Therapists in Berkeley, CA

I tend to work with and help those that are impacted by anxiety and/or depression on a daily basis, hindering overall well-being but also in specific areas of life as well. I look to support, educate, guide and collaboratively work with my clients of any age, aiming to help them get to where they want to be in their lives. I focus on helping you determine which goals you'd like to focus on that uses your own core values in your life to help bring more meaning to the the thoughts you have and the things you do each day.

Does it feel as if your world is getting smaller and smaller or harder and harder? You’re noticing you’re not going out and about the way you used to … or would like to. There are decisions you’d like to make, but you only have energy for distractions like binging Netflix, scrolling on your phone, or mindless eating. You’re on edge a lot of the time. You yearn for serenity and fulfillment, but you’re not sure how to get there on your own. You’ve tried, and then end up giving up, and even feeling worse as a result.

Hello! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Art Therapist in the State of California with over 7 years of working experience. As a therapist, I enjoy utilizing a combination of psychodynamic and narrative theories, which I pair with CBT and mindfulness interventions to help develop coping strategies. I believe that perspectives can be greatly shaped by the stories we tell ourselves and enjoy assisting clients in altering negative beliefs into more positive thoughts and behaviors, shifting them into realities that better suit their current needs.

I provide both brief and long term psychotherapy. Currently. I work remotely , but I would like to be able see people in person in the Spring of 2023. I have been in the field for many years ,have a wealth of experience in both life and as a therapist ,to help me help you. I enjoy working with all kinds of people from all walks of life. Many people now are dealing with the impacts of the Pandemic and I am here to support those folks , and people who have mental health issues that predate the Pandemic but that may have been exacerbated by it. My goal is to design the treatment to fit the needs of the client.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL COUPLES THERAPY: Conflict Resolution Skills: Anger management.Infidelity Counseling.Reproductive Counseling. Resolve one issue at a time: diminish name calling/condemnation: hold one another accountable for behavior: minimize mind reading: eliminate verbal/physical abuse: work towards full honesty: build an emotional bank account: improve ratio of favorable/unfavorable interactions: acknowledge each partner's authority. Emotional Maturation: Learn appropriate emotional expression: identify/heal childhood emotional triggers: differentiate between reasonable/unreasonable expectations. Character Development: Improve listening skills: take responsibility for your actions: increase empathy: practice sincere apologies: acknowledge limitations: distinguish:needs/desires: ask for what's important. Eliminate domestic violence. RESTORE ROMANTIC LOVE.

What do you want of this life? Are you living in alignment? What is being called to change? I'm here to help you heal, transform, and connect with your life force. This includes navigating difficult emotions, relationships, life transitions, and illuminating the most important things in your life; to free yourself from outdated patterns and become an active creator of your narrative.

When you decide to look for a therapist, you may already be feeling overwhelmed by all that has led you to therapy in the first place. The process of finding a trusting, warm, and well-qualified therapist is indeed a challenging one; however, I try to make it as easy and seamless as possible for you. With over ten years of professional clinical experience with individuals of all ages, families, and couples, I feel confident that I can help you navigate your therapeutic experience with ease.

Are you or your middle school/high school age child needing the support of a gender specialist? Or are you an adult needing a LGBTQ+ affirming transgender/nonbinary therapist to support you in building greater resiliency and mental health? Welcome to my practice! I'm Dr. Townsend (he/him or they/them). I bring research, clinical, and lived experience to my work with the LGBTQ+ community. My approach combines tailored interventions, a warm interpersonal style, and fostering a safe and supportive environment to support you or your teen to reach greater authenticity and actualization.

We all need support during difficult times. If you have a history of trauma leaving you feeling overwhelmed or totally stressed, we can use EMDR and IFS to stop the past having such an impact on you now. Perhaps you grew up in a dysfunctional family and wonder "what's normal, what's healthy?" Even if you don't have major problems, talking through challenges and gaining perspective is important. If you are a parent I have specialized training to help build your confidence as a parent including play therapy for young children. I will meet in person under strict COVID guidelines.

