Therapists in Oakland, CA

Mike Lubofsky, Licensed Therapist and Attorney • My ideal client is highly intelligent, intellectually curious, and sincerely open to change. My work as a therapist is a deep calling and the challenging exploration of psychological and existential issues with clients often leads to profound emotionally corrective experiences with clients. Many clients, including lawyers, have "checked all the boxes" and have hit a wall of frustration and dissatisfaction. I have navigated those profound challenges and my life's work is to help others find their authentic paths.

There are elements to all of us that are hidden and unknown until we encounter right timing. It is important to uncover these secret parts of self, yearning to be discovered, with the right support. A few things you should know about what it's like to work with me: My style is warm, witty, compassionate + forthcoming. I value transparency, kindness, justice + joy. I'm directive when called for + I like to challenge my clients to go deep. I draw from my own experience of trauma + healing.

Therapy is difficult enough without having to deal with stigma and a lack of understanding from your mental healthcare provider. I aim to meet my clients where they're at, supporting them with a warm, empathic, non-judgmental approach and delivering on functional and tangible strategies to navigate the myriad of challenges that life throws at them.

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 currently provide telehealth services for anyone residing in California or Utah. I believe the core self knows what we need in order to heal if we listen. I have experience with teens/adults who struggle with suicidality/self-injury, trauma, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, life-transitions, and spiritual/religious crises. We apply in-depth DBT, and also (importantly) what comes after DBT. I am trained in Mindfulness, DBT Foundations, EMDR, and Sand Tray work. I work well with spiritual orientations, behavioral approaches, narrative and strengths-based work. My doctoral research focused on self-injury.

Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless? Facing a crossroads? Exhausted by endless responsibilities? Relief may seem impossible when you are faced with chronic stress or extreme difficulties... but it is possible. My name is Lotus and I may be able to help. I am a Licensed Therapist and Gender Specialist with nearly a decade of experience specializing in Gender Dysphoria, complex trauma, depression, anxiety and disordered eating across the entire lifespan. Whether you are seeking support for you or your child, no topic is "too much" for me. I have supported hundreds of children and their families and adults build balanced, joyful lives.

By creating a safe, non-judgmental, and exploratory space, healing and shifts can occur. I can support you to deepen your self-awareness, transform unhelpful beliefs and patterns, improve your relationships, and learn healthy ways to manage the challenges of your daily life. I provide an empathic, humorous, supportive, and relational approach to my work. I am compassionately direct when needed. We will work together to ensure you are experiencing growth and healing. Together we will discover solutions and take steps to meet your goals.

Though I work with most issues, I specialize in helping people recover from complex trauma. People with narcissistic, abusive, or neglectful parents or partners sometimes develop issues with trusting themselves, have difficulty maintaining close relationships, struggle with an inner critic, vacillate often between depression and anxiety, lack a solid sense of identity, or feel a sense of emptiness when their lives seem great on paper. Sometimes that trauma can even become part of one's identity - I work with clients to build insight, boundaries, self-compassion, and acceptance to free themselves from it & live more fulfilling lives.

The past 22 years I've seen an eclectic group of clientele: men, women & couples of any gender/orientation who want to improve their sexual lifestyle. I've helped men overcome ED through increasing their self confidence and women who want to feel more sexually in charge. I've seen over 25,000 couples throughout every stage of their relationship whether single, dating, married, or exploring and experimenting couples to ones who are curious how to stay together and keep the chemistry strong. My clients include stay at home moms, stressed out executives, artists, entrepreneurs & communities: LGBTQ, BDSM, & Transgender Families.

I offer validating, compassionate, skilled psychotherapy and coaching in DBT, ACT and other evidence-based treatments. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, emotion dysregulation or a sense of 'disconnection' from your values and purpose, the skills-based therapy of DBT can be life-changing. I am passionate about DBT and mindfulness - and how our practice of these powerful skills can help us build a life worth living. Empathy, humor and cultural humility are cornerstones of my work, along with a deeply collaborative approach with my clients. See https://jenafir-house.clientsecure.me for more information.

In addition to working extensively with anxiety issues, I specialize in helping clients improve their relationships with their partners/spouses. I wholeheartedly welcome both straight and LGBT clients into my practice. I often tell clients that everything makes perfect sense (ie. the problems they share and how they react), and all we need to do is find the right pieces of the puzzle to help them understand. It is from this understanding that relief and solutions arise. By truly understanding what anxiety is and isn't, we learn how to navigate it so it doesn't control our lives.

Whatever your current struggle, loss, transition or self-limiting behaviors are, I am committed to helping you access your own wisdom and healing potential. I am interactive, supportive, engaged and solution-based, tailoring interventions to your personal needs. Goals can include helping you: Find personal freedom, hope, and self-compassion that are the calling beneath fear/anxiety; Become happier and stronger as you navigate through loss and change related to career, relationships, aging, etc; Find balance in your life and what really brings you passion and joy; Relinquish problematic behaviors and beliefs and find a more workable and heartfelt connection to yourself and others.

I support clients to find, expand, and honor their voice in difficult circumstances. I work to assist clients who have been hurt and traumatized reclaim their feelings of safety and vitality. Whether you are ambivalent in a relationship, in pain due to trauma or hurt, struggling with a dilemma, unhappy about your own behavior, facing significant loss, or feeling stuck, together we can create a comfortable place for you to work.

Congratulations on looking for a therapist. These are difficult times, and you’re not alone if you find yourself struggling with feelings of depression, worry, and uncertainty. Therapy can reduce suffering and foster the growth of hope, equanimity, joy, and feelings of connectedness. For those starting therapy, I prioritize building a strong rapport within a climate of safety and trust; a compassionate, empathetic therapeutic environment; and clear and responsive communication; and respect for your personal goals and values.