Dr. Towery is an amazing psychiatrist! I will be forever grateful to his creative use of logic and effective techniques to help me not only overcome my PTSD and anxiety but also to become a much better person. His sensitivity and evidence based therapy guided me towards success and also quite literally saved my life. After going to multiple psychiatrists, therapists, and even hospitals with no relief from my symptoms of PTSD and anxiety, Dr. Towery was practically my last shot. His spirit and sensitivity immediately led me to trust him. I have not regretted that decision since. His brilliance not only helped me work through my PTSD but also completely inspired me. The cognitive techniques he used were beyond helpful, helping me regain the sense of hopefulness that I had thought I lost forever. Through hard work and expert guidance I have officially graduated therapy! Dr. Towery truly helped me and I recommend him to all those who are seeking help. read more

Dr. Jacob Towery has been an outstanding psychiatrist and has helped me tremendously. He is incredibly attentive, thoughtful, and genuinely takes the time to listen and understand what you're going through. I came to him struggling with both depression and ADHD, and his guidance, treatment approach, and practical advice have made a significant difference in my life. What I appreciate most is how thoughtful and collaborative he is. He always provides clear explanations and helpful strategies to tackle whatever you are going through. His advice is practical, compassionate, and tailored to what actually works for you. I'm very grateful to have found him and would highly recommend Dr. Towery to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, supportive, and effective psychiatrist!! read more

I recently took Jacob's multi-day workshop, "Finding Humans Less Scary," at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. There are several aspects of Jacob's style that make him ideal to teach a class like this... He has 'walked the walk' -- he talks about how he has used the communication techniques he teaches in his own life and what those outcomes have been. Jacob quickly moves from theory to application, setting you up with exercises to immediately practice after you have learned something new. Also note: Jacob has a wickedly fun sense of humor and can offer excellent book recommendations. I highly recommend. read more

A Truly Exceptional Doctor Who Changed Our Family's Life!!!!! We were referred to Dr. Towery by my teenage daughter's pediatrician. Although his services were expensive, we were desperate to help our daughter and willing to do whatever it took to find someone who could truly make a difference. So we decided to give Dr. Towery a try. Before seeing him, multiple psychiatrists had diagnosed our daughter with depression. But to our surprise -- and relief -- Dr. Towery determined that she did not suffer from depression, but rather was exhibiting rebellious behaviors typical of adolescence. In today's world, it's all too easy for professionals to prescribe medication and continue treatments indefinitely. It was a blessing to find someone who took a different approach and wasn't quick to medicate. Instead, Dr. Towery recommended insightful books and a practical rewards system tailored to our daughter's needs. We followed his advice, including delivering the "wake-up call" he urged us to give -- and it worked. We saw a 180-degree transformation in our daughter. Later, when our younger son was diagnosed with OCD elsewhere, we brought him to Dr. Towery as well. The bond they formed was incredibly strong. When the day came that Dr. Towery said goodbye because our son's OCD was cured, my son was genuinely sad -- he misses Dr. Towery dearly to this day. Dr. Towery is a rare gem in the field. His honesty, insight, and commitment to truly helping children and families is unmatched. We are forever grateful, and I give him my highest recommendation read more

I attended Dr. Jacob Towery's Finding Humans Less Scary 2-day workshop to address social anxiety, and it was amazingly powerful. I left wondering when the last time was that I spent 2 days doing something, and could already feel my life start to change because of it. Like many people, I've struggled with social anxiety since childhood. Dr. Towery was a master at framing social anxiety differently and in a way that made real sense to me. He offered us a whole host of tools and strategies we could use right away, and came up with exercises for us to practice together on the streets of Palo Alto. Dr. Towery's delivery is clear, incisive, kind, thoughtful, approachable and fun, which made it easy for me to process and start to evolve my old thinking patterns. After the first day of this workshop, I started to feel a difference. I was actually excited to wake up, go outside and meet people. Because of Dr. Towery's talent, skill, generosity and humor, I'm starting to feel lighter about the prospect of social interactions. Always feeling so self-conscious and fearful of what others thought of me, everywhere I went, was such a crippling way to be. Something set in stone under 10 locks and keys is now beginning to release because he taught me how to think about it in a different way, and how to put that into effect. While I know this will take practice, rather than a sea of gotcha's, the world is beginning to feel like a playground. read more

