Therapists in Alameda County, CA

Feeling understood, feeling helped, and feeling supported are at the core of psychotherapy. Therapy can help when life’s challenges become too much to approach alone. Together, we can explore and understand difficult issues you are experiencing. Some common therapy goals are to understand important relationships, alleviate anxiety and depression, work through life transitions and losses, deepen self-understanding, and unlock troubling stuckness. In a safe setting with warmth and engagement, I provide an opportunity to gently move through what is bothering you most.

I help women become more present and powerful in their lives. I help individuals from all walks of life free themselves from the pain of the past, make better choices in the present, and identify and realize their dreams.

Are you feeling anxious or depressed? Blocked? Do you struggle with relationships, being assertive, asking for what you need, setting appropriate boundaries or navigating conflict? Do you have a history of trauma or neglect and still struggle with its effects? As a LMFT, I can help you explore these issues and more, so you can come to understand yourself more deeply and make more conscious life choices.

Hi there, I'm Donna! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the State of California. I have served in the military, identify as Lesbian, and have worked in the Counseling field since 1995. My specialties are trauma, addictions, life transitions, grief, depression, anxiety, stress, and relationship challenges. My approach is Eclectic, pulling from several modalities to include Solution-focused, Strength-based, Trauma-informed, Cognitive; Dialectical; Behavioral, and Motivational skills and techniques. I love working with people to help them learn and grow as others have helped me.

Real transformation is possible when you have the right tools to mine your inner gems. With my 30 years experience, I give you leading-edge methods to help you deal with various psychological issues. Self-healing tools from Eastern and Western traditions can reduce or eliminate medications and empowers your inner healer to deal with your anxiety, depression, chronic pain, insomnia, trauma,hypertension, etc. Transform your inner critic into a helpful coach :-)

Psychotherapy is a uniquely effective way to address and process deeply rooted issues that manifest in ways that are painful, confusing, and make people feel out of control. I work with children, adolescents, and adults in individual therapy, using a collaborative approach that centers on empathy, understanding, and exploration. My orientation is predominantly psychodynamic, and I tailor my approach to each individual to address unique circumstances and complexities. I strive to create a safe, warm, and validating environment that enables people to share and be vulnerable without fear of judgment.

My goal is to promote and encourage good mental health with a person-centered approach. To help clients acquire coping skills that will raise self esteem, and overall well being. To support and encourage clients not only in therapy, but outside as well. To assist in accessing community resources as well as family support if appropriate, and friends.

I believe that each of us is a unique expression of Love and that we are at our happiest and most content when we feel in touch with ourselves and our loved ones. I also know that life can be challenging and seem overwhelming at times. Experiences of trauma, relationship problems, transitions, illness/death, and even the world around us can leave us feeling anxious, depressed or alone. My focus is on helping my clients learn the tools that they need to discover or return to the self they desire to be.

I help people with anxiety and trauma find freedom from their emotions and thoughts to live a more meaningful life. Maybe you find yourself overwhelmed with anxiety and self-critical thoughts, even though on the outside you appear just fine. Or perhaps you have a history of trauma or difficult relationships and you don't know how to handle the strong emotions you feel at times. These experiences can be confusing and overwhelming, and I can help you learn to work with them in a compassionate and insightful way so that you can be the person you want to be.

I enjoy working with folks who need support in managing a wide variety of issues from self-esteem and identity concerns to the stress of dealing with multiple roles, relationships, and life demands (as students, partners, friends, parents, new professionals, family members, community activists, etc.) My clinical interests include multicultural and women's issues, racial/ethnic identity development (especially among biracial/multi-racial/ethnic/cultural individuals), sexual and gender identity development, adjustment and transition issues, and building healthy relationships through assertive communication and positive self-esteem.

We are in the midst of a powerful and pressurized time. Personal challenges are amplified by collective stress and it can be difficult to navigate such new and complex terrain within and around us. We want to feel connected, whole, and in our purpose, but separation, isolation, and fragmented realities are heightened. In this time, awareness, compassion, and courage are needed to meet the painful spaces and shed light on our shadows, transforming them into opportunities for more presence, fulfillment, and peace. I aim to empower the healer within you. As we heal, we serve ourselves and the world around us for the better.

I specialize in working with individuals suffering from symptoms of anxiety and depression, both circumstantial and life-long, perinatal/maternal mental health struggles, challenging life transitions and developmental stages, those seeking relationship building/separating, parenting, first-time, brave therapy seekers and an essential desire to be understood. It can be intimidating to begin the process of self-exploration. It is not a simple endeavor. However, when the fit between psychotherapist and therapy seeker is a match, it can feel immensely relieving. Each individual is unique as is one's process of self discovery.

I have over 25 years experience working with a variety of clients who seek support and help making changes. Perhaps PTSD, depression or anxiety are roadblocks in your life. Perhaps you are self medicating with substances to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, or trauma. Or perhaps you are struggling with codependent behaviors that stop you from growing. I listen and offer support. I have a variety of techniques available to use including EMDR, EFT, CBT, and more, that can facilitate the changes you seek.

I am a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience. I work with individuals, couples and families using a strength-based, solution oriented approach. I am trained both psycho-dynamically and in family systems work. I utilize the Developmental Model for couples therapy. I work with adults, couples and families and with children and adolescents facing school issues, behavioral issues, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, separation and step-parenting and family of origin issues. I will work with you to set achievable goals in therapy in order to promote positive individual and/or family change.

Is your child exhibiting emotional and/or behavioral problems? Are you having problems with your relationships or at work? Are you feeling overwhelmed with anxiety or struggling with depression? I can help. In the safety of a caring and collaborative relationship, we will work on understanding how difficult life patterns are no longer serving you. My role is to meet my clients where they are and help guide them toward making lasting positive changes. I provide both short-term and long-term therapy. Call for a free consultation today!

My ideal client is someone who is ready to commit to their journey of change. Having an awareness of what they desire to focus on and what it means to them to grow in that area is imperative to making consistent strides in our work together.

Your relationship is important. You have forged a bond, and have developed ways of connecting that in many ways feel like home to each of you. At the same time, you are finding differences or similarities in history, approaches to life, or coping styles that result in a recurring disconnect. It's hard to get past certain communication tangles. There could be topics that are difficult to broach, or compromises difficult to negotiate. You would like your relationship to be a safe haven. You want to work through these challenges together and better understand each other.