Play Therapy in 94601
Marel Grunt, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601
Play is the most direct and natural form of self expression used by children.
I have worked with adults and youth for 25 years to help calm anxiety and lift depressed feelings and to find a way out of being limited by difficult emotions. My specialties include helping clients through life changes, issues related to work, school and personal relationships, anxiety and depression. Painful experiences or feelings from the past can cause us to feel disconnected from the relationships and opportunities in the world around us. I can work with you to help shift the unhelpful patterns of thinking and feeling to allow that valuable mental and emotional energy to be redirected towards positive change.
Play is the most direct and natural form of self expression used by children.
I have worked with adults and youth for 25 years to help calm anxiety and lift depressed feelings and to find a way out of being limited by difficult emotions. My specialties include helping clients through life changes, issues related to work, school and personal relationships, anxiety and depression. Painful experiences or feelings from the past can cause us to feel disconnected from the relationships and opportunities in the world around us. I can work with you to help shift the unhelpful patterns of thinking and feeling to allow that valuable mental and emotional energy to be redirected towards positive change.
Angie N Branham
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601
I have extensive experience working with adults and children as young as 3. I specialize in helping children other therapists describe as "difficult to treat," including children who are traumatized, emotionally unregulated, physically aggressive, or have difficulty connecting with adults and caregivers. I will work with your child whose needs have not been met in schools or by other therapists. I help children through play, physical movement, games, art, and words. I help overwhelmed parents with sound psychological guidance. I have fourteen years' experience and I teach and train other therapists.
I have extensive experience working with adults and children as young as 3. I specialize in helping children other therapists describe as "difficult to treat," including children who are traumatized, emotionally unregulated, physically aggressive, or have difficulty connecting with adults and caregivers. I will work with your child whose needs have not been met in schools or by other therapists. I help children through play, physical movement, games, art, and words. I help overwhelmed parents with sound psychological guidance. I have fourteen years' experience and I teach and train other therapists.
Beatriz Chavez
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601
With children, I integrate play, art, and sandtray to help them process big emotions and to develop and practice new skills that help them feel better.
I'm so glad you have found your way to my therapy practice Creative Wisdom Therapy! My intention is to support you, your teen, or your child use the power of creativity to make the changes you seek. Are you an adult or teen who would like to use your creative expression to learn about yourself, heal old or recurring wounds, and build healthy coping skills? Do you have a child who has lots of worries or big emotions? Is your child struggling with a difficult life event or transition? Are you a parent feeling stressed in your parenting role or experiencing a shift in your family dynamics?
With children, I integrate play, art, and sandtray to help them process big emotions and to develop and practice new skills that help them feel better.
I'm so glad you have found your way to my therapy practice Creative Wisdom Therapy! My intention is to support you, your teen, or your child use the power of creativity to make the changes you seek. Are you an adult or teen who would like to use your creative expression to learn about yourself, heal old or recurring wounds, and build healthy coping skills? Do you have a child who has lots of worries or big emotions? Is your child struggling with a difficult life event or transition? Are you a parent feeling stressed in your parenting role or experiencing a shift in your family dynamics?
Sophie Morris
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, LPCC
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601 (Online Only)
Interventions are catered to what the individual needs and range from empirical modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, etc) to play therapy, music, art, mindfulness and general compassion and caring for the client.
An ideal client is someone who shows up. Not even in the way of making every appointment (life happens) but takes the first step toward growth and self development. An ideal client is not a diagnosis or impairment in functioning but anyone who wants to live better and understand themselves more within our weird and scary world. I encourage my clients to advocate for what is working and name what is not by checking in so our time together is the most supportive possible.
Interventions are catered to what the individual needs and range from empirical modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, etc) to play therapy, music, art, mindfulness and general compassion and caring for the client.
