Paul Santero

Paul Santero’s path into psychology began in the late 1980s working alongside people with developmental disabilities — an experience that revealed his natural capacity for listening, insight, and encouragement. That foundation led him through a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and a doctorate in psychology from Southern California Seminary, completed in 2011. He now practices as a licensed psychologist at St. Joseph Psychological Clinic, which he founded, bringing together scientifically grounded methods — including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychoanalytic approaches, and EMDR — with his Christian values.

Paul works with children, teenagers, adults, couples, and families facing a wide range of difficulties: anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual addiction, abuse recovery, marriage conflict, and parenting challenges, among others. A particular focus of his practice is shame — the internalized wounds that quietly prevent people from living with honesty and confidence. He has noticed that even clients who stay constantly in contact with others through their phones and feeds can arrive feeling unseen and profoundly alone, a kind of disconnection that often runs beneath the presenting problem.

Paul’s approach is collaborative: he meets each person where they are and draws on a range of techniques suited to their specific needs. His goal is to help clients move toward a freer, more authentic way of living. He offers both in-person and online sessions from his practice in La Jolla, California.