Jacob Towery is a gift to humanity. I attended Jacob's 2-day intensive for social anxiety and shyness. Working with Jacob was an outrageously fun and deeply transformative experience. I'd been doing work on my own and with other therapists, but Jacob helped launch me to another level of "enlightenment." It's not that my life has been solved, but rather that my life feels lighter and bursting with possibilities for fun and connection. It's a shift I wish for everyone who's needlessly suffering out there. And to clarify, I'm not writing this while still riding a temporary high. I'm writing this after I've had time to reflect and integrate the lessons of my time with Jacob into my daily life. If rapid growth and transformation is something that sounds appealing to you, and you're ready to be brave and you're committed to your own growth, then Jacob is your guy! read more

Dr. Towery is truly a one-of-a-kind clinician, therapist, and human being! He has helped me overcome so much of my social anxiety and has radically changed the way I see the world. I feel freer now more than ever. Rather than being afraid of what the world thinks of me, I am confident in being able to represent the truest version of myself to the people around me! Dr. Towery is highly intelligent and skilled. He is not an ordinary MD psychiatrist. My time with him felt very surreal, uplifting, and I have seen life-changing results in even a short amount of time. read more

Dr. Towery practices an empathetic, action-oriented brand of therapy that truly changed my life. Rather than focusing on the "root causes" of my depression and anxiety, which I've experienced in therapy with other providers, Dr. Towery emphasized a forward-looking brand of care that yielded near-immediate results. I wish more therapists and psychiatrists had the attitude that Dr. Towery does: compassionate listening and a person to talk to, yes, but moreso a coach and equal partner in a process to make your life as fulfilling and rewarding as we all deserve. If you are considering therapy but are skeptical of its benefits, I hear you -- I was exactly the same, after years of paying for the care with limited tangible effects. Dr. Towery overcame that skepticism within the first couple of sessions, and once I fully embraced the treatment plan I felt my mood, executive function, and outlook on life change rapidly. Thank you, Dr. Towery, for helping me rebuild a life of joy and passion when I thought the window for living a fulfilling life had closed. read more

Jacob is an incredibly competent, compassionate clinician. If you're serious about feeling better and ready to do the work, he is about the best resource you can find. His rates are high, but they're absolutely worth it. Reach out and see if he's a good fit! read more

Working with Jacob was nothing short of transformational for me, both professionally and personally. As an artist I often need to attend large events. It was something that was always really difficult for me. I never knew what to say and always felt really awkward. I took a leap and attended Jacob's workshop, "Finding Humans Less Scary," which changed everything. Initially I was really nervous about participating in the workshop. I knew I would be required to face some of my fears, and that sounded pretty terrifying. But the amazing thing about Jacob is that he doesn't just teach you how to overcome your fears, he encourages you to do it right then and there, and he literally walks beside you and helps you do it. After attending the workshop my life began to change. I attended art events with confidence, knowing that I would be able to interact with others while avoiding the deep shame spiral of feeling incompetent and second guessing every word or action. I also found that I was able to do that in my everyday life. Interactions with others not only became easy, but something I enjoyed. Overall, what I found was that I had a surprising lack of fear when interacting in nearly any social situation. What a gift! I'm so grateful for Jacob and the way he and his work have changed my life! read more

Dr. Towery is fantastic!! We actually got RESULTS with only 2-3 role playing sessions with Dr. Towery. My 8 year old daughter is over her anxiety because of him. Dr. Jacob Towery is extremely knowledgeable and creative. His methods actually work and produce results. My 8 year old daughter was dealing with a lot of anxiety in school after the Covid lockdown, and Dr. Towery had a few role playing sessions with her. It completely changed things for her. She is able to be at school AND enjoy it too!! Thank you so much Dr.Towery. You're the best. read more

Jacob Towery, MD - Psychiatrists Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I worked with Jacob through a free workshop he offers to the community called Finding Humans Less Scary. Yes the title sounds kind of silly but who amongst does not suffer from some form of social anxiety or perhaps spend more time than they would like being worried that they are messing up! Honestly, I could not recommend the experience more. To be clear, it is a lot - more than 15 hours in person of lecture and exercises to help you explore and confront your social anxiety. It is maybe best described as an intensive - you definitely aren't just sitting listening to a lecture. At the same time, I am hard pressed to think of another experience that has had such an immediate impact with respect to helping me reframe my approach to work, relationships, and life! At its core, the seminar was anchored in the idea that many of us spend so much time worried about the judgement of others that we end up not only holding ourselves back from what we really want personally and professionally but also from fully experiencing the wonderful, surprising, and playful elements that make our time on earth interesting. Jacob's workshop really felt like an offering from his heart to the community that combined his years of clinical expertise and research into a lively and engaging seminar. Jacob's energy is infectious and he really "walks the walk", showing up not only as this skilled expert but also as this super real human! Even just in the first few days after the workshop, I have already felt my relationship to everything from networking to dating to really any place where I need to put myself out there shifting to feel more energizing and honestly just less stressful because I feel more able to be myself. Huge thanks to Jacob again for the workshop and I definitely recommend anyone who has the opportunity to work with Jacob in any way to do so! read more