An ideal client is someone who shows up. Not even in the way of making every appointment (life happens) but takes the first step toward growth and self development. An ideal client is not a diagnosis or impairment in functioning but anyone who wants to live better and understand themselves more within our weird and scary world. I encourage my clients to advocate for what is working and name what is not by checking in so our time together is the most supportive possible.
Jane O Kim
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601
In therapy, I take an integrated approach to care, including CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, family systems, play therapy, and/or trauma-informed modalities.
As a psychologist, I strive to create an environment of acceptance and understanding to facilitate healing, growth, and resiliency. It is my belief that each person holds strengths within themselves and their families and, when harnessed, can create greater fulfillment in life, intimacy in relationships, and connection to others. I specialize in working with children, teens, and young adults with a wide range of mental health concerns. My training and expertise are in areas of depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, loss, family conflict, culture and diversity factors, and stress related to life transitions (marriage, children, college).
In therapy, I take an integrated approach to care, including CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, family systems, play therapy, and/or trauma-informed modalities.
As a psychologist, I strive to create an environment of acceptance and understanding to facilitate healing, growth, and resiliency. It is my belief that each person holds strengths within themselves and their families and, when harnessed, can create greater fulfillment in life, intimacy in relationships, and connection to others. I specialize in working with children, teens, and young adults with a wide range of mental health concerns. My training and expertise are in areas of depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, loss, family conflict, culture and diversity factors, and stress related to life transitions (marriage, children, college).
Alli Wilson
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MA, AMFT
Verified Verified
3 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601
I practice effective, culturally sensitive, relational therapy. I strive to understand my clients in the context of their relationships and broader society. No one lives in a vacuum, and often our challenges are connected to stuck relationship patterns, and dynamics of power and privilege that play out in our relationships, our workplace, and even within ourselves. I believe that the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client is one of the most important factors for your growth and healing. In my view, it is vital that you are believed, respected and compassionately understood.
I practice effective, culturally sensitive, relational therapy. I strive to understand my clients in the context of their relationships and broader society. No one lives in a vacuum, and often our challenges are connected to stuck relationship patterns, and dynamics of power and privilege that play out in our relationships, our workplace, and even within ourselves. I believe that the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client is one of the most important factors for your growth and healing. In my view, it is vital that you are believed, respected and compassionately understood.
Sarah DelMonte
Associate Clinical Social Worker, MA, ASW
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601 (Online Only)
Are you sensing a budding awareness in yourself of difficult patterns in your life that you wish to transform and grow through? It would be an honor to support you on your healing journey. I’m a therapist with a trauma-informed, client-centered lens and I utilize various creative modalities to help my clients experience greater insight, self-love, and balance in their lives. Some of the tools I use are art therapy, narrative therapy, meditation, dance movement therapy, as well somatic and sensory interventions. I also have training in SE, ACT, DBT, and CBT and these modalities influence my eclectic therapeutic technique.
Are you sensing a budding awareness in yourself of difficult patterns in your life that you wish to transform and grow through? It would be an honor to support you on your healing journey. I’m a therapist with a trauma-informed, client-centered lens and I utilize various creative modalities to help my clients experience greater insight, self-love, and balance in their lives. Some of the tools I use are art therapy, narrative therapy, meditation, dance movement therapy, as well somatic and sensory interventions. I also have training in SE, ACT, DBT, and CBT and these modalities influence my eclectic therapeutic technique.
Sami Qreini
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601
Are you looking for help, guidance or support as a parent, adolescent, adult, or couple? Do you feel out of tune with your friends or family? Overwhelmed with demands? Or stuck in relational or behavioral patterns? Therapy can open you to new perspectives. As your therapist, I can help you widen your view, find your competence and reconnect with yourself, so you feel up to life’s challenges. I will be a curious and empathic listener and provide a secure, contained space to explore.
Are you looking for help, guidance or support as a parent, adolescent, adult, or couple? Do you feel out of tune with your friends or family? Overwhelmed with demands? Or stuck in relational or behavioral patterns? Therapy can open you to new perspectives. As your therapist, I can help you widen your view, find your competence and reconnect with yourself, so you feel up to life’s challenges. I will be a curious and empathic listener and provide a secure, contained space to explore.
