Ruben Gutierrez
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

Ruben “Goot” Gutierrez is a clinician at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD who
provides mental health care to post-9/11 veterans and their families.
He has 20 years of active-duty service as a Marine Infantry Officer
that included seven deployments: four combat, two Unit Deployment
Programs to Okinawa, Japan, and a two-year unaccompanied tour to
Republic of South Korea. In addition, he had two short deployments as
the Officer in Charge (OIC) of a Military Training & Transition Team
(MTT) to Mexico in support of the Mexican and Nicaraguan Naval
Infantry.
After his service, he joined VVSD as a Mental Health Intern in its
Residential Co-occuring Substance Use Disorder Program. For nearly 3
years, prior to joining the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, Ruben worked for
VVSD’s Drug Medi-Cal SUD, a clinically managed high and low intensity
residential program.
“From PTSD, SUD, Psychotropic Medication referrals and management,
relationship distress, to case management referrals, my charge is to
walk alongside (clients) and support them in ‘becoming the heroes to
their own story,’” he said.

In his spare time, Ruben enjoys playing with his son, visiting theme
parks with his wife and son, CrossFit, traveling local and abroad, as
well as eating out and anything involving the beach.