Divorce Therapists in Albany, CA

Are you experiencing marital conflict? Do you worry about how conflict with your mate affects your children? I have over 20 years experience working with clients dealing with a wide variety of issues, including family conflict, divorce , child custody, parenting issues, depression, addiction, and anxiety. Research has proven that the parental relationship directly impacts a child's self esteem and social skills. I am a warm, dynamic and solution oriented therapist. I work along side you, to help you identify and overcome the problems which are causing pain in your life.

"Are you worrying that you are stuck in old patterns of thinking and behaving regarding yourself and others that make you unhappy, depressed, anxious, or irritable? Are you trying to connect and communicate with a partner, friends, or co-workers, but find youself misunderstood, angry, or lonely? Are you longing to be happier yet unable to figure out how to change? I have helped hundreds of people with similar concerns to experience more joy and success in their lives. Together we can examine your concerns from new perspectives and overcome the obstacles preventing you from achieving your innermost goals.

Do you feel stuck or misunderstood and often have strong reactions towards others and can't seem to figure out if it's you or others? Often times our cultural identity and values intertwine into our current relationships creating tensions, stress and challenges. Our differences in communication styles, thinking patterns and ways of expressing our feelings maybe the reasons we are experiencing stress in our lives and our relationships. Psychotherapy can provide the opportunity for us to explore the distress and difficulties in your relationships in a safe space and deepen your self reflection of unconscious behaviors and patterns.

Finding the right therapist is an important step in the healing process. As a Marriage and Family Therapist and an Expressive Art Therapist, I specialize in working with young children and their families facing divorce , grief, anxiety, and trauma. Parents, wanting the best for their children and families, face many challenges. I have more than 10 years of experience, as both an educator and a therapist, supporting families in their healing and growth.

My theoretical approach blends mindfulness and depth / psychodynamic orientations. Mindfulness practices are highly effective in helping you find relief from negative thought patterns that lead to depression or anxiety. In depth psychotherapy, I provide guidance and compassionate support to help you understand the roots of current problems and make positive changes with insight and wisdom.

In my psychotherapy practice I create a space where you can feel comfortable and safe expressing emotions and exploring difficult issues. With compassion and mindfulness I listen to what you say through your words and what you say when there are no words. Together we will decide on the treatment modality that is best for you. I have tended to specialize in two main areas: trauma and relationship issues. My background in psychodynamic therapy offers a strong foundation for understanding behavior and the way we unintentionally get trapped in patterns.

Important areas of my practice include anxiety, depression and overwhelming emotional states that interfere with and limit the satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from relationships and work. I also treat symptoms related to phase of life problems such as career changes, parenthood, mid-life, separation and divorce . A strong interest of mine is how to develop and maintain healthy relationships. I am an ex-lawyer, having worked as a litigator, and my style is interactive and collaborative. My office is near the campus of the University of California in Berkeley.

Most of my clients would not define themselves as mainstream. They find some aspects of society to be unhealthy and unacceptable. Psychotherapy can help you define and integrate the many aspects of yourself and create a meaningful life consistent with your beliefs and values. Because I grew up in extended family with strong social values, I am aware that US values of rugged individualism and unbridled ambition do not suit everyone. I work well with people who question these values and who can use support to have the courage to follow their own paths.

I specialize in work with couples and individual adults dealing with relationship problems. Common issues for couples I see include communication difficulties, affairs, arguing or withdrawing, parenting conflict. I have experience working with a diverse range of people, including couples in mixed race/culture relationships, inter-faith relationships and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

You met someone; you fell in love…is it time to build a family together? What about all the fights you have been having recently? Now you are a mother/father, juggling childcare, professional development, housework… what about US? What about ME? How to teach our kids when we don’t even agree? Things are not working out; Shall we give it one last try before separating? My partner wants to open up the relationship/marriage. What does it even mean?

Do you know that something needs to change in your life? Does your heart or your stomach hurt when you think about your relationship or your job or just the direction your life is going? Are you feeling overwhelmed, tired, or stuck and don't know where to turn? I specialize in working with people like you who are in transition in their lives. Together we can use this moment as an opportunity. We can identify your strengths and build on them to spark change and get you moving forward again.

You may long to live wholeheartedly - and to feel loved and connected - but struggle with anger, depression, loneliness, or inexplicable sadness and anxiety. You may find the stress of work, life, running a household, or parenting has diminished your capacity to feel joy and be creative. Once a source of comfort and pleasure, your intimate relationship may now be disappointing, frustrating, or even deadening. Therapy can help relieve the symptoms of debilitating feelings by uncovering the underlying (and sometimes unconscious) causes, and empower individuals - and couples - to become the authors of the lives they want to live.

I am a bicultural/bilingual, latinx psychologist with extensive experience working with youth of all ages who are struggling with mood, anxiety, and impulse control, and families who have experienced trauma. Key to this work is the relationship we build together. My goal is to help your family better understand what is happening for your child based on what research has taught us about how our brains work, while honoring your child’s unique experience and normalizing that we all have struggles. I use a strengths-based collaborative approach to get to know your family and identify and practice skills to help your child cope.

My approach consists of assisting people in identifying and exploring the stressors, issues, or losses that are causing pain, in order to begin to address them. I have a warm, direct communication style and will support you in developing a practice of self-care and self-reflection, while also implementing practical solutions, and coping skills. Building a healthy curiosity about your behavior, thoughts, and feelings will be encouraged in order to achieve a better understanding of the conscious and unconscious influences that perpetuate difficulties and conflicts. Deepening a self-understanding strengthens an ability to build healthier, more satisfying relationships with others and with yourself.

I have worked with adults, couples, adolescents and children for over 18 years. I offer a free telephone consultation as you explore what your needs are in finding a therapist and whether you feel I might be of help to you.

I am a seasoned clinician with expertise to accompany you on your inner journey. I am flexible in my approach so that I can respond to the particular needs you bring to therapy. At one point you may need support and practical tools for addressing experiences that are painful or challenging. At another time, you may need room to explore the patterns of thought, feeling or behavior that are puzzling to you, including more unconscious factors that may be exerting their invisible influence on your life. I see people from a variety of backgrounds, including many therapists.

I see people as having rich, complex human emotions that are not well described with overly simple and often stigmatizing diagnostic labels like depression or generalized anxiety. Each person is entirely unique, with their own history, strengths, and challenges. In therapy, I will work with you to better understand yourself. When we can understand why you might be feeling or thinking or acting in a way that is not best for you, we can work together to change it in a way that is tailored to your needs and your circumstances.