I use somatic and mindfulness-based therapy to help clients attune to their mental, physical and emotional needs. I specialize in working with artists and creative thinkers, people who have experienced religious trauma, queer folks, HSPs, women, and parents. If you have struggled with the impacts of trauma or with feeling "too sensitive," I am here to support you. If you've had a challenging psychedelic experience that you'd like to process, I also offer psychedelic integration therapy.

I provide attachment-based Emotion Focused Therapy to couples and individuals. I commonly work with couples/individuals for over a year, sometimes much longer if the situation requires it. When working with couples, I commonly do a combination of couples meetings and individual meetings.

Clients seeking my services are looking for a safe and supportive space where they can bring their authentic whole “self” and explore and discuss issues centered on intersectional oppressions, identity exploration, trauma exploration, managing anxiety and stress, depression reduction, relational and attachment struggles, managing imposter syndrome, improving self-esteem, increasing communications skills and learning to identify and set healthy boundaries.

The reasons leading each of us into therapy are as unique as we are individually, though it usually begins with something that brings challenge or suffering. Even amid the uniqueness of our difficulties, however, there are common patterns that unite us in our humanity. Whatever it is that calls you to therapy, I will meet you in the middle—where your common humanity and utter uniqueness come together. I deeply trust we can work together to bring greatest understanding to your process and support you not only in your healing, but also in the unfolding of your potential—indeed, the two go hand-in-hand.

I am a licensed clinical social worker with over eight years of experience providing therapy for adults and couples. I specialize in helping people recover from trauma and have been trained in a variety of techniques including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I am certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing through EMDRIA. I also specialize in working with young adults as they navigate challenging life transitions. I believe in a collaborative and client-centered approach to therapy that focuses on your goals for your healing and well-being.

With compassion and humor I provide a safe place for adults to get help with personal situations such as relationship/work stress, break-ups, retirement, chronic/ life-threatening illness and disability, depression, anxiety, dementia, care-giving of people of all ages, and "coming out". Life transitions have a common thread - loss, grief, and opportunity. Even joyful experiences can be difficult. You may feel stuck, out-of-control or have worrisome regrets and anxiety. You may feel "at a loss", you can't just "shake it off", or feel "it's taking a toll" on you.

For 25 years, I have assisted people with a variety of addictions, from the exogenous abuse of drugs and alcohol, to the ones that stem from the chemicals already inside the brain, such as sex and love addiction, abandonment patterns, sexual compulsions, gambling, internet, and workaholism. Unlike most psychotherapists, I’m a Board Certified Addiction Specialist, well versed in both abstinence and harm reduction strategies. Unlike most addiction professionals, I am also psychotherapist who also treats the anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues that often manifest after being uncovered through recovery.

Seeking to deepen your intimacy in relationships with romantic and/or non-romantic partners? Desiring a fuller sexual expression & pleasure in your experience? Have you desired to enliven your sex life? Or, perhaps you are desiring restorative healing, justice, & repair from childhood sexual abuse / have had non-consensual, sexual experiences; either being the victim or the transgressor and require integral support. I can help you. I facilitate individuals and couples heal and recover from personal, collective, and intergenerational trauma to come back into authentic, embodied connection through intimacy from the inside out.

Finding harmony between your world, other people, and yourself is important, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes things around us can feel overwhelming, taking us out of our rhythm. Sometimes we fall out of sync with others, even when we used to make beautiful music together. At SHIFT we use mental health treatment to help individuals, partnerships, and families shift their cognitive and emotional states into better alignment with themselves and others. Through our training and clinical experience, we honor your unique melody in order to help you develop the best ways for you to live in harmony. Contact us for a consultation today.

Therapy offers the opportunity to heal from the past, break free from old patterns that no longer serve us, and feel more connected to ourselves and others. I specialize in working with adults to address a range of concerns including relationship challenges, recovery from trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and career related struggles.