Taylor S. Mauk, AMFT
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Associate #150650
Supervised by Monica M. Huston, LMFT 118825 &
Caitlyn M. Marr, LMFT 144806
Therapy for Children, Teens & Adults in Irvine, CA
You do not have to know exactly what is wrong before starting therapy. Maybe anxiety and overthinking are making everyday life feel harder than it should. Maybe you are adjusting to a major change, questioning who you are becoming, or struggling with confidence, boundaries, or knowing what you really want. My goal is to create a comfortable, supportive space where you can slow things down, better understand what you are experiencing, and begin making changes that feel realistic and meaningful to you.
Humanistic
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
(optional)
What I Help With
Anxiety & Overthinking
Anxiety can make it difficult to feel present when your mind is constantly preparing for what might go wrong.
I help clients better understand anxious thoughts and patterns so they can feel calmer, more grounded, and better equipped to navigate uncertainty and everyday stress.
Life Changes & Transitions
Even positive changes can leave you feeling unsettled.
Whether you are adjusting to a new stage of life, changes at home or school, relationships, work, loss, or uncertainty about what comes next, therapy can provide space to process what is changing and begin finding your footing again.
Self-Esteem, Identity & Personal Growth
It can be difficult to trust yourself when you are constantly questioning whether you are good enough, comparing yourself to others, or trying to meet everyone else’s expectations.
I help clients strengthen their sense of self, better understand their needs and values, develop healthier boundaries, and build confidence in making choices that feel right for them.
Real conversations.
Deeper change.
My work is primarily psychodynamic, which means I'm interested not only in what's happening right now, but also in the deeper patterns, relationships, and experiences that may be shaping it.
I begin with the therapeutic relationship itself. Feeling genuinely cared for, understood, and safe enough to be vulnerable matters to me, because meaningful therapy requires more than simply exchanging advice.
Depending on what you need, I may also draw from CBT, DBT, and emotionally focused approaches. My style is warm, curious, relational, and sometimes humorous. Life can be heavy. We can take what you're experiencing seriously without pretending every minute of therapy has to feel painfully serious.
"You don't have to figure this out alone."
A space to be real, explore, and grow.
At our first meeting, I'll introduce myself, review informed consent, and take time to understand what brought you in, what feels difficult right now, and what you hope might feel different.
Some people arrive with a lot to say. Others aren't sure where to begin. Both are okay.
During the first few sessions, I focus on getting to know the person behind the problem, building trust, understanding your history and patterns, and developing treatment recommendations together.
Education & Training
Loyola Marymount University
MA in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2023)
BS in Chemistry - 2016
Newport Psychoanalytic Institute
Infants, Children, Adolescents Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificate — 2026
Additional Training
- Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) – Level I & II
- Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) – Level I
- Training through the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Common Questions
There is no set timeline because each person and their goals are different. Some people benefit from shorter-term work around a specific concern, while others want more time to explore deeper patterns and relationships. We’ll discuss your goals and the direction of therapy together.
We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy and whether my experience and approach fit your needs. I believe in being honest about the limits of my experience. If another provider or level of care would be more appropriate, I’ll discuss that with you and help identify a more suitable resource.
It depends on what brings you to therapy and what each person needs. Individual therapy can offer space to understand your own emotions, needs and relationship patterns. For others, starting together in couples therapy makes sense. We can discuss which starting point may fit your situation.
Faith Can Be Part of Therapy
I offer optional Catholic and Christian faith integration when requested by the client. Faith, spirituality and religious experiences can be explored when they are meaningful to you and relevant to your goals. They do not have to be part of therapy.
A Little More About Me
I’m a therapist, published author, and someone deeply interested in faith, psychology and psychoanalytic thinking. I love comedy shows and the symphony, and I’m equally happy exploring life’s deeper questions or laughing at something completely ridiculous. Compassion and humor both have a place in how I connect with people.
Therapy should feel like a conversation, not an interrogation.
My approach is person-centered and humanistic. I focus first on building a genuine relationship where you feel heard, understood, and comfortable enough to be yourself.
I also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help identify unhelpful thought patterns, explore different perspectives, and develop healthier ways of responding to everyday challenges.
Therapy is collaborative. I am not here to tell you who you should be or what your life should look like. We work together to understand what is happening, recognize what may be keeping you stuck, and find tools and changes that actually make sense for you.
You do not have to have everything figured out.
I want your first session to feel comfortable, welcoming, and a little less intimidating than you may expect.
I will help guide the conversation with questions so I can get to know you, understand what brought you to therapy, and learn what you hope might feel different. There is no pressure to share everything right away or arrive knowing exactly what you want to work on.
Some people come to therapy knowing exactly why they are there. Others simply know that something does not feel right. Both are completely okay. We will take things at your pace and continue figuring things out together.
A safe place to be real, explore, and grow.
Faith Can Be Part of Therapy
For clients and families who want it, Catholic or Christian faith can be incorporated into therapy.
Faith integration is always optional and based on what feels meaningful and appropriate to you. If you prefer therapy without a faith-based component, that is completely respected.
A Little More About Me
I work with children, teens, and adults who may be navigating anxiety, overthinking, major life changes, self-esteem struggles, identity questions, or simply feeling unsure about what comes next.
I’m especially passionate about helping clients feel calmer and more present, build confidence, understand themselves more clearly, and develop healthier boundaries and ways of responding to everyday challenges. Therapy does not have to begin with having all the answers. Sometimes knowing that something feels off is enough of a place to start.
Education & Training
Cal Poly Pomona
- M.S. in Psychology
California State University, Fullerton
- B.A. in Psychology
Common Questions
Therapy is a process, and you do not have to figure everything out at once. We will work together to better understand what you are experiencing and find tools and approaches that feel helpful for you.
That is completely okay. You do not need to have all the answers before starting therapy. Sometimes simply knowing that something does not feel right is enough of a place to begin. We can work together to make sense of what you are feeling.
You are not alone in what you are experiencing, and you do not have to minimize your feelings or compare them to what anyone else may be going through. Therapy gives you a space to explore what is happening without judgment.
Let’s Find a Path Forward, Together.
You do not have to navigate life’s challenges alone. Tell our intake team a little about what has been going on and what you are looking for. We can help determine whether Taylor may be a good match for your needs or connect you with another IFC therapist who may be a better fit.
