Joe Tarantino, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist and Director of Operations

Joe (he/him) is a licensed psychologist (CA 33972, NY 023917) specializing in psychoeducational assessment and therapy for adolescents and young adults. His focus areas include anxiety, depression, trauma, attention and executive functioning, and the impact of technology on mental health. Joe combines evidence-based therapies with a compassionate and individualized approach, creating a safe and affirming space for clients from diverse backgrounds–including LGBTQ+ youth and families from varied socioeconomic and cultural communities–to explore challenges, generate insights, learn coping skills, and foster resilience.

Joe holds a Ph.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University, and most recently served as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, where he led an adolescent substance use program, provided psychotherapy and psychological assessment, taught medical students, and supervised doctoral trainees. His training and early career in psychology have included positions with a wide range of populations in schools, clinics, hospitals, and day treatment/residential centers. As an undergraduate, he was drawn to STEM subjects and earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky; after graduating, he taught 9th-grade math as a Teach for America corps member before taking a position as an engineering manager at PepsiCo. His unique background in education and engineering continues to inform his practice and personal interests.

Born outside of Washington, DC, and raised in western Kentucky, Joe moved to San Francisco from New York in early 2023 and joined the Practice team a few months later. In his free time, he can be found brewing matcha or hiking urban trails for bay views.

❎ Not accepting new clients for individual therapy

✅ Accepting new clients for assessments

✅ In-person therapy & assessments in San Francisco

✅ Virtual therapy via telehealth

Areas of Focus

  • Anxiety

  • Life stress

  • Depression

  • Emotion regulation

  • Attentional and behavioral challenges

  • Social skills

  • Trauma

  • Tech use/screen time

  • Identity

  • Parenting support

Clients Served for Therapy

  • Middle School

  • High School

  • College

  • Young Adult

Assessment Specialties

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders

  • Attention and learning

  • ADHD

  • Learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)

  • Anxiety

  • Depression and mood

Clients Served for Assessments:

  • Middle School

  • High School

  • College

Treatment Approaches

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Family Systems

  • Mindfulness and Somatic Approaches

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

  • Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)

  • Supportive Therapy

  • Relational Approaches

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Psychoeducational Assessment

Are you interested in working with Joe?