Dr. Towery's approach to therapy is the best that I have experienced. He does a good job of connecting with you as a patient, as well as deconstructing various negative thought patterns. Out of all of the psychiatrists/therapists that I have talked to, his approach was the most clear, direct, and helpful. read more

To say Dr. Towery has had a positive impact on our lives would be an understatement! Our oldest child has been struggling with depression and anxiety, but our biggest struggle was finding a competent, available and in-person psychiatrist. Dr. Towery surpassed every single hope we had. He is kind, compassionate, and thorough. He has treated our child and our family with the utmost respect and consideration. He communicates clearly and with compassion. He has gone above and beyond, leaving us filled with hope. He knows all the pieces that are required to bring about wellness and lays them out clearly. It is not about the magic pill. It is about doing the work and being supported by meds when and if necessary. If you need someone for your child, know they will be in great hands with Dr. Towery. I can fully and unequivocally recommend him! read more

I had struggled with social anxiety my entire life. A fifteen-minute role playing exercise with Dr. Towery changed my ability to feel calm and confident while talking with others. My social anxiety has been in complete remission for more than six months allowing me to enjoy my friendships and work relationships. The tools I gained are so powerful. Occasionally anxious thoughts will "speak up" but I am able to blast them away with more convincing disarming thoughts Dr. Jacob Towery helped me find. Working with Jacob on my anxiety was healing and fun. He is exceptional at his work! read more

Dr. Towery is a magician, plain and simple. In a matter of hours, he somehow managed to wash away ten years of anxiety, depression, ADHD and OCD. I've never had more energy and joy in my life. Thank you Jacob! read more

Dr. Towery is one of the best psychiatrists in the bay. His book is fantastic too. Highly recommended.

I was referred to Jacob through a colleague who was dealing with a challenged young adult. I am very thankful to have been introduced to Jacob and wanted to share some of the reasons why I award him a Five Star review. On our very first call, Jacob came across as warm and engaging with a strong confidence to assist with a path to overcome my child's anxiety issues. There was an immediate positive vibe that made us feel secure and in the hands of someone credible, capable and most of all, caring. He is focused, organized and delivers the sometimes tough message with an encouraging tone. While the path may not be easy, he instills a confidence that with focused effort and work, you can get through it. I would strongly recommend Jacob to any young adult needing guidance through their unique challenge. read more