Lauren Magaña
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601 (Online Only)
Everyone deserves to understand where their behaviors come from and how these behaviors impact our relationships to ourselves, others and our kids. I provide care to individuals, couples, parents and teens experiencing stress, conflict, loneliness or overwhelm in life. I love helping people make the changes they need to live more authentic, connected and fulfilled lives.
Everyone deserves to understand where their behaviors come from and how these behaviors impact our relationships to ourselves, others and our kids. I provide care to individuals, couples, parents and teens experiencing stress, conflict, loneliness or overwhelm in life. I love helping people make the changes they need to live more authentic, connected and fulfilled lives.
Christine Highet
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601
My name is Chrissy Highet, and I am a bilingual (Eng/Span) Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of California. Through psychotherapy, I work to empower children, adolescents, and adults with tools to free themselves from limiting beliefs and show up in the world with confidence and authenticity. Currently a mental health provider with Oakland Unified School District, as well as a parent and a former educator, I’m passionate about creating spaces of connection and belonging.
My name is Chrissy Highet, and I am a bilingual (Eng/Span) Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of California. Through psychotherapy, I work to empower children, adolescents, and adults with tools to free themselves from limiting beliefs and show up in the world with confidence and authenticity. Currently a mental health provider with Oakland Unified School District, as well as a parent and a former educator, I’m passionate about creating spaces of connection and belonging.
Irene Schell Capuchino
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, LPCC, ATR-BC
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601 (Online Only)
My approach to counseling begins with careful listening to understand your unique situation and personal goals. I will listen without judging you or rushing to a quick fix that might not be applicable for your specific situation. Many of my clients enter counseling feeling alone or overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or stress. They may feel stuck in painful relationships that aren't working, or stuck with intense feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, dread, or inner pain. My treatment approach is gentle, educational, and experiential.
My approach to counseling begins with careful listening to understand your unique situation and personal goals. I will listen without judging you or rushing to a quick fix that might not be applicable for your specific situation. Many of my clients enter counseling feeling alone or overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or stress. They may feel stuck in painful relationships that aren't working, or stuck with intense feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, dread, or inner pain. My treatment approach is gentle, educational, and experiential.
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Holly F. Forman-Patel
Bay Area Personal Counseling Therapies
Megan Kopriva
Angela Vincent Polk
Jenny Turner
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601
I initially became a social worker to help the elderly population. Through graduate school, I have found a love for both medical social work as well as working in behavioral and mental health.
I initially became a social worker to help the elderly population. Through graduate school, I have found a love for both medical social work as well as working in behavioral and mental health.
Vivek Anand
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MArch, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601
You are hurting, or anxious, are considering psychotherapy and whether to trust me to facilitate your healing. My experience with adults, couples and children will support your inner journey and that of loved ones. We will create space for you to contemplate internal, external and relationship challenges. Through an attuned therapeutic relationship, I will help you address internal challenges - depression, anxiety and trauma. Empathically, I help you face external challenges - discrimination, immigration and life transitions. I also support you in navigating relationships, in which your internal worlds connect with those of others.
You are hurting, or anxious, are considering psychotherapy and whether to trust me to facilitate your healing. My experience with adults, couples and children will support your inner journey and that of loved ones. We will create space for you to contemplate internal, external and relationship challenges. Through an attuned therapeutic relationship, I will help you address internal challenges - depression, anxiety and trauma. Empathically, I help you face external challenges - discrimination, immigration and life transitions. I also support you in navigating relationships, in which your internal worlds connect with those of others.
Melodie Del Rio
Marriage & Family Therapist, MFT
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601
I work with adults (individual and couple's therapy), children, and adolescents. Special interests include: life transitions, relationship problems, loss and grief (including pregnancy loss), stress and anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, children/ adolescents and identity.
