About Dr. Heath Schechinger
Helping Today’s Families and Relationships Thrive
I’m a licensed psychologist based in California, where I offer therapy, coaching, and consulting services for individuals, couples, and families navigating the complexities of modern relationships.
In addition to my private practice, I’m the Co-Founder of the Modern Family Institute and serve as the Founding Co-Chair of the APA Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-monogamy. I am also an Affiliate Faculty member at the renowned Kinsey Institute.
Across all my work—clinical, research, and policy—I’m guided by one question: What helps people feel connected, whole, and seen in their relationships?
I earned my B.S. in Psychology and M.Ed. in Higher Education from Iowa State University, and my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas. I completed my Doctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship at UC Berkeley. My career has been dedicated to exploring the intricacies of human connection—through research, psychotherapy, and public engagement—across a wide range of relationship structures and life stages.
My aim is to cultivate a supportive, grounded space in therapy—and to spark meaningful public conversations that deepen understanding, nurture intimacy, and foster thriving relationships and families.
As a scholar and specialist in the evolving landscape of relationships and family dynamics, my work has been featured in outlets including The New York Times, BBC, Popular Science, and The Boston Globe.
Originally from a small town in Iowa, I moved to California in 2015 to put down roots and continue my work at the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and social change. Before becoming a psychologist, I trained as a spiritual educator and pastor—a foundation that continues to inform my presence and curiosity as a therapist.
Outside the therapy room, I’m passionate about traveling, asking big questions over coffee, and immersing myself in nature. I find clarity and renewal while trail running in the redwoods near my home—a practice that keeps me connected to both stillness and movement. A lifelong love of athletics led to a gold medal in soccer at the 2018 Paris Gay Games.I now live in the Bay Area, grounded by cherished members of my bio and chosen family.
Clinical
My clinical work is grounded in cultural awareness, compassion, and curiosity. I offer a collaborative space where clients can safely explore the layers of their identity, relationships, and lived experience. Drawing on my background in research, advocacy, and psychotherapy, I support individuals and couples in making sense of the parts of themselves that may have felt overlooked, misunderstood, or fragmented.
My therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing deeply from Hakomi Mindfulness Somatic Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS). These models invite us to slow down, tune into the present moment, and explore how both the body and the mind carry stories from earlier experiences. IFS, in particular, helps us understand the internal “parts” of ourselves—often shaped by past wounds or protective roles—and fosters a more compassionate, curious relationship with our inner world.
Through this lens, we work together to identify core beliefs, emotional patterns, and somatic responses that may be limiting connection or growth. As we bring awareness and care to these inner dynamics, new ways of relating—to yourself and others—can begin to emerge.
I work with individuals and couples navigating relationship challenges, identity exploration, life transitions, and infidelity. My practice is inclusive of all relationship structures, gender identities, and cultural backgrounds—including those who don’t feel reflected in traditional models of therapy.
Applied Research
For decades, monogamy has been treated as the default—and often only—valid relationship model. But the gap between this cultural ideal and people’s lived experiences tells a different story.
Research shows that one-third of Americans in monogamous relationships will experience infidelity, and infidelity remains a leading cause of divorce. At the same time, a growing number of people are questioning whether traditional relationship structures meet their needs. In fact, around one in three Americans say their ideal relationship would be something other than complete monogamy.
Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) offers one pathway that some individuals and couples explore in response. Far from being chaotic or commitment-averse, many people engaged in CNM report high levels of communication, honesty, emotional support, and shared decision-making. These are qualities that benefit all relationships—monogamous or not.
Roughly 20% of Americans have participated in a CNM relationship, and approximately 16 million people currently identify as practicing CNM. Yet, conversations around these relationships are still often shrouded in secrecy, silence, or misunderstanding.
This disconnect shows up in therapy too. In one of my published studies, we found that 1 in 5 CNM therapy clients report that their therapist lacked the training to support them, and 10% said they were encouraged to end their relationship due to therapist bias (Schechinger, Moors, & Sakaluk, 2018).
As a psychologist and founding co-chair of the APA Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-Monogamy, I believe we’re overdue for a more inclusive, nuanced, and skillful approach to supporting relationships—not just for those practicing CNM, but for anyone seeking more honesty, clarity, and connection in their relational life.