If you have the chance, RUN, don't walk to Dr. Towery! I found out about Dr. Towery via a colleague of his. She mentioned that although his rates are at a premium, that occasionally he chooses 1 person for short intensive work for free! I contacted Dr. Towery and asked to be considered for such a premium spot, having no idea if there would be any chance of acceptance. To my surprise, Dr. Towery called me and interviewed me.  He was very nice on the phone and he wanted to get a better understanding of my issues. I shared struggles with generalized anxiety, major depressive disorder, and my fairly recent recovery story from a catastrophic stroke. He was encouraged by my responses and asked me to read 3 books, start meditating, and start exercising 3-4 days a week to the point of sweating. I would have 2 months to do this. He wanted to see how committed I was to the possible opportunity so our plan was to check-in in 1 month with my progress and thoughts on just that homework. I did so and lucky me, he decided to work with me after all. We set 4 days aside for intensive therapy from 10 am - 5 pm. I was so excited! I would be getting about $20k worth of therapy for free! I've been depressed my entire life it seems. It even got better. He emailed me shortly after asking if it would be ok to have 2-3 of his trainees, join in the process so that they could learn from him in real-time as well.  A strong believer in therapy, I said "Sure. The more the merrier." It's the last day of our work together and I feel strongly compelled to let others know how skilled this man is and what a gift I got! I found his approach to be quite empathetic, methodical, informed, and at times, even fun! He's a genuinely nice person who cares extraordinarily about his patients. Not only is he a very enjoyable person, but he's a wealth of information. His tool kit is huge. He'll try 1 strategy and if that doesn't resonate in a convincing way, he's got 4 more at the ready! He is absolutely committed to my genuine success. He began by carefully listening during a very extensive intake session that lasted all day. He was able to add ADHD - inattentive subtype, social anxiety, PTSD, and panic attacks to my list of challenges.  This was so great because there are and treatments and sometimes meds for these challenges that I can employ and the potential impact is great. Managing these can really upgrade my life! His approach has many tiers. He taught me cognitive, behavioral, meditative/mindfulness tools to use right away. I would say Dr. Towery is very results-focused and pragmatic. He created a safe space for me to be vulnerable which I so appreciated. His students actually added a lot to the experience too by chiming in with observations and helping with role-playing. The students were the icing on the therapeutic cake! He's a fan of practicing and reasonable amounts of homework so I can practice the tools. He checked in often to see how I was doing. I always had the chance to ask questions. He's one of the most non-judgemental people I've ever met and the compassion in his DNA makes for a very productive session every time. Dr. Towery delivers. He's not one of those therapists that just listen and don't say anything. He challenges me and comes up with creative ways of solving problems. It's not easy work - changing the way you've lived your life for 50 years takes quite a bit of discipline, but with the tools I've adopted and the notes I took, I'm confident that with practice I can seriously upgrade my life. In fact, in just 4 days, my overall happiness has significantly improved. I will be forever grateful for the generosity of Dr. Towery and his team. If you're lucky enough to see this man, do yourself a favor and give yourself or your loved one the gift. read more

All I can say is this: Dr. Towery saved me. When I started seeing Dr. Towery, I was in a very rough shape. My marriage failed. My relationship with my older kid deteriorated to the point that we no longer spoke to each other. I had no ability to have a normal relationship. My insecurity and self-hate caused me to sabotage any hope of forming meaningful relationships. I found refuge in substances that helped me deal with my pain day to day. That made things worse. Dr. Towery thought me how to understand and interpret my feelings and manage my emotions to minimize their negative impact. He taught me mindfulness techniques that eventually set me onto the oath of recovery. I can't think of any other person in my life who has had as much positive impact on me. Thank you! You will always have a place in my heart. read more

Our family could not be more thrilled and grateful for Dr. Towery's treatment of our 16-year-old daughter. Dr. Towery's effective methods of treating our daughter gave her life back to her; and gave us our daughter back.  We went to Dr. Towery after our daughter had suffered from severe anxiety, which grew into bouts of depression for 14 months.  It all started with a sudden onset panic attack (due to a perfect storm of events) in her Sophomore year of High School. Everything changed drastically overnight. Our daughter went from being a very high achieving student who participated in a number of extracurricular activities into a girl who became afraid of everything. She had seen a number of Psychiatrists and Psychologists and nothing changed significantly. It seemed the more she received these other treatments, the worse her condition became. She withdrew from school and started taking her courses online. Dr. Towery's treatment showed us that our daughter needed to learn tools to challenge her thoughts. She also needed exposure to all of the fears that had manifested. Dr. Towery's confidence in his methods and compassionate manner enabled him to literally walk with our daughter while she faced her worst fears (doing extremely embarrassing things in a public place, visiting busy schools and classrooms, approaching and talking to strangers, volunteering to speak up in a college classroom, etc.). The things she was able to do with his guidance and encouragement were amazing. She felt stronger every time she faced a fear and overcame it. It is surprising how quickly the fear disappeared. Once she knew she had faced it and "survived," the fear was gone. Dr. Towery gained our daughter's trust quickly and she was willing to follow his techniques, as scary as they seemed, in order to regain her life. He was very direct in his expectations that he can only be successful with a patient who is willing to follow his advice.  He is direct because he knows what works. Dr. Towery delivers this message in such a compassionate way that our daughter knew his methods were not going to be easy, but believed they were going to be successful. A super helpful thing he did was to allow our daughter to record exercises and conversations so she could play them back for herself. We saw Dr. Towery on "an emergency basis" for intensive treatment as she really wanted to get back to school. She spent 20 hours with him over 2 weeks. Less than 2 weeks after completing her treatment with Dr. Towery, she re-entered her high school. While there were a few anxious moments her first day, she had the tools to work through them. She is now completing her first month back and is more engaged than ever. Thank you Dr. Towery, you are one of a kind and absolutely amazing! read more