I work with adults (individual and couple's therapy), children, and adolescents. Special interests include: life transitions, relationship problems, loss and grief (including pregnancy loss), stress and anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, children/ adolescents and identity.
Holly F. Forman-Patel
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA
Verified Verified
5 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601 (Online Only)
Waitlist for new clients
*Holly is currently full. Please reach out if you are interested in being added to her waitlist* Has anxiety and other overwhelming feelings taken control of your life? Did you or your child experience a traumatic event that continues to impact you/them? Have you spent years in therapy but still feel stuck regarding past events? All of these are common experiences that do not need to continue and can shift to help you lead the life you want.
*Holly is currently full. Please reach out if you are interested in being added to her waitlist* Has anxiety and other overwhelming feelings taken control of your life? Did you or your child experience a traumatic event that continues to impact you/them? Have you spent years in therapy but still feel stuck regarding past events? All of these are common experiences that do not need to continue and can shift to help you lead the life you want.
Susan Wilde
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601
I am bilingual in Spanish, and offer therapy for individual adults, couples, families, teens, and children 6 and older. My specialties include trauma, interpersonal violence (IPV), and loss, especially for human beings who have experienced displacement and/migration. I offer services for expecting and new mothers to aid in the transitions and attachment issues that arise. Also I am interested in bridging periods in human development. I embrace a culturally humble stance, and am LBGT welcoming.
I am bilingual in Spanish, and offer therapy for individual adults, couples, families, teens, and children 6 and older. My specialties include trauma, interpersonal violence (IPV), and loss, especially for human beings who have experienced displacement and/migration. I offer services for expecting and new mothers to aid in the transitions and attachment issues that arise. Also I am interested in bridging periods in human development. I embrace a culturally humble stance, and am LBGT welcoming.
Bay Area Personal Counseling Therapies
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, SEP, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601 (Online Only)
My therapeutic training has been centered on experiential, culturally sensitive, and inner work necessary for becoming a healer. I focus on assessing individual client needs and providing compassionate therapeutic interventions to families, couples and children. I use Mindfulness, Progressive Relaxation and Guided imagery as well as Cognitive Reframing to increase awareness and reduce present anxiety symptoms.My specialties include: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression, Trauma and loss Loss, Alcohol and Chemical dependency.
My therapeutic training has been centered on experiential, culturally sensitive, and inner work necessary for becoming a healer. I focus on assessing individual client needs and providing compassionate therapeutic interventions to families, couples and children. I use Mindfulness, Progressive Relaxation and Guided imagery as well as Cognitive Reframing to increase awareness and reduce present anxiety symptoms.My specialties include: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression, Trauma and loss Loss, Alcohol and Chemical dependency.
Carolina Bacchi
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601
I work towards developing a relationship with you where you can feel safe to express your feelings, talk about your concerns and think creatively about old patterns and past worries that may be holding you back from living life more fully. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you will gain more awareness and learn to live in a creative and playful manner while developing the capacity to know and realistically meet your own needs. You will find me to be warm, interested, creative, and curious therapist.
I work towards developing a relationship with you where you can feel safe to express your feelings, talk about your concerns and think creatively about old patterns and past worries that may be holding you back from living life more fully. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you will gain more awareness and learn to live in a creative and playful manner while developing the capacity to know and realistically meet your own needs. You will find me to be warm, interested, creative, and curious therapist.
Serenity Wehrenberg
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Oakland, CA 94601 (Online Only)
My approach to counseling is compassion centered, trauma-informed and non-pathologizing. Working together to create a sense of safety and trust is my highest priority. Thus, when we sit together I don’t consider it my job to ‘fix you’ but rather, to be with you. It is in being with you and bringing awareness and kindness to you exactly as you are, that we can begin to create safety in our relationship together and grieve and heal past and present challenges. I aim to help you rediscover an authentic way of being in the world that strengthens your relationship with yourself and others and moves you toward what you most want in life.
