Therapists in Oakland, CA

Working in non profits and government services for 20 plus years both in San Francisco and Alameda County, has taught me the art of appreciating people for who they are, keeping an open mind and helping them see their own strength within. I am very excited to be in private practice. Working with couples , parents, and individuals. I am very curious and passionate about non traditional coupling, open relationships, polyamory, issues of infidelity and the sexual needs of couples and individuals. I believe that we can heal intuitively and I look forward to meeting people willing to share that journey with me.

Thank you for visiting my page. My therapeutic style provides a warm, nonjudgmental, environment that meets clients where they are at. As we work together clients are able to examine their goals, problem solve, increase positive coping skills and improve their lives. I specialize in working with anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse. I have a great deal of experience with clients who have lived through loss and/or trauma.

Are you going through internal struggle due to trauma? Do you feel anxious and depressed about the future? Do you struggle with family issues and relationship issues? I’m willing to meet you where you are, help you process unwanted thoughts and emotions, and help develop an action plan to effectively cultivate your healing and growth. I’m here to help you explore unresolved feelings (anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, grief, etc.) and develop skills to effectively cope with them. Thus, you can feel relieved and fulfilled in your relationship with yourself and others.

Do you feel depressed or anxious due to childhood trauma? Do you feel disconnected in your relationships with others? I’m here to help you develop an action plan for meaningful changes. My approach to therapy is relational and person-centered. I will work alongside you in a warm and understanding environment where you can explore your emotions and find better ways to deal with the stressors in your life.

With over 25 years as a licensed therapist, I am a skilled and compassionate guide in helping people feel better, function better, and have more fulfilling relationships. I am able to understand people from multiple perspectives, how their family system has shaped them, how their attachment style impacts them, how their connections with others cause them joy and pain. I am very present in sessions and have an interactive style, giving direct feedback. You won't find me just listening and nodding, I am there to understand you and collaborate on a plan with you for meeting your goals.

My work is guided by the tenet, Life is Relationship. If we can trust our stories to a therapist, that therapeutic relationship can transform us. Self-acceptance, and calm return. I listen compassionately to others to understand what is inhibiting their motivation and self-confidence. I consider lifestyle practices, relationships, use of substances; healthy and unhealthy habits, and one's sense of belonging. My clients and I together identify what helps them change. Some practices and tools I use to guide my work are: talk therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness and stress management practices derived from Yogic philosophy and practices.

If you've decided you want to try psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, addiction, family-of-origin issues—or any of a number of other mental health issues—I may be able to help you. Many patients have experienced significant improvement after just a short course of treatment. That said, this approach has risks and potential harms that must be carefully assessed and managed. The formal term for this approach is "Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration." In addition to my training in this, I draw on extensive experience as a crisis therapist helping to keep patients safe.

Do you struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma? Do you experience difficulties managing family and relationship issues? I believe that healing happens when we pay attention to all the parts that make us whole—our mind, body, and soul. The subconscious mind controls most of our reality and choices, so building awareness and active presence can improve the quality of daily living and assist in not only surviving but thriving through life. As an intuitive & holistic therapist, I will assist you in strengthening your inner psyche and developing new tools to manage negative feelings and thoughts.

I work primarily with adults who are wanting to manage symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and trauma. I will be with you on your path to discovery, recovery, and finding the person you would like to become. I approach therapy with a client-centered approach in order to create a safe, comfortable space for you to share and express yourself, and your vulnerabilities. We will explore healthy ways to process your trauma, regulate difficult emotions, and restore broken relationships. I believe the trust built between Client and Therapist is powerful, and necessary in order to help you through your healing journey.

My framework as a psychotherapist is inspired by black feminist sci-fi writer, Octavia E. Butler who saw the possibility of many more worlds than just our own. I believe that transformative internal healing is critical to envisioning and building these worlds without the presence of imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism and cishet-patriarchy. The tools I use to support the exploration of individual, interpersonal and intergenerational trauma are shaped by abolition that rejects punitive and scarcity mindsets and disability justice which strives to value every body.

As a transnationally raised queer immigrant clinician, and east coast transplant to California, I know what it's like to be a newcomer, an outsider, and someone struggling to feel "between worlds." I love working with anyone who is wanting to explore the stories we tell ourselves - and how they shape our sense of power, selfhood and connection to the world.

I am here to be present with you as you explore and process how the vast injustices in the world may be affecting your internal states. Together we can examine the question: Is there something “wrong” with me as an individual, or do we live in an inequitable society that causes emotional and often generational trauma? Our trauma can lead to behaviors that do not ultimately serve us or align with our core values—but there is room to heal. Your ancestral roots, intersecting identities, and cultural practices are an honor for me to make space for in our work together.

I enjoy working with individuals and couples in both short and long term therapy. I have extensive training in IFS, EMDR, CBT, and Relational Psychodynamic Therapy. My objective is to work with you using the appropriate approach that best fits your goals for therapy. I have a wide range of experience working with the effects of addiction on families, substance abuse, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I also have considerable training in sleep disorders and enjoy working with clients to adjust their sleep schedules, thereby improving their daily mood and functioning.

Change happens when our insights align with a feeling or sensation in our body. It happens as we discover aspects of our experience and who we are in the presence of another person. I work collaboratively to help you define your goals and how you'll know that therapy is helping. Each one of us has a different idea of success; one size definitely does not fit all. My approach is warm, practical, and focused on the present. I blend a dynamic understanding of human development and how we adapt to and can potentially change our present circumstances. I also offer ketamine-assisted therapy to support your therapeutic goals.

Are you suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression while struggling to make changes in your life that support your health and well-being? Have you been through something painful and traumatic and are having difficulty moving on or making meaning out of what happened? I completely understand how paralyzing these feelings and events can be and I would love to support you on your path to recovery. Trauma and painful life experiences can offer a profound opportunity to understand ourselves deeply while we learn how to heal, allowing us the possibility to transform our pain into fuel for the inevitable growth that follows.

I believe that we all have more potential than we know, and no matter where we might currently find ourselves or where we have been in the past, we each have the capacity for psychological and emotional growth. I have a special interest and passion providing therapy to couples, and individuals struggling with transition, and experiencing feelings of disconnection, isolation, and grief. In my more than 20 years of working in mental health, most of my work has been centered around supporting people in healing attachment wounds, trauma (complex, historical, intergenerational), and all symptoms that manifest as a result.

Nobody’s childhood dream was to grow up and feel overwhelmed, alone, stuck or unworthy. I aim to help individuals heal from trauma-related issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship/family issues. If you find yourself living without a navigation system to understand emotional terrain or trauma that impacts your well-being; you are not alone. All of us go through rough patches in our lives. My approach is specific to meet your unique needs in a safe and non-judgemental space.

We all have the capacity to feel a full array of emotions, which serve to both protect us and connect us to others. However, often due to socialization, family of origin, or individual temperament, we learn that some emotions are dangerous to feel and express. Through individual therapy, the therapist is the "trusted other" who can help both acknowledge and witness the emotions that may have been long hidden. When these emotions are uncovered, we can more easily discover our true want and needs.

Throughout our lives, we all have experienced feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger. These emotions leave you feeling insecure, shameful, lonely, unworthy and stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior. Trauma can have negative emotional and physical effects and can lead to family/relationship issues. I specialize in solution-focused brief therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and CBT. These approaches allow me to work with the client to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression and other health/behavioral issues.