Dr. Towery entered into my life in the wake of the loss of my 2nd parent. I was grief-stricken and felt concern over the emotions that threatened to overtake me should I not pursue help. He encouraged me to be present for my emotions as they came and to navigate them with the aid of his excellent guidance. He has been helpful practically and interpersonally. The books he has recommended have been relevantly applicable and the conversations we've shared have been immediately impactful on my interactions with others. He has been a faithful source of empathy, practical tools, and even humor as needed. The time spent with Dr. Towery has been worth its weight in gold as it has brought my mind and heart ease through a difficult season. read more

Dr.Jacob Towery is a fantastic psychiatrist. He is thorough and most of all he gets results. I honestly feel like a much different person as a result of the work we did together. One of Dr.Towery strengths is he is understanding and non-judgemental. I didnt feel like I was talking to a doctor but an old wise soul. I felt like I could share anything with Dr.Towery and not be judged in a negative manner. I must warn you. Be prepared to do a lot of work in confronting ones fears. I strongly recommend you read the Anti-Depressant book Dr. Towery wrote and also Feeling Good by David Burns. read more

I had seen a few different therapists, without much success, before being referred to Dr. Towery. He was hands-down the best therapist I've worked with and turned out to be one of the most important people I've met in my life. He truly helped turn my life around. I was struggling with deep depression and constant anxiety - I was completely hopeless about my situation. But right off the bat, Dr. Towery makes you feel comfortable and not alone. What makes him so special, is his mix of genuine compassion and unparalleled expertise in the field of psychotherapy. Every problem we spoke about, he had a potential fix for. If one didn't work, he had another. Sometimes we would even have a session outside. Working with my previous therapists sometimes felt like I was beating a dead horse, but with Dr. Towery I knew we would find something in his toolbox that would work for me. Every single time I left his office, I walked out with a new technique to combat my depression/anxiety and a little more hope. But beyond the traditional therapy methods, Dr. Towery also encourages lifestyle changes - which proved to be extremely helpful in my recovery. He assigned readings, worksheets to complete, exercise, meditation and all around healthy life habits. He even recommended some extra-circular activities like signing up for an improv class - which I did! All of this made me feel like he was truly invested in bettering my situation and I can confidently say that he changed, and possibly saved, my life. It was a lot of hard work, but Dr. Towery was there every step of the way with absolutely no judgement. Whether you are dealing with a troubling relationship, irrational fears, career issues, negative thoughts, daily sadness, or a mix - I truly cannot recommend Dr. Towery enough! read more

My 16-year old son was a patient of Dr. Towery's for 4 months while being treated for his significant ADHD symptoms and executive functioning weaknesses. We were shocked at the hourly rate he was charging and asked for a sliding scale fee. He obliged, on the condition that we leave a positive Yelp review. I am pretty sure this is completely unethical. When my husband and I had our last meeting with Dr. Towery, he suggested that our son is lazy. I think he missed the class on empathy. I would not recommend Dr. Towery to anyone. read more

I began going to Dr. Towery for cognitive therapy in January of this year. My life has changed for the better since then. He's very understanding, knowledgeable and non-judgmental. I can't thank this man enough for the help he's given me. He's hands down the best cognitive therapy specialist in Northern California!! Thank you Dr. Towery for showing me that there is light at the end of the tunnel!! read more

Dr. Towery is a wonderful clinician and working with him was a life-changing experience. He is extremely knowledgeable and creative in his approach. He leverages TEAM-CBT, which is proven to be more effective than traditional therapy. He requested feedback after every therapy session and really tried to ensure his therapy sessions were effective and catered to my needs/goals. He is very attentive, empathetic, and supportive. What makes him stand out from other physicians is his authenticity. He is open and real and that made me feel more comfortable to be honest and share about myself. I highly recommend Dr. Towery. read more

Dr. Towery is by far the most effective therapist/psychiatrist I've been to (and I've been to five over the past 5-7 years). Right away, he gave me books to read with exercises to write through which were instantly impactful, and through our talk therapy sessions he identified ADHD, social anxiety and clinical depression, along with relationship difficulties with my parents. Through TEAM-CBT exercises that helped address problems instantly within a session, shame-attacking exercises that dramatically removed social inhibitions, and a holistic approach to treatment that incorporated sleep hygiene, exercise and meditation, I left the 2-weeks of 10 sessions feeling a lot more hopeful, optimistic and less resentful. Given his low-medication and holistic approach to treatment, his openness to feedback and warmth, I felt I could trust him completely, and was for the first time open to medication, which he prescribed with as low a dosage as possible and incorporated it within a lifestyle-based treatment plan. read more

