Elders (65+) Therapists in Albany, CA

I am a Harvard trained psychologist with over 15 years experience in the mental health field. I specialize in working with individuals and families who are feeling stuck in their lives. Many of my clients report feeling overwhelmed with feelings of depression, hopelessness, anger, or low self-esteem. They may have experienced relationship or career conflicts, personal loss, trauma, or be in the middle of important life transitions. I also have advanced post-doctoral training in working with individuals who engage in potentially harmful behaviors and young adults struggling to develop their life path.

Would you like to know yourself better and more deeply? To be able to move beyond painful and frustrating patterns in your feelings, relationships, and work? Sometimes it's clear why we feel and act how we do: ecstatic about a new romance, upset about a professional disappointment, awash with grief following the loss of a loved one. Other times feelings and behaviors may surprise you—a nagging anxiety, a lingering sadness, memories of past experiences that you thought you'd left behind, a sense that your relationship with a partner could be deeper, that work could be more fulfilling even as you have success along the way.

I am a clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of clinical experience working with adults on issues of vital importance in their daily lives. I am deeply committed to helping people create the most fulfilling lives possible, as they move through and beyond challenges such as anxiety, depression, personal effectiveness, stress and work/life balance, grief reactions, relationships and self-esteem issues. When "life" has thrown you off our path, I work with you to restore your natural capacity for self esteem and healing, and provide unwavering emotional support as you create an enriching life with healthier relationships.

Every person has many sides to their personality. Often these different sides are in conflict with one another and cause pain, anxiety and/or depression. When we find ourselves caught in repeated conflict in relationships, or we behave in ways that feel uncharacteristic, we often are in conflict with an aspect of ourself that is unknown or unconscious to us.The goal of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy is to help the unconscious self become conscious. When we begin to know ourselves better we can often make better choices and develop better tools to deal with the conflicts and stress that life brings us.

I am a seasoned clinical psychologist with extensive experience providing mental health treatment. I work from the perspective that people strive to understand themselves, and want to create positive change in their lives so they can meet their potential. I believe that treatment works best when it is tailored to your individual personality and needs .

Working with performing artists, artists, creative people has inspired me for over 30 years. I welcome those who are looking to make choices that create depth and meaning in their lives. Each one of us has an individual path, each therapy relationship is unique. My work is relational and interactive. I listen deeply. I respect where you are. I am able to sit with you in sorrow and in laughter.

Do you feel trapped by your past and anxious about your future, unable to live in the present? This malaise of modern living is often a sign of past trauma. I can help you uncover and release the experiences that keep you from living a full and zestful life. My primary focus is women and parents, particularly those with a history of trauma. We’ll explore the feelings that arise in your body, and notice their links to your thoughts and behaviors. I’ll empower you to choose a more positive narrative, to look at your life through a different lens.

Overcoming issues can sometimes involve using strategies to change our thinking and behavior. We all have developed habits of thinking and behavior that are not serving our needs. Therapy can help by identifying these patterns, introducing strategies to reduce them, and increasing more helpful patterns.

I offer a compassionate, safe space in which to explore and work with the feelings, fear, anxieties and uncertainty of these challenging times. I also offer support and tools with which you can begin to change negative patterns, heal early wounding, learn to support yourself with self-acceptance, and open to new possibilities.

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.

You want to make positive changes that will last. I’ll work with you, or you and your child, to address whatever is getting in the way of living the life you’d like. There may be feelings that run the show, behaviors that seem unchangeable, or relationships and jobs/school that don’t meet your needs and dreams. Whatever your history and current challenges, there are ways to move forward. Even in this period of pandemic uncertainty, we can build your resilience, developing strengths and capacities that lead to a more fulfilling life.

Welcome! Note: email is the best way reach me! I believe in trusting intuition when it comes to evaluating a match with a potential therapist. In my experience, a positive and trusting connection is the basis for creating growth and change. I work with adults and adolescents over 14 on a variety of issues, including achieving greater mood stability, identity issues, improved relationships and sexuality and recovery from trauma. I have experience working effectively with people who identify as trans, genderqueer, and those with diverse lifestyles. I also offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to my practice, w/ Journey Clinical.

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.

Many people seeking psychotherapy are engaged in experiences of personal growth, career development, and efforts to be better partners, sons, daughters, parents and friends. Yet each of us must decide what constitutes progress in our own way. I have learned that the road to satisfaction in interpersonal and professional endeavors takes willingness to accept our own and others' imperfections, and the courage to take some risks. For those who want to make change, hard work and practice are necessary. Even if you have tried psychotherapy in the past, you may benefit from newer approaches. If this resonates, let's talk.

Life presents us with many challenges and sometimes we adeptly overcome those challenges and at other times we are overwhelmed by them. As a result, depression and anxiety can creep in and impact our relationships, work, school, and caring for ourselves. Life transitions, health care worker/leadership stress and burnout, painful relationships, struggling with mental health and/or physical illness issues, trauma, surviving in oppressive environments (racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, etc) can all contribute to ongoing suffering. I want to help you build a life filled with wellness and connection.

While it can be intimidating to think about beginning therapy, it’s my hope that my warm and collaborative style of engaging with you will offer some ease in initiating our work together. Having dedicated space for understanding and learning about you by speaking can feel relieving, and starts with a good amount of courage in your initial reaching out. In our work together, I will carefully listen to you while building a collaborative relationship based in warm curiosity, offering you my thoughts and connections related to the barriers that may be holding you back from moving towards your known and yet-to-be-known goals.