Therapists in Berkeley, CA

I have been a licensed Psychologist for over 25 years working with individuals, couples and families. My practice is informed by Mindfulness-Based principles and practices and am trained in Psycho-dynamic and Depth Psychology, including MB-CBT. I also use Somatic methods to complement our discussions and inquiry. Most importantly I seek to offer a safe, open and welcoming space for you to explore your sense of self, your life history and the challenges you may be facing at this time. I have found this to be the basis for discovering your own capacity to make meaningful change and to promote growth and well-being in your life.

Therapy at its core is about self-discovery. I collaborate with men, women and couples that want to overcome the obstacles towards a more fulfilling life, through a process of self-knowledge. My approach is eclectic, incorporating different theories and techniques to support your process: psychodynamic, relational, somatic, mindfulness-based and CBT. Through our work together, I hope to inspire curiosity and a space of warmth genuine respect. I also believe in being active in supporting you to make changes in your life, not just focusing on deep issues but also on the practical matters when needed.

It is only human to let the trials and tribulations of life weigh us down, and pull us away from our personal growth. We can feel stuck in old patterns and it is hard to see a way out. Therapy allows us to see our struggles from a new perspective, and find new paths towards positive change, and create a more harmonious interaction with our world. I work with couples and individuals on a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship issues and more.

Seeking to deepen your intimacy in relationships with romantic and/or non-romantic partners? Desiring a fuller sexual expression & pleasure in your experience? Have you desired to enliven your sex life? Or, perhaps you are desiring restorative healing, justice, & repair from childhood sexual abuse / have had non-consensual, sexual experiences; either being the victim or the transgressor and require integral support. I can help you. I facilitate individuals and couples heal and recover from personal, collective, and intergenerational trauma to come back into authentic, embodied connection through intimacy from the inside out.

Therapy doesn't have to be a long drawn out process. Whether you're suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other kind of challenge you want a therapist who can help you bring about change right from the start, to get to the deep roots of your problems and achieve results in as few sessions as possible. I specialize in a form of psychotherapy that is both depth-oriented and time-limited. I work with adults, adolescents and couples in my office in Berkeley, CA, and also work with many clients remotely by telephone.

You will feel it when you sit with me, this is my life's calling. I was lucky enough to walk the path of healing from an early age because of a devastating life trauma. This brought me to my deep understanding of the healing process. I am committed to accompanying you and catalyzing your journey to health, self-love, ease in relationship and empowerment in the world. My ideal client is going through change, loss, or questioning, needs support and desires a deeper connection to themselves, and satisfaction from their life. Check out my podcast The Healing Feeling Shit Show, a free course in emotional healing to sense how I work.

I am a leading authority on healing shame. I co-created the Healing Shame – Lyon/Rubin method and am the Co-Director of the Center for Healing Shame, a continuing education provider that offers workshops to therapists and other helping professionals. In my private practice, I developed therapy techniques integrating somatic and expressive processes to work with the all-pervasive shame and trauma that underlie toxic family dynamics, depression and eating disorders. I integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy and AEDP with Drama Therapy, Hakomi, Focusing and Expressive Arts. I work with the imposter syndrome and voracious inner critics.

We learn to survive and cope with our circumstances in the best way we know how at the time. Therapy offers an opportunity to slow down and get to know what is really going on inside and to learn to listen to your body's natural wisdom. I am interested in collaborating with you to explore where you're feeling stuck, confused or overwhelmed. I can help guide you to discover new, more effective ways of showing up for yourself and in your relationships. My own love of nature and mindfulness meditation practice informs much of my work with clients.

I am an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. I work with low sexual desire, infidelity, mismatched desires and needs, erectile dysfunction, delayed or impaired orgasms, ejaculation concerns, LGBTQIA health or curiosity, sexual trauma, embarrassment and anxiety in regard to sex and sexuality. Exploring types of sexual behaviors, relationship configurations and non heteronormative expressions. Singles and couples who may be exploring or approaching issues in alternative relationships and alternative family structures, including ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, kink, living single, co-parenting, and chosen family.