I have been lucky enough to know Jacob Towery, MD, as a colleague, for several years now. He has not only trained some of the best clinicians in the field, he also provides excellent consultation. Aside from being brilliant, he is a fantastic psychiatrist and therapist, and provides top-of-the-line care. He is very present, genuine, real, and accessible. His knowledge of psychopharmocology and delivery of top notch, evidence based treatment make him an all-star provider. I highly recommend him! read more

Dr Jacob Towery changed my life. I know that might sound dramatic, but it's true. I have had depression and Social Anxiety for over 20 years. I came to California from Arizona to meet with Dr. Towery for a week of intensives. In one week he is giving me daily habits to implement and other tools and techniques to deal with the negative thoughts that were causing my depression. He also took me out to face my fears to overcome my social anxiety. I "feel" like a completely different person. The best part to me though, is that I'm still me, only without all the negative thoughts in my mind and the negative emotions that they caused. Now, I'm me, and I'm happy and I'm excited about life. I now have a "tool box" full of techniques, habits and methods to be able to maintain the incredible progress that I have made, and to deal with any relapse if that should happen. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Towery for changing my life for the better! If you have depression or anxiety of any kind, go see Dr. Towery. You don't have to continue to suffer. He can help. Life truly can be amazing. read more

Dr. Jacob Towery is the reason why I am still alive today. If it had not been for the work that I did with him, I would be a completely different, miserable, and most likely still depressed woman. I started seeing Jacob when I was a sophomore in high school for depression and anxiety. I had already been struggling for a year beforehand and nothing seemed to be helping me (I was already seeing a therapist). Then my mom found Jacob and scheduled an appointment, both of us hoping that this would finally help me. After a couple of sessions, Jacob and I quickly created a strict routine for me to follow in order to cure my depression. He also taught me different ways to deal with my irrational thoughts and change my way of thinking. I am now a Junior in college and I still occasionally see Jacob for a tune up of my skills. The type of therapy he practices does not only give you relief during sessions, it gives you tools that enable you to be successful in the future. Dr. Towery never gave up on me even when I wanted to give up on myself. He had faith in me and never pushed me farther than I was comfortable. If you are given the opportunity to work with Jacob you are so lucky because he is a psychiatrist that genuinely wants to cure his patients as efficiently and effectively as possible. If you are looking for a psychiatrist for your teenage daughter/son, husband/wife or friend - Dr. Jacob Towery is 100% the way to go. read more

11/10 would recommend using Dr Towery. You may say "that's not possible" but I didn't think it was possible to get over my intense phobia of vomiting I'd had at least fifteen years, and I did! I did everything from watching motion-sick videos, playing with fake vomit, spinning in circles, actually going to a park and getting dizzy enough to feel nauseas, and gagging. You do get homework but quite frankly it makes you get over your fears faster if you're willing to put in the work, and it's not boring homework, it's actually quite fun sometimes! Dr Towery is creative, super flexible, and adaptable in his techniques. He really allows you to guide each session and makes each session about what you want to do even if it means taking a hiatus from what you've been working on. I would definitely suggest giving his practice a try! read more

