Chronic Pain Therapists in Alameda, CA
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Christine S Kovach
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I specialize in supportive counseling with those facing serious
illness
(chronic, life threatening or new diagnoses), coping with the challenges of caregiving and grief/loss, as well as dealing with other life transitions. I am also pleased to provide consultations regarding elder care and planning for increasing needs. I frequently facilitate caregiver support groups and groups to support hospice staff members as they provide care to those who are terminally ill. In addition, I offer workshops employing expressive arts to address issues of grief and life transitions (Example: Day of the Dead Altar-making in Honor of Lost Loved ones).
Lina M Hannigan
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
With a background in health/medical psychology and biofeedback, I focus on mind-body health and
chronic pain
/
illness
management.
Therapy with me is a place of active change. I help people manage stress and reduce overwhelm, strengthen relationships, build resilience, and move from "stuckness" into growth. My patients come to me to shift thinking styles, improve communication, and increase productivity. I use evidence-based practices (such as CBT and mindfulness) to enhance self-awareness, build skills, and achieve targeted goals. We also explore core beliefs and behavior patterns to deepen self-understanding. With couples, my work is informed by the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy. My office is located in a beautiful, peaceful marina setting.
Waitlist for new clients
Suzie Rudloff
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
People come to therapy with unique needs, concerns, and life circumstances. Through the process of self-inquiry, I help clients gain insight and develop effective coping skills to move through a challenge with greater ease and understanding. My therapeutic style is warm, compassionate and curious about one's experience. I use an attachment based, person-centered approach that offers individuals and couples clarity around repetitive patterns that cause
pain
, conflict, and limit growth.
Melissa K Bowman
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MS, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I love what I do! I have the pleasure of working with clients from five to 105-years-old! Having the opportunity to work with an expansive age range has taught me that at any age: we want to be loved and we want to love, we want to belong, we want to have purpose, we want to experience joy, and we don't want
pain
. My goal as a therapist, is to help my clients find ways to reduce, restructure, and remove obstacles that cause
pain
; while building on our individual resources to promote health, happiness and well-being.
Gussie Lynn Rubin
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
I see people with relationship problems, depression, anxiety,
chronic pain
, aging, self harm, low self esteem, etc.
I emphasize warmth, compassion and collaboration. I give feedback and listen to yours.
Together we look at what you do outside and what we do together. We use conversation, intuition, meditation and silence to discover what drives you, what nourishes you, what blocks you, and what helps you make changes that allow you to develop a fuller, more spontaneous life.
Waitlist for new clients
Susan B. Garner, MA MFT
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
I enjoy working with adults who are interested in becoming more conscious. We all have reactions to things but there are some reactions or triggers that cause emotional
pain
. These triggers are usually a leftover piece of unprocessed
pain
. Unless they are understood and healed, they'll keep coming up. I enjoy working with clients who are motivated and curious about this process. The result is more peace of mind and a more fulfilling relationship with oneself and others.
Natalie O'Mara
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
Verified
The decision to begin therapy is a courageous step–one that can be life-changing. Whether you are feeling anxious, sad, stressed, angry, confused or stuck, therapy can offer a safe space for you to explore your inner world and gain new insights and skills. I have helped clients across the lifespan manage difficult emotions, heal traumas, gain self-confidence, learn new skills for navigating romantic and social relationships, find relief from long-term mental health issues, uncover creativity and life purpose, and reconnect with their partners in new ways. Therapy is a collaboration and I am here to help you on your journey.
Suzanne Hayne
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I consider therapy a collaborative effort, guided by your needs. Through meaningful conversations I address your goals, your beliefs & their origins, and look at what's not working for you anymore. Therapy gives you the space you need to look at what is true to you by exploring your boundaries and willingness to go to uncomfortable places. I've been working in a private practice since 2008, first as an intern and now as a licensed clinician. I am attentive, warm, and compassionate. I take my work seriously & believe a little humor can aid in the healing process.
Tucker Peck
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
8 Endorsed
Verified
8 Endorsed
Over the last 17 years, I've worked with a diverse group of child, teenage, and adult clients (individuals and couples) across a wide range of settings, both inpatient and outpatient. I use a client-directed approach, where you and I collaborate to determine what the therapy process will look like, rather than the therapist taking the "expert role" on your life. Some of the problems I most often help people with are depression, insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, grief & trauma, and adjustment to life's stressors and changes. I can see clients either at my Alameda office or over telemedicine.
Private
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD, MFT, MA , BA
Verified
Verified
I can make a difference in your child's success in special education, IEPs, learning differences, navigating for parents who's children may need extra help in school, or having a negative effect on a young child who has lost their self esteem and has a failure mentality and turn it into a child believing and feeling like they can succeed and has pride with knowing they can achieve success. Academic help is every child's right through a federal law that is already in place. Many parents do not know how to access these programs. These techniques or resources are tailored specifically for your child.
Alina Steinberg Baugh
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT
Verified
Verified
My main goal in the therapeutic relationship is to provide a safe, non-judgmental, trusting environment where individuals can explore their feelings in their search for a more fulfilling life. I provide therapy personalized to your unique situation and needs, treating each person’s problems within the context of each circumstance. I will work towards developing a relationship with you where you can feel safe to express your thoughts and feelings and what is holding you back from living life more fully. I am not just a passive listener, I will give you feedback in a direct and honest way.
Not accepting new clients
Deborah Ronay
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Taking this first step of looking for a therapist might feel difficult and overwhelming, yet it is crucial in order to begin to feel better. Fostering your healing will come from our ability to work together and as my client I want you to be an empowered consumer of psychotherapy. I value transparency, honesty and a real dialogue about how effective our work is. I will strive to both support and challenge you as we strengthen your capacity for mindfulness, insight and greater joy in your life. We will collaborate to discover ways in which you are already being resilient against difficulties, challenges and problems.
