Therapists in Berkeley, CA

As a therapist for over thirty years, the focus of my work is helping people to create and sustain healthy relationships, and to learn how to thrive in their lives. I listen carefully to the nuances of what you say and don't say, and help you to become more aware of your unconscious beliefs and the energy that you hold in your body that may be an obstacle to your creating the life and relationships that you yearn for. Together, we take the journey of understanding and resolving what is in your way, so that you can discover new pathways to live your life with more joy, ease and connection.

I am most interested in helping people make the most of their lives. Good relationships and/or a fulfilling career bring us the greatest gratification. My focus will be to help you to achieve your life goals whatever they may be. I have been a specialist in the treatment of Trauma and PTSD for over 30 years and help people cope with difficulties with anxiety, depression, loneliness and grief or others that are more diffuse ... feeling lousy and not sure why .

I offer a nurturing and accepting space to begin a journey of personal and relational growth. I have experience providing therapy for individuals, couples, and families. Mood disturbances (such as depression), anxiety, trauma symptoms, and relational issues are my specialty. I work from a systems perspective and address problems with consideration of contextual and cultural factors. My extensive experience in working with a variety of populations within community mental health makes me especially effective with those new to or hesitant to start therapy.

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.

I am a licensed psychotherapist providing holistic counseling to individuals and couples. My practice is presently focused on helping clients work through feelings of anxiety or fear that can arise during important life transitions such as: getting married, becoming pregnant, becoming new parents, blending families and facing separation or divorce. You may feel a sense of instability during such major life changes and it is my goal to help ground you by identifying what you need while accessing your inner strengths and resources. I create a safe and non judgmental space for you to do this important work.

Do you often feel ashamed and not good enough, even though others think you have it all together? Do you find yourself caring for those around you, all the while wondering when it will be your turn to get what you need? Does the intensity of your negative feelings sometimes scare you?

Finding or creating a career that you're passionate about may seem like a fantasy... But, no matter what challenges you face – be they emotional or logistical – the unique counseling and coaching services I provide at Career Therapy can help make sure you do NOT have to settle for second best! My name is Karen Rose, and I've created Career Therapy to bring together my three decades of experience as a career counselor, career coach, and psychotherapist to help you articulate your goals, overcome work-life challenges, improve your relationships and resilience, and make sure you turn your career goals into reality.

I believe that our minds and hearts, like our bodies, possess an innate wisdom and ability to heal, given the right environment and structure. Sometimes we get stuck in old patterns and beliefs that helped us in the circumstances we learned them in, but need to be updated in order to allow us to fully embody our best, most authentic and empowered selves. Therapy can assist us in learning more about what automatic programs our system is running, and give us the tools to make these changes.

I hold a belief that every individual I come across holds within him/herself the power to heal. My role is to help those individuals access their power when they feel they have none. I specialize in the treatment of trauma and anxiety disorders and I am passionate about bringing a sense of hope and empowerment to the individuals I serve. My hope is that individuals will learn to embrace their power, learn to be at ease in their own skin and find loving and fulfilling connection to others; bringing them closer to their personal healing and, ultimately, to the life they dream of living.

Therapy can be a sacred space for reflection and transformation. My clients are interested in creating change in their lives and are looking for an interactive therapist to support them in clarifying what matters most and developing new ways of relating to themselves and their emotions. I use an integrative and collaborative approach with my clients and frequently work with people around navigating relationships, life transitions, trauma, and overwhelming thoughts and/or emotions.

I enjoy working with a variety of people from different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. My main passion is helping people once again find a life that they enjoy and getting back to the things they are passionate about. Just as our members need transparency and vulnerability, as providers, we create an environment where we can work together, collaborate and create hope for our members. I look forward to creating a space for my members to learn, grow and achieve their best version of themselves!

I am drawn to support clients heal the anxiety, guilt and shame from trauma. This may include trauma related to abuse, bullying, accidents, harassment, religious impositions, discrimination, and more. My clients often want to feel less anxiety, better manage their triggers, enjoy sexual intercourse with their partner(s), and redefine themselves from the trauma they experienced. Grounding techniques, challenging learned beliefs, asserting needs, and living more for self, are common themes in my practice and essential for post-traumatic growth. Integrating identities (e.g. race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.) is common in my practice.

A satisfactory relationship to one's self is the most significant element in finding a way through life's challenges. Sometimes this pathway feels chaotic, confused, conflicted, or just not strong enough. Sometimes life experiences overwhelm our capacities to contain and reflect on their meaning for us in a way that keeps us from our potential as persons, as partners, or as an employee/job holder. Therapy offers an opportunity to listen to yourself in an uniquely individual, finely-tuned, non-judgmental way. Fears, sadnesses, and blocked places may all find they have something important to reveal to us when explored in a therapeutic relationship.

I work with individuals and couples who are trying to understand both their inner psychological issues and their responses to complex and stressful outer lives. I listen for the strengths each person has for meeting challenges, and listen also for the ways clients create losses for themselves. Within a warm, caring, reliable working relationship clients have the opportunity to more deeply value themselves and to grow interpersonally.

Empathy is a must! My work is grounded in the therapeutic relationship as a space that, first of all needs to be an empathic place, where you as a client feel seen, heard, understood and supported as you tap into yourself, what drew you into therapy at this time & where you want to understand and grow. I draw from intuition and insightful engagement utilizing a strong theoretical background, tools and psychological understanding to empower you as you move into your heart for healing, find your hope and dreams, and step into greater self-understanding, self-care, connections with love, work & life & overall wellbeing.

Every individual has a unique story with varying levels of behavioral, social, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being needs. I will honor you just as you are. I will be your sounding board for growth and change. We will become great partners in your journey to wellness. Good therapy knocks down the wall of darkness and illuminates all the possibilities to heal or recover from psychological, emotional, and behavioral distress. I promise to always respect and honor your healing process to the fullest extent.

Welcome. I do this work because I care deeply about healing through connection and compassionate relationships. I love working with people so they can learn about themselves, challenge old stories that may no longer serve, and ultimately live more authentic lives. Each of us is strong, powerful and beautiful, with unique gifts to offer this world. Yet sorrow is real, and having a safe and compassionate space to address grief, transition, relationship issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, and questions about gender and sexuality is fundamental and healing.

When life gets rough, it's important to know there are safe and supportive spaces you can turn to for support. Whether you're seeking real relief from anxiety or depression, needing help establishing better boundaries, questioning your identity, sexuality, or personal relationships or just having trouble managing the day-to-day, we can help. At Life by Design Therapy we believe change is possible for you. We offer holistic and somatic therapy to support you in navigating life's challenges without having to dismiss, avoid, or disconnect from what you truly want. It's time to live life on your own terms and Create A Life You Love!