Therapists in Oakland, CA

Do you identify as LGBTQIA+ or queer curious and struggling in your relationships or authentic sense of identity? Or, are you having a hard time managing your anxiety or codependency? Do you experience low self esteem and want to build confidence? Are you living as an adult survivor of emotional or physical abuse? Are you looking for a therapist who practices fat acceptance and celebrates body diversity? I specialize in these areas, and I'd love to support you in finding self-compassion and self confidence. I also have a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy and find it a deeply powerful tool to care for ourselves.

For 20 years, I have provided safe, affirming trauma therapy for adults, couples, and groups. I also have the experience and education to provide therapy for many other relationship, mood, and dissociative concerns. I am straightforward, collaborative, and endeavor to be empowering. My therapy style is relational and includes a focus on emotion & body connection and your whole picture of health. We will work together to create peace and fullness in your life.

I specialize in working with folx who identify with the following communities: ethical non-monogamy (ENM), polyamory, kink, BDSM, and LGBTQA+ and who are struggling with anxiety, depression and a history of trauma. I think of psychotherapy as a necessary form of social activism toward a larger goal of equity for people of all races, genders, sexual/relational orientations, levels of ability, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Let's work together to bring you back to yourself, your relationships and your community!

I am passionate about providing trauma-informed and dynamic treatment to folx who may feel unwelcome in their communities due to both internal and external perceptions of their identity. My passion is working with queer folx of color to foster a healing and reparative experience to discover and be empowered in your authentic self. Whether you're looking for a space of your own, for you and your partner(s) or chosen family, our work together can allow for deeper understanding, openness and communication.

Life can feel crazy, we can feel crazy ourselves, but you don't have to navigate it alone. I have particular experience with complex trauma, dissociation, depression, anxiety, neurodivergence, and religious trauma. After all, I've been there myself. Everyone's journey is different, yet I know from experience how hard, disorienting, and difficult it can be. Still, I believe life can be different when we travel together instead of carrying our burdens and pain alone. That's why I'm an online therapist practicing through the auspices of Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center, a nonprofit organization providing affordable counseling.

Therapy provides such a rich opportunity for growth and learning, helping persons to recover from the aftermaths of trauma, abuse and loss, meet the hardships of their lives and thrive. In times like this, with so much anxiety about our collective welfare, it can be an invaluable lifeline. In response to the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we are now offering teletherapy (therapy by phone and online by video) for all our clients, whether new or established. Also called telehealth or telebehavioral health, teletherapy can provide vital care and support to individuals, couples and families.

I offer therapy in CA and coaching internationally through an online format. My primary focus is supporting people with issues related to non-monogamy through a trauma informed lens. My practice is kink, queer, trans, monogamy, poly, open relationship, RA, neurodivergent, and quirk friendly. I’m passionate about sharing tools that can help others experience secure relationships in whatever structures feel like the best fit for the unique values, desires, and ways of being of the individuals involved. My ideal clients are simply people who want to show up as their most authentic & actualized selves.

As a complex trauma therapist, I specialize in a variety of modalities including: brainspotting, accelerated resolution therapy (ART), somatic experiencing, mindfulness meditation, and expressive arts. I work with teens and adults who have experienced childhood trauma.

At times, life can be incredibly challenging and painful for all of us. I specialize in supporting folks figure out the root of their difficulty and find the clarity and strength to move beyond their hardship. Whether you're feeling lost in how to address your issues or feel weighed down by trauma, I am here to sit with you and help you no longer be defined by these difficulties.

I believe that experiencing loving, nurturing relationships is the best part of being alive. I also recognize that for many of us, creating and maintaining such relationships can be incredibly hard. I view psychotherapy as a means to explore whatever is currently blocking our path to healthy, fulfilling and supportive connections--both to others and to ourselves. Sometimes that means building skills we never learned in the first place. Other times that means examining challenging past experiences. Whatever the circumstances, I am here to support your journey toward growth, fulfillment, and ultimately, greater joy.

