John Gillies is a licensed clinical social worker and special educator who has extensive experience working with children who have developmental and social-emotional challenges.  He offers one-on-one psychotherapy for children from birth through adolescence, treating issues such as anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and trauma. John also provides home or office-based DIR-FCD coaching for parents of children with special needs. John is a certified provider and trainer of the DIR-FCD Model (the theoretical foundation for Floortime therapy), having completed his training through the Profectum Foundation in 2017.

In 2011, John received his Masters degree in Advanced Clinical Social Work from Columbia University with an emphasis on Children and Families, and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Special and General Education from Bank Street College of Education. For six years, he provided in-home therapy for infants and children up to age five, in New York City. After moving to Orange County, California, in 2016, he continued his work as a developmental therapist with Aspire Therapeutic Learning in Irvine, before opening his private practice in 2018.

John received his Bachelors of Arts degree in English from Georgetown University in 1995. After working for 13 years in the magazine industry in New York City, he decided to make a career change to help children with special needs and their families.