Psychodynamic Therapists in 94104

There are many things that draw us to therapy. Some arrive struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or career uncertainty. Others have difficulty managing  the roller coaster of emotions inherent in the journey of becoming a parent, while some experience a more general or vague sense of distress. Whatever your goals and challenges, I welcome the opportunity to see whether I may be a good fit for your journey.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in a private practice in San Francisco. My psychotherapy practice is primarily focused on helping people who are struggling with the effects of trauma, relationship stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and addiction. I have expertise in working with people who have a current or past history with drug & alcohol use and recognize that substance use may result from different psychological, social and biological factors that are unique to each person.

Warm, open, and compassionate, I'd love to be your guide to holistic healing and transformation. With expertise in anxiety, trauma, and borderline personality disorder, I guide from a three prong approach considering the past, present and future. Rooted in a warm, eclectic approach, I'll help teach you evidence-based tools to reframe thoughts and regulate emotions, as well as explore root causes for symptom management including getting to know the different "parts" that make up each unique person. Let's empower you to achieve resilience and personal growth, leading to a more fulfilling future:)

Are you feeling stuck in a cycle of conflict and misunderstanding in your relationships? Do you long for deeper connections but find yourself facing barriers you can't seem to overcome? As a therapist specializing in relationship issues, I am here to offer you a guiding hand on your journey towards healing and connection. With a warm, empathetic approach, I provide a safe and supportive space for individuals and couples to explore their feelings, communicate effectively, and foster healthier relationships. My focus areas include anxiety/depression, childhood trauma, PTSD, people-pleasing, and marital/pre-marital issues.

You may feel lost, but you are not alone. We all experience suffering as a part of the human condition, yet sometimes our symptoms of stress, despair, worry, or self-criticism stand in the way of living the life that we want. If you find yourself troubled by a particular life problem or psychological condition, or generally lacking a sense of vitality and purpose, working with a clinician can help you reconnect with yourself and your strengths. Therapy often helps us to make useful connections between our actions, our thinking, our emotional reality, and patterns in relationships that we have developed over years.

I provide therapy for those experiencing a wide range of life challenges including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, trauma recovery, grief and loss, life transitions and relationship concerns. With my background in Technology and corporate work (over a decade) I am very conversant and knowledgeable of that world. I have extensive experience and expertise in working with Anxiety, relationship issues and highly sensitive people.

Do you ever struggle with feeling like you’re not enough? Do you feel like you have to prove yourself? Do you feel stuck and triggered by childhood trauma? The symptoms of trauma include anxiety, depression, high conflict relationships, occupational impairment, addiction, and much more. I believe therapy can help you develop a more self-awareness and actionable plan to alleviate these symptoms. I specialized in working with people who are willing to explore past, present, and future challenges and to find tools for personal growth.

You've made it this far, but something is holding you back from the life you want to be living. You have learned a lot about yourself and relationships, yet you keep ending up stuck in the same patterns. Past trauma doesn’t have to continue to hurt your present life anymore. You might be someone who always puts others first, and now it's finally time to have a space just for you. You might be navigating a life with chronic pain, anxiety, or depression and need the support to get unstuck. Reaching out is a powerful first step to take care of yourself. I am committed to supporting you with warmth and kindness every step along the way.

In my work with clients, I value understanding each person's individual experience and I strive to create a supportive environment with a warm, reflective and engaging approach. I believe we all have the potential to lead fulfilling lives. To reach this potential, I help clients reflect on themselves and their experiences, identify and understand patterns, and initiate change. I am influenced by psychodynamic perspectives and attachment theory.

Do you struggle with feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt or low self-esteem? Do you find yourself avoiding social engagements or so preoccupied with excessive worrying? Finding ways to navigate these difficult feelings can help you get back on track. I use a psychodynamic approach and CBT that focuses on uncovering patterns of behavior and ways of relating to ourselves and others that are often outside of our awareness. I also consider how our past impacts who we are today. Through acceptance and empathy, we will establish a trusting therapeutic relationship and work together toward your personal growth and self-discovery.

I work with adults, adolescents, and couples. Most of the adults in my practice are ambitious people who want to grow in their careers and/or romantic lives. As a psychoanalytic therapist, I'm trained to provide intensive psychotherapy that leads to long-term change. As a psychodynamic coach, I help individuals tap social and psychological resources that enable them to grow into demanding leadership roles. My style is curious and playful, direct and deep.

**Please see DrJerryBakka.com for more information. Therapy is a collaboration with my clients to ensure a safe, non-judgmental place to explore feelings, cognitions, patterns, and options. My psychodynamic and CBT perspectives look at current difficulties through exploration of past and present experiences. I work with people brand new to therapy but have also been the psychologist to many therapists. Vast experience allows me to draw upon 30 years of work in hospitals and private practice. To begin, I help clients articulate expectations for therapy so that together we can create a positive, productive therapeutic relationship.

I believe therapy works best when you feel a deepening in self-awareness and inner-strength. When this happens it often coincides with feeling connected and understood by me. This is the main pathway to meaningful and lasting changes. My approach is psychodynamic and my style is direct, collaborative, and playful. Difficult and challenging behaviors often result in feeling stagnated and trapped in an endless cycle. By unpacking the underlying dynamics that are driving these struggles, you will feel more freedom to reach your goals.

People come to psychotherapy for a variety of reasons. Making our way in this world demands so much self-reliance and yet we are given very little opportunity to get to know ourselves well. We keep our fears and uncertainty about whether we have what it takes to survive our struggles very close to our chests. This is such a fragile place to live. Ignoring our emotions and "soldiering on" creates a life of isolation and confusion. This may manifest as depression, anxiety, or uncertainty about how to wish, desire, and create a life worth living.

Entering into a therapeutic process is like traveling to another country: full of promises and somewhat disorienting. Each experience is unique, it takes time to feel at home, and it's often more fulfilling accompanied by a local. Psychotherapy provides an opportunity to slow down and establish an intimate and safe space to be curious about one's mind. Working together, we can explore your internal landscape and create alternative paths. In my experience, there is often no straightforward answer to one's suffering, feelings of emptiness, or confusion.

Hello. I have been a licensed Clinical Psychologist for twenty-five years. With experience, training, and a deep sense of compassion, I provide a safe space for patients to share their most vulnerable feelings. I am an active participant in the treatment, and I believe that a therapeutic relationship must be based on trust and mutual respect. I believe that every client has a unique story to tell, and therapy is tailored to those needs. I provide trauma-based therapy, CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-oriented psychotherapy. I treat adults, adolescents and families.

My specialties include working with adolescents, transitional-age youth and adults. I am particularly interested in working with those adjusting to major life transitions such as leaving home, attending college, building careers, beginning or ending relationships, parenthood, infertility, pregnancy loss, empty-nest and retirement.

I imagine you've found your way here because you're feeling stuck and needing a reason to hope that things will change. Others may not see that you're feeling this way, but you know you're in need of relief. If this sounds like what you're going through, I may be a good fit to help you.

I believe that people are resilient with many talents and special attributes that can many times get ignored, silenced, rejected or neglected. Experiences of rejection, neglect, or discrimination may lead us to deny our true selves or feel fearful to be our authentic selves. When we do not get to be our true selves, we may find that we are moving away from the things that bring us joy and peace. In my practice, I strive to foster a compassionate, non-judgmental space to support you in doing the courageous work of shedding unhelpful patterns, narratives and/or traumas that may be preventing you from living authentically.