Attachment-based Therapists in Montclair Village, Oakland, CA

I offer holistic and depthful therapy that is both affirming and collaborative. My clients appreciate my gentleness, compassion & humor. My approach is de-stigmatizing and non-shaming, addressing & coming into contact with held stories and social narratives that may not match your current self or the self that wants to be. I hold an adaptive client centered framework utilizing trauma informed, social justice, somatic, parts work, & attachment based approaches. Sites of harm are often the sites of healing, in forming therapeutic relationship we can explore & come to know these sites and the unique offering &

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.

Healing and growth, which can be uncomfortable and painful, sometimes take time and support. These are shifts that we do not have to experience alone. Through authenticity, warmth and collaboration, I work with clients to cultivate understanding of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors and we work together to decrease stress and achieve defined goals. Whether it is anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues or health concerns, I integrate evidence-based practices to allow for the transformation of pain into growth.

Every journey.. your first thought to call a therapist when you need to talk to someone, begins with a single step. When anxiety, depression, stress, personal, family, work relationship problems lead you to reach out, I will listen and help you find the best way through. Experienced licensed psychotherapist, 40+ years in general psychotherapy practice, I provide a safe place to talk, explore, resolve, heal what is challenging or troubling. I bring compassion, perceptiveness combined with patience, curiosity and many years of knowledge and skill to our collaboration to help you find effective solutions and make better life choices.

I welcome children, teens, and adults to my practice. The decision to enter therapy often comes when we’re feeling stuck and unable to move forward in one way or another. I offer a safe and non judgmental space to work through the deeper dynamics that may be holding you back from living more freely. I work from a depth oriented and relational approach. This type of therapy not only addresses immediate issues, but strives to foster long term growth. This process often leads to new levels of creativity, self understanding, and resilience.

I believe most people seek therapy as a road to change: lessening sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, shame; changing relationships; making life transitions. I have devoted many years of training and practice to better help my patients understand their unconscious obstacles to desired change. For some patients change means learning to confront pain from chronic conditions like anxiety, depression, bi-polar or attention deficit disorders, For others, change entails finding their authentic voice in relationships or facing difficult realities. I enjoy developing a close, working relationship with my patients to create new capacities within themselves, hopefully perceiving new choices in their lives.

'Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?' - Mary Oliver. Choosing a therapist can be an intimidating process and reaching out for help can be uncomfortable, but we all need support in order to thrive. Within a warm, open and compassionate environment, my practice helps clients make sense of the challenges they face and use this understanding to navigate their lives with increased resilience and grace.

I practice both individual psychotherapy and assessment for children, adolescents, and adults. I specialize in understanding and addressing coping skills, anxiety, self-esteem, body image, and family conflict. Through therapy, assessment, or consultation, I provide support in navigating individual complexities. Whether I am working with children, teenagers, or adults, my aim is to help those I work with manage overwhelming emotions, navigate challenging situations, and address barriers standing in the way of contentment and clarity.

As humans, we are brilliantly complex, wired for connection, attachment, and survival. Our experience of joy and suffering are innately human and are connected to our physical and emotional wellness--inseparable realms. In somatic psychotherapy we hold space for the body to have a language of its own, honoring what it has to say, so that we may more clearly see what is beneath the surface. As a somatic psychotherapist, I am a collaborator, guide and mirror, supporting you in increasing your own sense of exploration of conscious and unconscious patterns of behaviors, beliefs, body signals and cues.

Do you need relief from anxiety or depression? Are you and your partner fighting and trying to move forward together? I often help people who are exactly where you are. A collaborative, focused relationship with a caring professional can be a life-changing experience. I have a goal oriented and interactive style, and my goal is always to help you move forward - at your own pace - with ease and acceptance. Check out my website and call for a phone consultation to see if I'd be a good fit for you.

After working at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, I started my private practice in 2015. My ideal client is motivated to align with their personal and relational integrity, allowing them to reduce symptoms and signs of distress, as well as pursue a life congruent with their authentic self, their intersectional identity, and their wellness. This include female-identified and non-binary individuals, as well as couples/partners (of all genders, sexual orientations, and relationship structures) who identify as non-traditional, including Queer, CNM/Poly, Kinky, and/or subcultural communities (e.g. Burners).

Developing and maintaining a vital and fulfilling long-term relationship is one of the most difficult challenges we face in our lifetimes. I see impasses and breakdowns such as extensive arguing, lack of desire or estrangement as "natural and necessary failures" that point towards deeper individual issues that need to be addressed and worked through. In couples' sessions I help each partner to find a differentiated stance, interrupt dysfunctional patterns and develop healthier ways of relating and dealing with conflicts. In addition to working with couples and individuals, men's issues have been a focus of my interest for three decades.

I am a somatic therapist who focuses on relational, attachment and childhood trauma issues. I work with individuals and couples to address relationship ambivalence, anxiety, major life transition, depression, stuckness, poor communication and conflict, among other issues. I help with building awareness of one's thoughts, feelings and physical sensations to develop greater insight and uncover new choices.

As we navigate these seemingly endless tumultuous times, having someone reliable to talk to about what we're experiencing that is outside of our immediate bubble can feel like the life boat we need to stay afloat. I can be that person for you. Together we can explore which coping strategies are working for you and which aren't, and how to get to a place that feels a bit more stable and manageable. You will gain insight that will help you now and in the future so that you can live your best life, even when challenges abound.

Couples want to feel better. Couples often find themselves caught in patterns of conflict that they would love to get out of. Most couples dream of living with better communication and less conflict. Fortunately, couples counseling was made for this. Whether you're looking for couples counseling to increasing the level of commitment in your relationship, wanting to deepen your connection, or really struggling to keep the connection alive - you're not alone and there is help.

The challenges of growing up in today's rapidly changing society are enormous. Children and adolescents need to be equipped with skills for survival and growth that were never before imagined. Some of the more common issues I help my young clients with include anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide ideation, perfectionism, self confidence, challenging peer relationships, social anxiety and difficult family dynamics. I also work with parents offering them guidance and support.

Every person that enters into therapy wants the same thing; to give and receive love more freely and fully. I believe this is not only possible it is your divine birthright. I am here to partner with you on your healing journey - to help guide you back to a state of greater freedom, wholeness and connection. In our work together, we aim to activate your innate resiliency, repair old relational injuries and release oppressive binds of shame-based conditioning. I see our work through a lens of possibilities. Most importantly, I already see you as a whole being.

I work with folks from all walks of life, and specialize in working with gay men and the larger LGBTQ+ community, to alleviate depression, anxiety, shame, work stress, relationship issues, questions of meaning, & life transitions. I use a variety of therapeutic methods, including Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and psychedelic integration. Psychedelic therapy allows access to deeper layers of self and accelerates progress toward personal growth and healing; it can accomplish in a short timeframe what might otherwise take years of weekly talk therapy. KAP is sliding scale ($150-$175).

Anxiety sucks. I get it. It can keep you stuck in an exhausting inner battle of fear and panic. Perhaps you have had a panic attack and worry about having another one. Or maybe you find yourself frequently worrying about your relationship with your partner. Obsessive thoughts might be keeping you up at night and disrupting your ability to focus at work. And you might feel frustrated or embarrassment that you can't get your anxiety under control. You might be trying to cope with your anxiety by staying busy, distracting yourself with technology, or turning to drugs or drinking. The good news is, it does not have to be this way.