Therapists in Oakland, CA

I specialize in whole-bodied therapy to heal anxiety and trauma for children, teens, and adults. I offer attachment-based, trauma-healing, body-oriented approaches (EMDR, Havening & Somatics), play therapy, integrative talk therapy, & nature-oriented outdoor therapy. I also provide therapy for hopeful, awaiting, and new parents who are navigating the fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum journey. I provide therapy online across CA and outdoors if you are local to the East Bay. In-home therapy is also available for children and families.

All people deserve to experience safety within their minds and bodies however due to overwhelming and difficult experiences this does not always feel achievable. I seek to create a caring, non-judgmental, and trustworthy relationship with you where we can process your past and present experiences and develop skills that will enhance a sense of calm within your thoughts and body.

I am a bilingual (English and Spanish-speaking) licensed clinical psychologist who provides psychotherapy services to adults, children, adolescents families. I support clients in fostering resilience and in building more meaningful, connected relationships. In therapy, I take a supportive, curious, nonjudgemental stance. My clients struggle with issues related to depression, anxiety, loss, adoption, psychological trauma, childhood development, parenting, and everyday stressors.

If you are reading this, you have chosen to take the first step to healing. This decision is a demonstration of your resiliency, strength, and courage to be vulnerable, something to be immensely proud of. My therapeutic approach in working with individuals and couples is integrative. I recognize that no two persons are the same and that each person requires a treatment plan that is adapted to meet their needs. I recognize that experiences of trauma and pain are two unavoidable life experiences. However, I believe that there is a resiliency and strength inside each individual that supports a path of healing.

Most people who reach out to me feel like there's some sort of a gap between what they want and what they have. This gap is uncomfortable, upsetting, or might be painful. And often it's unclear why this gap exists or what can be done to close it or at least narrow it down a bit. Each one of us has a set of life circumstances that need to be taken into account when attempting to improve on our lived-experience. Psychotherapy is the arena in which those personal circumstances, individual preferences, needs, wants, and struggles can be explored.

People are often hesitant to try therapy because they feel it won't work or believe they should be able to handle difficult things on their own. If you're willing to try personal trainers, babysitters, house cleaners, and other services to better your life, doesn't your emotional happiness or the happiness of your family deserve the same focus? I believe that it absolutely does.

I specialize in working with young people and the LGBTQIA community. My professional background in education, clowning, and physical theater deeply informs my work. Using embodied play alongside talk therapy, I find that my clients are able to access expression, relief, and growth. This type of work is useful for kids experiencing anxiety, school and family challenges, and struggling with self esteem. It is also useful for LGBTQIA people to become more deeply in touch with their identities, using a creative lens. I am committed to meeting clients where they are at to develop a space for creative healing.

I want to support my clients in feeling whole. This can mean learning how to safely unmask your Autism or ADHD, healing traumas old & new, setting healthy boundaries, strengthening communication with partners, learning new ways to approach challenges without shame, or bringing compassion to chronically ill bodyminds. I specialize in working with neurodivergant people and couples. My young clients enjoy my playful interventions that help them feel confident and proud of being uniquely themselves. My adult clients are relived to tackle challenges without shame and ableism.

I welcome collaboration and creativity in the therapeutic process! My approach is to listen with curiosity and attention. I enjoy working with neurodivergent adults and adolescents. I support couples and relationships that are experiencing challenges because of different "wiring" that leads to misattunement and dysregulation. I understand the challenges that parents can face in taking care of their complex children. I work with all identities and family structures. I welcome clients who are queer, gender diverse, or in less traditional relationship configurations.

Being neurodivergent can be difficult in this society, whether you are on the spectrum, have ADHD, or other traits. And feeling unseen, unaccepted, or stagnant can often be overwhelming. If you're grappling with emotional challenges, or find yourself stuck in life, know that you're not alone. Whether you’re wanting to better understand yourself, looking to improve your experiences with others, or wanting help with a new diagnosis, we can navigate these waters together. You've demonstrated resilience and introspection by seeking help, now let's create the path towards healing and transformation—together.

Most of us agree that it feels terrible to be stuck. My goal as a therapist is to meet you in your stagnant place and help you find your way through it. Whether you are struggling in school, your career, parenting, relationships, or in finding your purpose, I can help you create and achieve realistic goals for living a more fulfilled life.

I am well trained as a licensed Clinical Psychologist with more than 20 years of experience providing individual therapy to children, adolescents and adults. I strive to create a genuine relationship with my clients to allow for collaborative exploration of the areas in their lives that interfere with personal fulfillment. My approach also involves listening actively, building trust, being curious, providing empathy, and making direct comments to help my clients develop greater awareness about themselves and the patterns in their lives that cause emotional distress or relationship difficulties. This allows my clients to grow and to live more meaningful lives.

AUTHENTICITY, ALIVENESS, and CONNECTION are vital ingredients to living a healthy and meaningful life. Unfortunately these qualities do not always receive the proper attention needed to thrive. As a result, we develop coping strategies that often lead us to not getting what we want in life, leaving us feeling stuck, anxious, depressed, and hopeless. Therapy provides a unique opportunity to explore the unconscious patterns that keep us stuck. Therapy can help you make meaningful change to live the life you wish and to create the relationships you long for.

The decision to begin psychotherapy can come about for a variety of reasons. This may be your first time in therapy or it’s just the right time to get a fresh perspective. You may be struggling with feelings and experiences that are hard to make sense of, like grief, anxiety, loneliness, stress, exhaustion, shame, anger, and/or emptiness. You may feel stuck, like you’ve tried everything, and nothing is working. It’s getting to be more difficult to stay motivated, to stay focused, and to enjoy the things that you love. Psychotherapy can help to relieve these stressors and reduce anxiety and depression.

I am passionate about working with those who struggle with relationships and boundary setting, and clients who struggle with balancing differing sets of expectations due to cultural, physical, or mental factors. I also work with couples from differing backgrounds to deepen mutual understanding and couples struggling through a difficult phase in their relationship looking to increase communication and understanding. I work well with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, immigrant and first and second generation individuals and families, mixed race or multicultural individuals, and those who are struggling with chronic illness.

I work with individuals, couples, parents, families and children to develop a therapeutic relationship based on their needs and goals. Through this process, clients get to know themselves better in a safe and supportive environment. I consider therapy a collaborative process that offers unique opportunities to manifest your ideal self through honesty and trust. I draw from the varied types of training and experience I have to find what works best for you and I create a safe space so you can explore the emotions that arise from difficult and painful experiences. I support couples and families in developing empathy, trust, and healthy

Selecting the right therapist is essential- here is some information about me and my practice to help inform your decision. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children and adolescents. I work collaboratively with parents in creation of goals and throughout the course of treatment. Through play I help children to; express difficult feelings, resolve internal conflicts, learn adaptive ways to cope, and to develop resiliency. I offer free phone consultations in order to help determine if I am the right therapist for your child.

I work primarily with relationships; your relationship to yourself, to others, to your future, and to your past. With over 30 years in practice, I use a collaborative style with my clients. Self esteem, depression, anxiety, parenting issues, infertility, life transitions, adult children of alcoholics, addiction recovery, trauma, and couples therapy are my expertise. I specialize in helping couples improve communication and intimacy while creating more secure relationships. I see adults and adolescents and supervise psychologists in training. I often see people who are stuck in negative patterns and struggling to change.

Life can be challenging. Some people need support in responding to unexpected changes in their lives, some may be struggling with unresolved trauma, while others seek self-exploration and personal growth. When one’s coping skills are overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, doubt, anxiety, stress, or despair, therapy can be helpful.