Sometimes life brings us challenges that are difficult to negotiate on our own. My clinical approach can help you find new ways of experiencing yourself and approaching life's challenges. I have over 25 years of clinical experience working with individuals and couples. My approach is gentle and effective and includes psychodynamic, somatic, cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness therapy practices. I am a trauma-informed therapist with specialized training in attachment trauma, complex trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as anxiety and stress reduction.

East Bay Intimacy & Sex Therapy Center was created with the goal of making the practice of sex & intimacy therapy more relationship-focused & accessible, without the stigma & confusion that often accompanies misperceptions about couples & sex therapy. We offer attachment-based sex therapy & couples counseling. We believe that healthy relationships are at the core of how change & healing occur. Having a healthy sexual relationship to one's self or partner(s) is vital to overall wellbeing. We strive to support & promote lifelong change that will allow you to form sustainable, loving & equitable relationships, & an overall sense of health wellbeing.

While I work with a diversity of people, I specialize in working with LGBTQ individuals, couples and youth. As a Marriage and Family psychotherapist, I seek to help my clients find their way through the hardships that life can bring. I believe in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship as well as each individual having the power to heal themselves. I believe in a strength based, solution focused approach to therapy and work with my clients to not only overcome their current circumstances but to also develop tools and strategies that they can use moving forward in their lives.

I work with couples and individuals struggling with a variety of relationship and communication issues. I have successfully treated clients with depression, anxiety, phobias, and low self-esteem. Clients that are looking for more aliveness in themselves and their relationships will be served well by what I offer.

I have been licensed as an MFT working somatically, for over 30 years. I'm interested in what isn't working in your present life that brings you to therapy, what is unresolved from past relationships that you'd like to clear up, and what comes up in our relationship as we get to know one another. These facets help us create a complex experience which can transform old stuck patterns. Through the lens of my somatic training, clients can include their felt experiences in their bodies as an additional resource for exploring and understanding themselves. I also use a feminist and social justice orientation.

Sometimes amazing things can grow under pressure. Living with stigma - related to a mind that works differently, a body that's unruly or "too much," or a sexuality that doesn't fit behind a white picket fence - asks us to be creative and fierce. The wisdom that can grow here is astounding. But the burden of stigma is heavy, and sometimes it grips us in painful positions. Whether you're feeling exhausted, sick of yourself, or just don't know quite how to relate to other people, therapy with me can help.

With a background including a Stanford B.A./ UC Berkeley J.D., a previous career as an innovation leader and startup founder, and journeys through heartbreak and illness, I bring eclectic personal experience to therapy practice. I combine formal training in psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), EFT couples therapy, mind-body/ somatic work, meditation, and yoga therapy to provide an integrative, holistic approach to healing and personal growth. My work is informed by modern, evidence-based methods of psychotherapy as well as spiritual wisdom and practices from Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.

My commitment is to the practice of working with individuals to heal their whole system through a multidisciplinary and personalized approach by touching many aspects of one's life, including somatic, emotional, spiritual, and historical imprints. I believe that healing is an integral and whole experience unique to each individual's ecology. I am committed to exploring what makes us feel healthy, happy, and whole. I believe that we are intrinsically powerful beings with the capability to have radical healing experiences, enhance our lives with joy, to release trauma that affects us in our lifetime.

Difficult times in relationships can often be gifts in that they open the door to a deeper exploration of ourselves and those closest to us. Seen in this light, therapy can be a step towards mutual evolution, rather than just a problem-solving endeavor. I work well with couples and families,helping to create a safe , trusting atmosphere where people can get more in touch with their feelings and express them to others close to them.I also work with individuals who have relationship issues.

You may find yourself needing more support due to a relationship struggle or life transition. Maybe you, like many others, are coming out of the COVID years feeling a little lost or uncertain. Maybe you have a big decision to make. My role is to support your process of self-discovery and healing. As a deep listener attuned to you, I will assist you in cultivating your resilience to navigate your life at any stage. Your goals will focus and guide our work toward greater awareness and change. My life experience, training, and openness will support you on your journey toward greater emotional well-being.