Kelly M. Sharp
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
8 Endorsed
Verified
8 Endorsed
Emotional distress can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, hopelessness and isolation. Stress resulting from uncertainty can greatly impact our ability to engage in relationships, to make healthy choices and our self esteem. Learning to cope adaptively can make life more manageable, especially during stressful life events.
Not accepting new clients
Kelly Scott
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Life can be overwhelming and stressful at times. Therapy can provide the support one needs to overcome the challenges we may face. I believe each of us possesses the strength and courage needed to face life’s difficulties and make positive changes for ourselves. With respect and compassion, I would work with you to develop the most effective and empathic approach to achieving your therapeutic goals.
Michael Mombrea
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, CEAP
Verified
Verified
Every individual has a unique life story that leads them to seek help. Each stage of life provides challenges that are opportunities for growth. I work with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief and loss, and a variety of stress related medical conditions. I also have a special interest in working with men struggling with intimacy in their relationships and maintaining work-life balance. In over 20 years of experience as a therapist, I have learned that listening with empathy and developing trust with my clients are the most essential elements for healing and emotional growth.
Elizabeth Dandenell
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
At East Bay Center for Anxiety Relief, we work with adults, children, teens, couples, and families. We also facilitate periodic groups focused on communication skills, social skills, anxiety, depression, and working women. We strive for mindful, efficient, and effective therapy. Our clinicians are trained in research-based models such as TEAM-CBT and Gottman couples/family models. We work a bit differently than more traditional practices. We don’t cram an hour of therapy into 50 minutes. Instead, we provide full 60-, 75-, or 90-minute sessions.
Roxanne Fuller
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA, CMT, RYT
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Sessions are available, now, on-line, and phone. I provide a safe haven for you to explore stress, relationship issues, and past traumas that are getting in the way of you experiencing a fulfilling life. My unique and gentle techniques enable you to challenge patterns and behaviors that are limiting joy, satisfaction, and the ability to be calm.. We work at your pace, developing strategies, which will empower you to reach your goals. Together we create a safe environment, where you feel free to shift and change on all levels of being: psychological, emotional, spiritual, physical, and energetic.
David Weinstein
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
Verified
I will interrupt you a lot, that is what meditation does. It interrupts our stories about ourselves and the world around us. I will also listen to you, deeply. That is another way meditation helps, we learn to listen to ourselves deeply. The word akrasia means 'out of control' and is used to describe the way we continue to do things that we know is not in our best interest, or don't do things that we know are in our best interest. Most people feel relief just to know there is word for it. The cause of akrasia is said to be a lack of information and meditation gives us access to the information we need to change.
Not accepting new clients
Rene DValery Therapy
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
7 Endorsed
Verified
7 Endorsed
In the current times, with some much going on and so much to think about, we might need to unload and process. I would like to make myself available to individuals who are facing an overwhelm of emotions, thoughts, of feelings, with the hope of helping them find resources to cope and succeed. I like to work with individuals who recognize that their lives could be better if something were different. My approach allows for time-limited therapy. On session 1, I discuss with my clients the length of time that they might have available to offer to the therapeutic process, short and long term goals that they would like to achieve.
Not accepting new clients
Cici Kinsman
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, MFT
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
My style is engaged, authentic and direct, while holding space for our complete focus on your work at your pace. I operate with deep respect for the ways in which culture, race, class, gender, gender identity, immigrant status, sexuality, and physical ability can impact your experiences and sense of yourself. I work with a wide range of clients including individuals, adolescents and couples of all sexual orientations (heterosexual, gay, lesbian, queer, bisexual); clients of all genders and gender identities; people of multicultural or immigrant backgrounds; parents, prospective parents.
See more therapy options for
Chronic Pain Therapists
How does chronic pain therapy work?
Engaging with a psychotherapist to help treat chronic pain does not mean that one’s pain is all in their head. Therapy for chronic-pain patients has been shown to benefit both the mind and the body, targeting physical symptoms and increasing daily functioning. In other words, for many, addressing their emotional health through therapy affects their physical health. A therapist can help a client challenge unhelpful thoughts about pain and develop new ways to respond to it, such as distraction or calming breathing techniques. Studies have found that therapy can be as effective as surgery for certain cases of chronic pain and many doctors recommend trying psychotherapy in advance of considering invasive surgery.
What are the most effective treatment options for chronic pain?
Stress, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, ruminating, lack of activity, and social withdrawal all make chronic pain worse. Addressing these issues, research shows, can help people gain control over their pain symptoms. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, along with greater pain-management education, have been found to help people reduce fear and disability.
Are there new treatments for chronic pain?
Many cases of chronic pain, particularly those involving back pain, remain medically unexplained. But there is evidence that changes in the brain or nervous system are caused by previous physical ailments such as tissue damage; in such cases, the brain may continue to send out pain signals despite the physical cause having healed. To aid patients under these circumstances, a recently developed treatment known as pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is designed to help the brain “unlearn” this response. A PRT practitioner helps individuals to reduce the “threat value” of their ongoing pain signals until they can reappraise them as less threatening and fear-inducing. They also help an individual to develop new emotional regulation skills.
How long does therapy for chronic pain take?
There is no set timeline for recovery from chronic pain, especially as there may be a range of physical and psychological causes for any individual’s discomfort, but most patients should expect to see a therapist for a number of weeks or months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions. Studies of pain reprocessing therapy found that many individuals’ experience of pain lessened in eight sessions over four weeks.