I highly recommend Dr. Towery for both adults and adolescents. If I could, I would give Dr. Towery a thousand-star review. My entire family has been amazed by how much he's helped us in only a few months. I initially contacted Dr. Towery regarding my sixteen-year-old son who was struggling with severe anxiety. Among other issues, my son had not consistently attended school in nearly two years. The former honors student and competitive athlete rarely left his room. My husband and I had consulted with numerous schools and an army of mental health professionals: school counselors, educational consultants, pediatricians, psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists and parent coaches. Sadly, our son was not improving. We didn't know how to help him and neither did anyone else. My son refused to meet with any therapist--including Dr. Towery--during this time. Instead, I started therapy with Dr. Towery to treat my own anxiety and get additional guidance for my son. During each session, Dr. Towery focused his full attention on understanding my concerns and suggested the most effective techniques for that day. Dr. Towery expertly used cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to teach me how to change my distorted thoughts in order to feel better. Dr. Towery also helped me taper off an anxiety medication that another doctor had prescribed; it was actually making me feel worse and decreasing the effectiveness of therapy. Dr. Towery assigned homework including reading several books, completing worksheets, exercising, volunteering, and meditating. Although this may sound daunting, Dr. Towery's firm yet warm, compassionate support convinced me to give it a try. Within several weeks, I was enjoying these activities and motivated to do even more. For instance, I am currently taking a course on compassion at Stanford based on Dr. Towery's recommendation. The combination of therapy, medication adjustments, and homework all helped me rapidly overcome my anxiety including severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms that started several months before I contacted Dr. Towery. Once I started feeling better, Dr. Towery strongly recommended that my son return to school in two weeks. I looked at him like he told me to fly to Mars; I didn't think it was possible. We then role-played difficult discussions I needed to have with my son. Dr. Towery perfectly anticipated my son's reactions so that I was calm and effective in the actual conversations. With Dr. Towery's continued coaching and reassurance, miraculously my son started at a new school within several weeks! Dr. Towery seemed almost as happy as I was. My son is now steadily overcoming his anxiety and re-engaging as a much happier and productive teenager. I may have given up on this whole process were it not for my confidence in Dr. Towery and his ability to help me laugh even during stressful times. Thank you, Dr. Towery! I will remain eternally grateful and continue to practice what you've taught me. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Towery's for over a year now and can't stress enough how happy I have been to have him as my Doctor. Through difficulties with substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and the stress of new fatherhood, Jacob has been a pivotal provider of support to my health and wellbeing. He is an excellent listener and is incredibly easy to talk to and connect with. He is also is extremely knowledgeable with peer reviewed techniques and strategies for working through numerous life challenges. Through our shared work and effort I have seen substantial growth in my happiness and self esteem, and look forward to our continued progress together. Thank you Dr. Towery for all of your help, my life wouldn't be the same without you. read more

From the reviews we read, it looks like Dr. Towery is effective with other patients. But for our daughter, his approach failed. It took her weeks to recover from her sessions with him. Looking back, our daughter should have discontinued even if we would have to pay the very high fees for unused sessions. As a result of this experience, we learned an important lesson the hard way. Fortunately, the consequences were not catastrophic. Dr. Towery, by the way, was gracious about the results. He acknowledged that he was not able to read our daughter correctly and as a result was unable to help her. read more

My experience working with Dr. Towery was extremely positive, life enhancing and healing. Prior to beginning therapy with Dr. Towery, I read and made lifestyle changes based on his excellent book, "The Anti-Depressant Book: A Practical Guide for Teens and Young Adults to Overcome Depression and Stay Healthy". I also heard him make a presentation about anxiety and depression. After benefitting significantly from those experiences, I contacted Dr. Towery. From my my first conversation with Dr. Towery, to my final session with him, I found him to be a warm, engaging, thoughtful, intelligent person and an extremely skilled psychiatrist. The therapy sessions were active, collaborative and personalized to my needs and goals. Dr. Towery's professionalism along with his skills and versatility as a therapist made the sessions effective, healing and energizing for me. I especially appreciate the thought and conversation that he devoted each session to co-constructing therapy homework. Dr. Towery had many useful ideas for books, classes, community resources and apps to support me in reaching my therapy goals. At the beginning of each session, Dr. Towery was eager to hear how I had done with my therapy homework. His encouragement and ability to help me take risks and step outside of my comfort zone over and over was so beneficial for my growth and healing. I highly recommend Dr. Towery to adolescents, parents and other adults who want a unique, life changing therapy experience. read more

Working with Jacob Towery was probably the worst experience of my life. I'm sure he will take down this review because that's what he always does with any criticism. He was never fully engaged in our meetings due to his busy schedule. Considering the amount of money he charges it would be nice if he cared about all of his patients. The real reason I would recommend NOT going to Towery is because he doesn't know how to talk about suicidal thoughts. With me, I expressed my intentions of ending my life at that time and he just started crying and called in my parents. He told my parents everything we talked about in our sessions which I was not okay with and he said he wouldn't be able to work with me anymore. Thanks for nothing. read more

Dr. Towery is a phenomenal psychiatrist. Within just a few sessions he was able to help me wean completely off of an SSRI, had me read effective books on CBT, and helped me to establish an exercise and meditation routine. He is kind, warm, and a skilled clinician. I highly recommend - I am medication free and feeling at peace because of his work! read more