My approach to counseling is compassion centered, trauma-informed and non-pathologizing. Working together to create a sense of safety and trust is my highest priority. Thus, when we sit together I don’t consider it my job to ‘fix you’ but rather, to be with you. It is in being with you and bringing awareness and kindness to you exactly as you are, that we can begin to create safety in our relationship together and grieve and heal past and present challenges. I aim to help you rediscover an authentic way of being in the world that strengthens your relationship with yourself and others and moves you toward what you most want in life.
Greta Rosenberger
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA, MDiv, MS
Verified Verified
Oakland, CA 94601
Therapy is Sacred Ground. People's hurts, dreams and hearts are sacred too. I honor the the courage it takes to face difficulties from the past and begin to live and dream again. I have years of experience helping people manage transitions and experience victory over past traumatic experiences. I advocate for and help guide clients to rediscover their personal resilience and internal resources to overcome difficult circumstances and issues (trauma, depression and anxiety). I am a calm, compassionate listener who enjoys celebrating your growth and helping you to embrace new meaning in your life with joy and courage.
Therapy is Sacred Ground. People's hurts, dreams and hearts are sacred too. I honor the the courage it takes to face difficulties from the past and begin to live and dream again. I have years of experience helping people manage transitions and experience victory over past traumatic experiences. I advocate for and help guide clients to rediscover their personal resilience and internal resources to overcome difficult circumstances and issues (trauma, depression and anxiety). I am a calm, compassionate listener who enjoys celebrating your growth and helping you to embrace new meaning in your life with joy and courage.
See more therapy options for 94601
Play Therapy
Who is play therapy for?
Play therapy is generally targeted to children between the ages of 3 and 11 who have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Play therapy has also been found helpful for children who have experienced physical or emotional abuse or witnessed atrocities. Play therapy is also often recommended for children who are undergoing major medical procedures or who are suffering from chronic illness; many children’s hospitals are equipped to offer play therapy on-site. Play therapy is also sometimes used for adults; creative writing, music, and art are expressive forms that can all be adapted for therapeutic purposes.
Why do people need play therapy?
Children often do not have the language skills or words to know or to express what is troubling them. Yet they often spontaneously draw or use playthings to depict scenarios that reflect problems in their everyday life. Play therapy provides children with an array of objects and play situations to act out their feelings or experiences so that therapists can get a clear picture of what children might be struggling with and help them find solutions. In addition, play therapists are skilled at helping children understand their inner experience and find words for them, necessary steps toward helping children learn to control their own behavior and come up with solutions to problems they encounter.
What happens in play therapy?
A child enters a comfortable playroom where they are free to choose the objects they want to play with. The play therapist will typically observe how they play with the toys—whether a sandbox, puppets, dolls and action figures, trucks, costumes, drawing and painting materials, or more—because such play provides clues to a child’s family and social relationships, difficulties they are encountering in the world, and what going on inside themselves. Sometimes the therapist may ask the child to use the play objects to tell a story about their family. Using the same instruments of play, therapists can help children discover more advantageous ways of thinking and behaving.
What kinds of problems do play therapists treat?
Play therapy can help children who display destructive or self-destructive impulses; children who seem angry, sad, or fearful; children who experience frequent social, emotional, family, or school difficulty. Play therapy is often of value to children who have experienced a loss or distressing family experience, who are regularly exposed to family conflict, or who have been physically or emotionally abused. Play therapy can help children who are perpetrators of bullying as well as those who are targets of bullying. It helps children learn to identify their feelings, to express them in constructive ways, and to regulate them so they can get on with the business of development.
How long does play therapy last?
Play therapy sessions may last for 30 to 45 minutes, and they usually occur weekly for about 20 sessions. Each session is tailored to the individual child and the kinds of problems they are struggling with. Play that is highly repetitive often indicates a problem requiring further exploration. Therapists typically measure progress through session-to-session changes in play behavior.