Max creates an atmosphere of understanding and curiosity to help his clients voice what feels stuck and difficult to express. He draws from over 20 years experience as a child educator, creating a warm therapeutic space for his clients to feel seen and heard. Max believes that turning towards oneself in a safe and accepting environment can lead to greater feelings of belonging, connection, purpose, and joy at any age. 

Max’s background in child development and education guides him in helping children and teens through challenging chapters in life. He works through psychodynamic, attachment, and cognitive-based lenses, utilizing play, art, and sand tray techniques that assist children and teens in finding ways to express their internal world. Max helps parents to feel empowered in raising their children so that families can feel confident and secure throughout their parenting journey. As a therapist at Airport Marina Counseling Service, Max has treated children and teens navigating depression, anxiety, self harm, OCD, ADHD, trauma, peer struggles, family conflict and divorce, academic pressure, identity development, and life transitions. 

Max also treats individuals and couples, with a particular interest in working from a depth model. He helps his clients get to the root of their symptoms so that there can be greater connectivity with oneself and their partner. Max has treated patients living with depression, anxiety, trauma, complex trauma, ptsd, communication struggles, intimacy deficits, and life transitions. 

Max holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a specialization in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University/California School of Professional Psychology.

Max Tepper is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (AMFT 158930) and is supervised at Silver Lake Psychotherapy by Alison Davies (LCSW 100397)