Substance Use Therapists in Belmont, CA

I am a psychologist with 25 years of experience helping individuals lead more fulfilled and balanced lives. I work collaboratively with adults, and teens/kids to see how we may uncover a more meaningful and less stressful life. I am committed to assisting people in finding tools to help them figure out what is getting in their way. I also suggest tools to use outside of session. I am a co-founder of Potrero Hill Psychotherapy which operated for 20 years. Psychotherapy is usually once per week and I offer a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation to see if there is a good fit between psychologist and client.

I am passionate about helping through assessment. Assessments are designed to understand learning profiles, as well as to differentiate between issues (such as anxiety and inattention) and document eligibility to accommodations on standardized testing and in school. I can help with full assessments for attention, learning differences, autism, and psychological concerns. Boutique and a-la-carte testing is also available and often indicated for giftedness or as a screening to determine whether further assessment is needed. I have over 20 years of experience and can apply that expertise to devising a battery tailored to your needs.

Each meeting expands my approach to finding solutions to human problems. It's my pleasure to help people enhance their quality of life, improve stress management skills, and renew their emotional resilience, whether the challenge is one of relationship, health, or performance. I have skills in cognitive and health psychology, biofeedback, and hypnosis to aid in rapid progress toward goals. Learning how to quickly gain self-control of one's mind and body easily increases confidence and improves mood. Because I'm focused and active in my work, clients often find my approach refreshing and rewarding.

Do you wish you were more present for life, yourself, and the people you love? Would you like to be free from negative thoughts, old wounds, and past trauma? Do you feel like you are making life more complicated, conflicted, or painful than easeful, calm, and connected? Is it hard for you to feel self-compassion? Is past trauma haunting you and disrupting your ability to live the life you want? Would you like help, tools, and the support you need to be able to turn toward your difficulties with mindfulness, kindness, and clarity? Do you want to pause more, reflect and show up for life with compassion, integrity, and wisdom?

I share your hope that, with skillful support, you can work through difficulties in your personal life, or with your spouse or partner. I bring a warm, caring and interactive style to our meetings and offer sensitive, skilled and compassionate guidance. I find that putting clients at ease and making a positive connection is the first step to working as a powerful client-therapist team to achieve the gains you seek. Together, we can view problems not as failings but as opportunities for personal growth and learning.

I enjoy working with tweens, adolescents, adults, and families at all different stages in their lives. I am a licensed psychologist who received my undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from the California Institute of Integral Studies. I have worked extensively with both youth and adults with a wide variety of presenting problems and mental health issues. My approach to therapy is integrative drawing on client-centered, psychodynamic, CBT, attachment, and family systems models. I conduct individual therapy for adults and for youth along w/family sessions w/their parents as well as parenting support.

Making the decision to see a therapist is not an easy one, and it often takes a fair amount of courage to do so. For those who decide that therapy is appropriate, the outcome can be positive, bringing them more intimacy and fulfillment. Therapy provides the opportunity to improve communication, reduce stress, anxiety and anger, and improve the most important relationship we have....the one we have with ourselves.

Your mind and body make a powerful, interwoven pair. Is your body expressing what the thoughts are repressing? Easing and gently lifting your sense of heaviness from anxiety, depression, grief, isolation and emptiness of spirit can be closer than you ever believed! Let me guide you to the other side of "stuck" in your personal and professional relationships, emotions, body issues, and success. When we are in a session all the focus is on being fully present for,and deeply listening to you, offering a clear, kind and soothing direction, towards releasing unhealthy thought patterns by integrating with body feelings.

Wherever you are on life's journey, and whatever feelings or behaviors you feel stuck in, you are welcome here. ALL parts of you are welcome here, exactly as you are. I'm a licensed psychotherapist that uses an integrative approach to focus on your current concerns and goals using the relationship between the mind, body, and spirit. My goal is to establish a warm, supportive, authentic environment offering questions and reflections that can guide you in handling your challenges and making the changes you desire.

Life can be challenging. Are you feeling stress, anxiety, or uncertainty about the future? Do life transitions seem overwhelming for you? Does dealing with conflicts with loved ones feel like walking on eggshells? Maybe you're trying to find your voice again after the breakup or change. Together, we can create a safe space where you can explore your emotions and develop a deep self-awareness, that will empower you to overcome life’s challenges. You will discover the ability and tools to voice your needs and navigate through resentments and conflicts with others.

Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room? Had an overwhelming feeling of wanting to cry, but not really sure why? Thoughts and worries that keep you up at night? You are not alone, many of us struggle with depression and anxiety in our everyday lives. These struggles might cause us to not perform our best at work, keep us from concentrating in school and cause us to say things that we don’t mean to the ones that we love. I can help you identify what you want to improve in your life and create a safe space for you to be able to overcome the barriers preventing you from succeeding.

Our world can be pretty hectic, especially here in the Bay Area. We all experience stress from external and internal pressures and obstacles. Life can feel overwhelming which leads our body and mind to shut down and/or lash out in various ways. We feel stuck because we are drowning in intense emotions and stressful events and we don’t know how to get to the surface and catch a breath. As a result we miss out on the joys of life as we cannot fully experience happiness with the weight of everything we need to get done or everything we need to do to meet everyone’s (even our own) expectations.

Nathaniel is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist. Dance/movement therapy uses dance and movement to help explore and express thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Nathaniel also uses a person-centered approach and draws from a variety of techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and existential therapy. Through the collaborative and creative process of therapy, clients can learn to express themselves authentically, improve self-awareness, and create meaningful relationships with themselves and others.

I believe in the transformative power of genuine connection, acknowledging the unique intersections of each person's journey and creating an affirming environment where diverse identities are celebrated. Together we will navigate the intricacies of relationships, identity, and personal growth in a holistic and affirming manner.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, non-judgmental, and action-oriented. I practice evidence-based treatments, including Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), as well as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Cultivating compassion-and mindfulness of the present moment-can help you learn to face the challenges in your life with courage, wisdom, and kindness, improve well-being and life satisfaction, and establish more compassionate relationships with yourself and others. I can also help you regulate emotions, change how you relate with your thoughts, and build new healthier behaviors.