Are you looking for a new creative way to deal with difficulties in life and get in touch with your best self? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything with your child, but they struggle to benefit from traditional talk therapy? As art therapists, we incorporate talk therapy with art making to help our clients unlock their creative potential, look at problems with fresh eyes, and develop new creative coping skills for managing with difficult emotions. If you or your child is feeling blocked by past trauma, stuck in destructive patterns, or overwhelmed by depression or anxiety, then I encourage you to reach out. You are not alone.

It’s not always easy to ask for help. It often takes courage to recognize that something is off and that your feelings and behaviors have overwhelmed your resources to cope. You may have already put considerable time and energy into your wellness and yet are baffled by why it is that you still are experiencing things like negative beliefs about yourself, overwhelming emotions, knee-jerk emotional reactions, difficulty having the kind of relationships or work you truly want, or why it is that you engage in self-destructive behavior. I'm here to help you gain freedom from these patterns so that you can live the life you deserve.

Welcome! I work with people across many areas, but those who seek me out tend to be queer/LGBTQIAA2+, neurodivergent in some way, trans/non-binary/gender non-conforming, chronically or acutely ill, disabled, fat-identified and/or working on an empowered relationship with their body, polyamorous, kinky, sex workers, and non-traditional family structures. I'll be with you every step of the way as you move from shame to self-compassion, and work through the expression of anger, sadness, and grief around what you've lost, or what you never got to have.

Do you find yourself unable to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy the moment? Are you anxious, depressed, or having trouble in your relationships? While having these experiences can be common, each person is unique as to why it’s happening and what works to decrease their struggle. Together, we'll explore why you’re feeling this way and seek ways to lessen the impact. Work with kids/teens (10-17) is child-centered and done with caregiver collaboration, including but not limited to parent sessions, check-ins, and referrals to additional providers.

At Bridges Therapy Group of California, we’re dedicated to matching you with the perfect therapist for you and ensuring that your insurance will truly pay for your sessions. We are contracted, in-network providers with all the insurers listed below. We verify your benefits before you start so there are no surprises to you.

Welcome! I understand the challenges of finding the right therapist. My aim is to provide a sanctuary where we address your concerns from a holistic perspective.My practice is tailored for individuals who identify as queer, trans, non-binary, or are exploring gender and/or sexuality. Embracing a trauma-informed approach, I acknowledge the experiences you've endured and can support your journey toward healing.With over two decades of experience, I specialize in mood condition like Bipolar Disorder. Whether it's navigating identity or focusing on other essential aspects of your life such as relationships or career, I'm here to help.

I have been privileged to have experienced a very diverse clientele. Currently I am accepting clients who are LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, those who are working on trauma or traumatic pasts, 'outside the box' or deep thinkers, and/or those who have lived diverse/alternative lives. When contacting me, please say what about this profile you were interested in, and why you think we might be a good match.

Are you struggling to connect with a partner or child who is increasingly irritable and withdrawn? Has your family member turned to substances to cope with increased stress? As a wife and mother, I know how heart-wrenching it is to watch someone you love struggle and to be pushed away when you show caring. They may tell you nothing’s wrong, but your concern doesn’t just turn off like a switch. In fact, that may be part of the problem. Do you feel selfish when you think about how much you're struggling? This is a common feeling to have - but any therapist would tell you from experience - you can’t pour from an empty cup.

You may feel lost, but you are not alone. We all experience suffering as a part of the human condition, yet sometimes our symptoms of stress, despair, worry, or self-criticism stand in the way of living the life that we want. If you find yourself troubled by a particular life problem or psychological condition, or generally lacking a sense of vitality and purpose, working with a clinician can help you reconnect with yourself and your strengths. Therapy often helps us to make useful connections between our actions, our thinking, our emotional reality, and patterns in relationships that we have developed over years.