One of the things that probably deters most people and certainly myself from therapy is the ambiguity of how long it would take to see a significant and measurable effect on whatever it might be that ails you. As comforting as it has been for me to talk about things that I've struggled with, I feel like doing so contributed very little towards progressing/moving forward with my life. I was tired of going in circles over the last 2 decades so this time when I was seeking help, I specifically looked for a therapist that would deliver results rapidly. I had planned to attempt a complete overhaul of my life. After some extensive scouring of yelp and google reviews, I honed in on Dr. Towery. Ever the true skeptic, I didn't rely on just those reviews. I also clicked through and reviewed every page of his website. What really hooked me was his extremely thorough prospective patient questionnaire and request that you review the Recovery section of his website which details your daily responsibilities as a patient.  As fully booked as I already felt on a personal level with a full-time job, homeschooling a child, and a pandemic going on, I knew he was the one I needed to work with because he was serious about helping you. Finding a skilled therapist is only half the battle of helping/improving yourself. The daily commitment to yourself is what sustains the change. Dr. Towery is clearly invested in his patients' success and it was reflected in every aspect of my interactions with him. However, don't let this give you the impression that he's all business and no fun; in fact, one of the things that I enjoyed so much about working with him was that he was able to take heavy/complex topics of discussion and still keep the mood lighthearted and positive while expressing deep empathy and warmth. In my past experience, therapy sessions can be immensely draining but I never felt that way with Dr. Towery and always looked forward to our meetings. After my initial 2 intake sessions where he obtained an in-depth understanding of my background, we began our monthly sessions that always started with a self-rated survey (prior to the meeting) and ended with the same survey (after the meeting) which you sent to him as soon as they were completed. It was shocking to me that Dr. Towery actually assessed his own effectiveness based upon his patients' feedback after every session. I couldn't believe just how much accountability he possessed. Dr. Towery's employment of this method allowed him to adapt and further refine his approach before every session, which optimized for the most efficient treatment. He actually cares about getting you the results you're looking for. To put it lightly, I had a whole laundry list of items I was seeking to address/solution for/accomplish. Given my complex and painful history along with the lofty projected goals that I was seeking to accomplish, this task wasn't for the faint of heart. However, Dr. Towery deftly tackled each issue with ease--focusing on one issue at a time using concrete methods (that you can always refer back to and employ), consistent reading assignments, and worksheets until you felt you were sufficiently enabled and empowered. The conversations with Dr. Towery and the work that I completed introduced me to new methods that really challenged and changed my perceptions about stressful situations and even of how I perceived myself. Not only did going through this process remove thoughts/beliefs that were no longer serving me, it also built-up and reinforced my sense of self-agency. Thanks to Dr. Towery, I'm now living the life I never thought I could have! Things/potential decisions that used to cripple me no longer have any type of hold on my thoughts. The idea that I would ever achieve such a state of mind was near impossible for me and definitely not one I believe I could reach in less than a year of treatment. Yes, you read that right... IN LESS THAN A YEAR! My personal and professional life has never been more successful and fulfilling and I'm so thankful to Dr. Towery's for helping to ensure that my goals were met. I finally found a therapist who is just as results driven as myself!! HE'S THE BEST! read more

When I contacted Dr. Towery I was feeling depressed and unmotivated to the degree that it was affecting my everyday life. Before we began we talked about some of the method/practices of cognitive therapy and different topics we would focus on. At our first session and consistently thereafter, I have found him to be very welcoming, supportive and non-judgmental. When I opened up to him about many issues and obstacles in my life I felt a sense of genuine empathy. In total we did about 5 intensive sessions which were highly effective and every time each session was over I learned so many new cognitive techniques to apply to my daily life. He helped me learn and equipped me with so many evidence based and logical strategies to dealing with thoughts and emotions. I began to accept different feelings and also learn more about myself and what I want in life. After completing our sessions I left feeling great and the happiest I have felt in a long time. I'm no longer feeling depressed and I am enjoying life more and am thriving. I have the motivation and determination to continue to keep moving forward. I highly recommend scheduling a session with him and would like to note that his practice seems high in demand and often requires booking sometimes a few weeks in advance. Dr. Towery is immensely knowledgeable and highly skilled on a variety of areas and approaches and he has a sincere passion for what he does. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work on a variety of important everyday life topics with such an intelligent, kind, and authentic individual. read more