Trauma Focused Therapists in Alameda, CA

As a therapist and supervisor for associates, I strive to always be honest with my clients, open to feedback, and work collaboratively. It is my focus to assist you in reaching the goals that YOU want to achieve. We will work in a collaborative manner to create goals and design a pathway to change. I will challenge you to enact this change and guide you through the process in a supportive manner. For Parents of Children and Teens: Trauma, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression can play havoc with your child's ability to thrive and be happy, affect grades, and lower cognitive abilities and emotion regulation. I am here to help.

Are you struggling to find peace, happiness, greater satisfaction, and healthier relationships? Do you continue to feel empty, angry, sad, or anxious? Do you feel as if you have limited ability to change? Self-knowledge is the key to understanding why you continue to struggle and how you can change the continuous negative cycle into a positive one. Through the process of psychotherapy, you will discover how your internal world interprets and affects your external world and how these mechanisms were developed. I can help you gain the insight and self-knowledge necessary for positive, lasting change.

My ideal client is the one that is open and willing to do work therapeutic work required to achieve mental wholeness and happiness.

Whether experiencing distress due to current life circumstances or lingering hurts and difficulties, working with a supportive therapist can help. Each individual and family has its own unique story and set of strengths and struggles. My practice consists of working with children, families and adults. I have provided services in diverse settings including schools, youth and family service organizations and substance abuse programs. I have had the honor of working with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. I believe in working collaboratively with clients and I strive to provide a welcoming environment that promotes healing, self-acceptance and learning new skills to cope.

My work is with individuals and couples who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get down to the task of making transformative shifts in their lives. Often people come to therapy believing that our history makes us who we are. Using the therapy relationship as a secure base from which to explore, clearing away the clutter and loosening a few knots, we often find that our history has obscured who we really are. In some way, most of us are longing for a sense of well-being that is not wholly dependent on external circumstances.

I am a warm, collaborative therapist who enjoys working with children, adults and families. My hope is to build an alliance with each person that will facilitate personal growth and increased satisfaction in relationships. With both children and adults I employ an eclectic mixture of: Attachment Theory, EMDR, FLASH, positive psychology, CBT, solution oriented, social stories, play therapy, and lots of listening. When things seem difficult I can help brainstorm practical strategies for getting through hard times. I have a strong belief that we all know what is best for ourselves, sometimes it's just hard to envision.

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.

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.

I enjoy working with neurodivergent youth and adults who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and are exploring issues around gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and coming out. I also work with individuals who have a history of trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression. I am passionate about supporting clients who are recovering from trauma in attaining a greater sense of regulation and calm in their nervous systems, in order to lead happier, more fulfilled lives.

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.

I provide a safe space to explore patterns that are not working for you, identify spots of stuckness in your life and find solutions. I help people resolve ambivalence about change to help them embrace the life they were given. I use the evidence-based practice Motivational Interviewing (ambivalence counseling) as a clinical foundation in my work.

Healing happens in connection with others. What is shareable is bearable. I am a biracial, multicultural Oakland native. I know what it feels like to navigate the "in-between." I work with a diverse range of clients, adults and teens, and seek to reduce stigma around reaching out for support. I can help you to understand your challenges within the unique, social context of your life. I encourage self-reflection, making connections, and having your own "A-ha!" moments through our work together.

I work with children ranging in age from kindergarten through middle school, as well as parents and caregivers. I can help children who are facing challenges around anxiety, life transitions, losses, self-esteem, and relationships with peers and/or family members. I know that children are most effectively treated when their parents are engaged in the treatment process. The degree to which parents are included depends on each child’s needs. I am also happy to provide parent consultation as the primary intervention if a parent is interested in trying that approach instead of individual child therapy.

Finding a therapist can be a difficult task; actually calling one is even harder. When I am struggling with something I find myself irritable, directionless, and without energy (or too much nervous energy) a difficult time to build new relationships. It is my hope that stepping into my office might feel like finding an oasis; a welcoming place where you can put down your burdens, relax, and see what you can unpack or unload. I engage with people with acceptance and curiosity. I find things I like and inspiration in conversations. I am constantly amazed by people’s creativity, perspective, and desire to connect in a personal ways.

I work exclusively with Active Duty Military, Veterans and their partners/spouses, assisting them to navigate the impact of military life, the aftermath of combat & non-combat deployments, and the life of multiple-ongoing missions. My focus is Combat & Post Traumatic Stress, as well as what is now being referred to as "Moral Injury". Over the last 2 years, I've worked increasingly with combat & SAR aviators, and members of the Special Operation Forces (SOF) Community, co-creating custom tailored, and often unconventional interventions to match their unconventional culture and personalities.