Therapists in Castro Valley, CA

Hi there! My name's Sylvie and my pronouns are she/her and they/them. As a therapist, I am tender with people, tough on systems, and committed to our collective liberation. I've been a mental health worker for over eight years in schools, at a crisis center, and as a family therapist. I'm particularly experienced in and passionate about working with trauma in its many forms, and partnering with you to transform harm into what serves you, your beloved relationships, and the world you want to see. I offer individual counseling with youth and adults and relationship counseling with loved ones of all kinds.

Becoming a parent, going through pregnancy and childbirth or loss will impact your relationships (with others and yourself) in ways you never imagined. And lets not talk about parenting and the incredible difficulty involved with being responsible for other small humans. You will stand in the mirror and the person staring back at you is unfamiliar. You are irritable, tired and on edge all of the time. Your self esteem is low and you are feeling guilt and worry almost all the time. It all seems impossible and no one truly understands. You are not alone. Not alone in the pain. And you don't have to be alone in the healing.

In counseling, my passion is to offer support to mothers and parents of any gender in the perinatal period (including trying to conceive, pregnancy & pregnancy challenges/loss, birth & birth loss, postpartum and early parenthood), as well as to those healing from trauma, and exploring aspects of any identity you hold (around sexuality, race, gender, class, ability, etc) that need compassionate witnessing and support. I have worked as a certified domestic violence counselor, and am trained in EMDR through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. I bring these skills to support our work together.

My ideal client is "high-functioning." Ever heard of high-functioning anxiety, depression, and CPTSD? High-functioners tend to look like they have it all together from the outside, but there's an ongoing battle inside. Queer and neurospicy people, I'm talking to you too! Masking is the norm, and it is done by studying the world to act how they "should." Compartmentalizing and pushing feelings deep down to keep moving forward is how they've survived the tough stuff. Children who grew up worrying about upsetting their family or caring for their siblings often become self-abandoning adults.

Do you feel like your teen or adolescent is out of control? Are you an adult that struggles with anger, depression, anxiety or negative thinking? I specialize in working with clients using CBT along with meeting each client where they are to treat behavioral problems such as defiance, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression and daily stresses . I look at each client as an individual and work with them to identify their personal needs. I have experience treating depression, anxiety, defiant teens, parenting issues, ADHD, social skills, addiction, anger management, bipolar, families, relationships, domestic violence.

As a therapist, I bring a wealth of multicultural knowledge and experience to the table, ensuring you receive professional services built on respect and trust. Let’s bust the myth together: therapy isn’t just for those who’ve faced trauma. Whether you’re seeking clarity, a self-esteem boost, or solutions to life’s challenges, talking with a therapist can be life-changing!

Welcome! I provide a safe and relaxing place to heal and grow. I use my 23 years of experience to help people who are struggling to make sense of their lives and relationships. I help provide therapeutic environment where you can unleash yourself in discussing your journey for help as you curve through difficulties, while dealing with the brutal, impossible professional demands of Silicon Valley, growing as an individual, creating and recreating relationships, and many life changing events. I provide therapy to deal with issues, conflicts, desires to make changes, self-explorations and many other purposes.

My greatest passion is bringing healing to people who have been through traumatic/stressful experiences. I have helped clients that includes children, adults and families to help them find that health perception of themselves and strength in their relationships. I know that there's no single approach that is right to resolve past experience and it is different for every individual. My approach is listening to my clients needs and helping them find peace, complete, whole and safe. So what is an ideal client? That is hard to say as every client is unique with their needs and ways to approach them are always different.

When we are struggling to decide what direction to take in our lives, talking to a professional could help us to clarify our ideas. I have been working with couples, individuals, children, adolescents and families for 7 years. I have been treating anxiety, depression, trauma, infidelity, relational problems, etc. I use client centered models and I am trained in EMDR for trauma. My work is based on my clients goals, supporting them on the way to achieve those goals in a gentle manner. Connection is very important between clients and therapist as an any relationship this will facilitate communication and trust.

I am drawn to support clients heal the anxiety, guilt and shame from trauma. This may include trauma related to abuse, bullying, accidents, harassment, religious impositions, discrimination, and more. My clients often want to feel less anxiety, better manage their triggers, enjoy sexual intercourse with their partner(s), and redefine themselves from the trauma they experienced. Grounding techniques, challenging learned beliefs, asserting needs, and living more for self, are common themes in my practice and essential for post-traumatic growth. Integrating identities (e.g. race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.) is common in my practice.

Hello and welcome, I'm so glad you are searching for help for yourself. I specialize in working with people experiencing depression and anxiety. I have sucessfully treated adults and children with these issues for over 20 years. Whether it's day to day issues or trauma you've experienced that brings you to therapy, I work with you to decrease negative thoughts and behaviors. My focus is to put you back in charge of your life. In addition to treating depression and anxiety, I also work with special needs parents. I have significant experience with EMDR which has been very successful in reducing negative memories and flashbacks.

Regardless of the challenges you face, I believe you are the expert on you. My role is a supportive one as you identify your needs and work through complicated emotions and life experiences. Our work together is a partnership with shared aims: fewer unwanted emotions and behaviors, and a greater ability to respond to stressors. Whether you experience anxiety, grief, trauma, or interpersonal challenges, I am mindful of the vital influence of one's environment, culture, family system, and identity.

If you could let go of anything, what would it be? I provide short-term, intensive therapy that resolves the cause of your issue. I am a practitioner of Mimetic Therapies. This means I facilitate profound and transformational experiences in the resolution of Trauma/PTSD and Grief/Loss, as well as panic, depression, phobia, and pain for anyone- regardless of background- interested in feeling better. My ideal client is done talking about it, done doing workbooks, done understanding the cause. I connect deeply and directly with the parts of you that have been trying so hard to protect and heal your self and cause them to collaborate.

I have practiced as an Integrative Movement Psychotherapist for over 17 years and believe that true healing shines through when we work with the whole self-the body, the mind and spirit. As a body-mind therapist I bring in an eclectic mix of psychodynamic theories, strengths based practice, CBT, dance and movement therapy, expressive arts, eco-therapy and mindfulness work to my practice.

Are you looking for a space where you can keep it real and get support with achieving your goals? Good, because I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to create their best life. Building your happiness can be a challenging task as we are often faced with various societal stressors. As an African American woman, I am deeply aware of the societal stressors that hinder wellness. Without the proper support, obstacles in life can prevent you from being healthy and happy. My desire is to support Black Women from varied and diverse backgrounds with creating and or sustaining the life that they want for themselves.

I have experience supporting clients with a range of issues, and have training in many different treatment methods. I work well with motivated clients experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, stress management, gender exploration, as well as parenting and relationship challenges. If it seems what you are looking for is outside of my scope of practice or experience, I will work to connect you with providers and resources to best serve your needs.

Do you feel depressed, anxious or emotionally stuck? Feeling lost or overwhelmed? Life is full of up and down, and a lot of us chose to hide true feeling and try to move on. However, like physical injury, emotional wound needs appropriate attention & treatment too. If you let me, I would appreciate this great opportunity to join you on your journey of feeling, healing and growing. As a licensed clinical social worker with 6 years’ experience in the field, I have worked passionately with individuals, families, adults, hospital patients and children to learn positive ways and skills to cope with many stressors in life.