“Once people find out what I do, it’s not uncommon for them to open up to me, at a party or my kids school, with some of the most personal details of their lives,” says George Papageorge. “My wife and I joke that sometimes I should just say I drive a beer truck.” It might be easier to picture the easy going George Papageorge as a truck driver, but in reality he is a successful marriage and family therapist and highly sought after seminar and workshop leader on parenting and family issues. His practice emphasizes “family systems” psychology. To understand the person he first tries to learn about the family system they come from. Spending time with George, it’s easy to see why people would feel comfortable sharing intimate details of their family life with him. George has an affable beer truck driver smile, an engaging style of communication and a hearty laugh. Whether he’s speaking to a crowd, coaching youth sports or having coffee with a group of friends, people appear comforted by George’s warm and vivacious, Greek nature.
Growing up in San Francisco, George was “technically” the youngest of five children. That is if you consider his identical twin brother an elder. George, who will be 50 on April first, shared with me that resolving playground conflicts was a way of life growing up. “From a very early age I connected with people and just became the person others came to when they wanted to resolve an issue,” he says. While attending college, George worked as a volunteer with inner city kids in the Mission District of San Francisco and with middle and high school kids in the East Bay. After graduating from Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, where he obtained a degree in Psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family counseling, he settled in Danville. George has been in private family therapy practice, in Pleasanton, for over 20 years.
George’s counseling style focuses on evaluating and solving problems. He uses the term “incarnation” to describe one of his methods. “I want people to leave their own frame of reference to see another person’s point or view,” George says. “I try to help patients identify the context of the problem. That’s when the healing and resolution takes place.” With his adolescent patients, George regularly takes on topics such as self esteem, depression, compulsions, addictions and divorce. With additional degrees in literature and the New Testament (Greek), he uses stories, exercises and practical approaches that his patients can immediately apply when dealing with the real life problems they are faced with every day.
George regularly speaks at community functions, schools, churches and to a wide variety of groups. He recently recorded a video, Connecting with our Kids, during one such appearance. His video offers techniques, tools and parenting principles for raising healthy kids without resorting to quick-fix fads or having unrealistic expectations. “Curfew, peer pressure, sex, alcohol and house rules have been parent/child issues for ages, but kids today are dealing with more serious and complex problems than we ever did growing up such as the internet, cyber bullying, dangerous drugs, terrorism, war, violent and sexually graphic messages in music, videos and the media not to mention a troubled economy that has put many families into a financial crisis.” It’s no wonder George has never been busier in his professional life.
“Being involved with someone’s life story is an honor and a privilege,” George proudly states. “I take great satisfaction when I can successfully help a person or family navigate through a difficult passage and transform their lives.” Being part of the process of moving issues from the problem column to the solutions column is what George strives for in his sessions. “I love assisting with the transformation individuals and families go through, but it’s important for therapists not to work harder than our patients”, George acknowledges. “You have to know when to back off and let the patient step forward and do what they need to do to facilitate change.” Visiting George’s office it is easy to see how patients would feel comfortable and at ease. The walls are lined with pictures of his family and his interests in life.
When not in the office or at a speaking engagement, George is a true renaissance man enjoying mountain biking, skiing, traveling, attending Giants games and playing tennis with the family. He takes simple pleasure in doing yard work. He coaches his daughter Olivia’s softball team and his son Petros, soccer/baseball/basketball teams. George lists “Date Night” with his wife of 19 years, Kimberly, as a special treat. One of his goals is to do more writing and a book on understanding the emotional lives of our kids and how they are wired is in his future. “Bringing emotional health to the family system through education and the right tools is a powerful way to bring wellness to a child who is confused or hurting,” George states with heartfelt compassion.
One of his favorite quotes is, “To see ourselves as we really are is a miracle greater than raising the dead”. With all of the challenges every family faces, George Papageorge is a compassionate member of our community committed to helping parents and our children tackle the issues that arise. I have no doubt that George the beer truck driver would’ve been equally as supportive and a great friend to have if Papageorge had chosen a different line of work.
To learn more about George’s practice visit his website at www.georgepapageorge.com