Support for Families. Healing for Individuals. Space for Couples.

Ryan Denney, M.A., AMFT #155800

Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Before becoming a therapist, I spent over 20 years in the software industry—starting as a Java programmer and eventually founding Consensus Consulting Group. My work took me around the world, partnering with Fortune 500 companies to help integrate complex systems into their day-to-day operations. But what I was always most drawn to was the human element: how people communicate, how teams function, and how we rebuild connection when things break down.

Now, I bring that same systems lens into the therapy room—working with individuals, couples, families, and groups to help them better understand their internal worlds and relational dynamics. I believe integration is at the heart of healing—integrating the me (our inner parts), the we (our relationships), and the thee (our connection to something bigger). Therapy is where those stories can begin to align.

My clinical approach is grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), existential therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, and humanistic/client-centered care. Clients often tell me they feel deeply heard in our work. I aim to bring empathy, critical thinking, and a calm presence to each session, especially for those navigating complex or painful transitions.

I hold a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, a Master’s in Christian Spiritual Formation, and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. I’m currently pursuing my Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy and see clients under clinical supervision as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.

Outside of therapy, I’ve been married to my wife Jennie for 21 years, and together we’re raising four kids in sunny Southern California. That lived experience continues to shape my passion for relational work and my commitment to helping families grow stronger, one conversation at a time.

Ryan’s Approach

Ryan’s therapeutic work is grounded in the belief that healing happens across three interconnected layers: the me (your relationship with yourself), the we (your relationships with others), and the thee (your connection to something greater—meaning, purpose, or spirituality).

Each of the approaches Ryan uses—IFS, Existential Therapy, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and Humanistic therapy—offers a unique doorway into understanding and strengthening these parts of your story. Whether you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or searching for clarity, his integrative approach is designed to help you reconnect with your inner sense of self, show up more authentically in your relationships, and navigate life’s deeper questions with curiosity and courage.

Two hands holding puzzle pieces about to connect outdoors with blurred green trees in the background.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • IFS helps you explore the different “parts” of yourself—like the inner critic, the avoider, or the overachiever. It assumes all parts have good intentions, even if their actions cause pain.

  • IFS gives people a way to connect with themselves without shame. Instead of fighting your patterns, you learn to listen to them and lead with your core Self.

  • IFS can help you build compassion toward yourself, increase emotional clarity, and shift stuck internal patterns.

  • No Bad Parts by Dr. Richard Schwartz

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Humanistic (Client-Centered) Therapy

  • A therapy approach based on the belief that people thrive in an environment of empathy, authenticity, and unconditional regard.

  • Therapy shouldn’t be about fixing you. It should be about giving you space to be seen, known, and supported as you find your own voice and direction.

  • You gain more self-trust, clarity, and confidence in who you are—without needing to perform or please.

  • On Becoming a Person by Carl Rogers

A person stands at the shoreline at night, with the Milky Way galaxy visible overhead and reflected in the water, creating a mirrored effect.

Existential Therapy

  • Existential therapy focuses on the big questions—meaning, identity, freedom, and what it means to live authentically.

  • When life falls apart or stops making sense, we don’t just need coping skills—we need space to wrestle with the deeper stuff. This approach creates room for that.

  • It helps you reflect on your values, make intentional choices, and reconnect with your sense of purpose.

  • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Cracked and fractured ice surface with blue and black tones and white ice debris.

Interpersonal Neurobiology

  • A brain-based framework that explores how our minds are shaped by relationships—and how we can use that awareness to change how we relate to ourselves and others.

  • Understanding how your nervous system and relationships influence each other is incredibly empowering. It takes the shame out of emotional patterns and reactions.

  • It can improve emotional regulation, relational communication, and your ability to feel connected and safe in your body and relationships.

  • Mindsight by Dr. Dan Siegel

Contact Ryan

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“When I can muster enough humility to say, “Maybe I have this wrong,’ back off from my fixed positions, take a fresh look, and walk around the question again, I might contribute to the renewal of self and some small part of the world.”

-Parker Palmer-