sessions may center on specific practices and strategies to relieve anxiety and depression. Other sessions may focus on healing wounded parts of us in order to experience more freedom, connection, integration, and wholeness to be our best selves.
I use various methods, chosen to suit each client based on who you are, your unique set of needs, sensitivities and learning styles. For couples and relationships, I often blend 3 modalities I have trained in:
The Developmental Model (Bader), Real Life Therapy (Terry Real), and Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (Tatkin).
For individuals, methods may include Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Deep Inquiry and Exploration, Motivational Interviewing.
At the end of each session, we often discuss and agree to activities to do outside the therapy session, in order to integrate what you accomplished in session into your life outside of the therapy hour.
Together, we periodically evaluate our progress, including our relationship and your goals, and course correct as needed.
Kaleo Kaluhiwa, LMFT is not in-network with any insurances
It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $200 for 60 minutes
Ongoing session: $170 for 50 minutes
More information on payments and coverage
I am not a provider for any insurance plans. Clients pay me directly. I can provide a Superbill (receipt) of services which can be used to submit to some insurance plans for some level of reimbursement, usually only with PPO plans. Often, couples+ counseling is excluded from coverage by insurance companies. If you wish to use your insurance, please contact them to confirm any coverage before booking an appointment with me.
For payment, I take Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, and checks.
Office location
Kaleo Kaluhiwa, LMFT also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Sofia University, Master's in Counseling Psychology
- University of California, Santa Cruz (Bachelor's)
NPI number
1114100666
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
Wait time
4.75
Bedside manner
5.00
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
4 reviews
Most relevant
The couples therapy my wife and I participated in with Kaleo helped me to uncover and take responsibility for my triggers and to not take responsibility for hers. The clarity I attained gave me the courage to make decisions that are much more in line with my core values. I highly recommend Kaleo for couples therapy. The process he uses is effective and he is skilled and compassionate therapist.
Less than 6 months agoLK
Kaleo supported my husband and I as we navigated a season of loss and uncertainty. He provided a safe and compassionate space to ground (virtually) and explore our fears, frustrations, and grief together. He armed us with the communication and self- /co- regulation tools to support and connect with each other rather than push the other away. I really feel that he helped us be able to find pockets of happiness together amidst an immensely challenging time. I highly recommend Kaleo to partners who are navigating life’s challenges and joys together!
More than 1 year agoJB
I feel very lucky to have found Kaleo. From my first visit I knew I was in very good, capable hands. He has helped me tremendously as I navigate the joys and difficulties of my midlife journey. As a healthcare worker, he understands the impact that working amidst Covid has had our mental health. I absolutely recommend him.
More than 1 year agoJE
Kaleo came highly recommended as a queer friendly therapist who specialized in couples working specifically with conflict and repair. I appreciated his advice and council. I found it useful and would highly recommend him to others.
More than 1 year agoJO
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
How soon can I make an appointment with Kaleo Kaluhiwa?
Generally, Kaleo Kaluhiwa has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Kaleo Kaluhiwa's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Kaleo Kaluhiwa accepting new patients?
Kaleo Kaluhiwa generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Kaleo Kaluhiwa's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Kaleo Kaluhiwa accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Kaleo Kaluhiwa is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Kaleo Kaluhiwa online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Kaleo Kaluhiwa using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Kaleo Kaluhiwa work with?
Kaleo Kaluhiwa works with Kaleo Kaluhiwa.
Where is Kaleo Kaluhiwa's office located?
Kaleo Kaluhiwa has 2 office locations, including in Santa Cruz and Markleeville, view full addresses on Kaleo Kaluhiwa's profile.
What are common reasons for patients to see Kaleo Kaluhiwa?
Kaleo Kaluhiwa frequently sees patients for Depression, Pain Management Consultation, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Kaleo Kaluhiwa on their profile.
What languages does Kaleo Kaluhiwa speak?
Kaleo Kaluhiwa speaks English.
How do patients rate Kaleo Kaluhiwa in reviews?
4 patients have reviewed Kaleo Kaluhiwa. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.75/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.