Therapists in Berkeley, CA

We seek therapy because at some level we imagine that life could be better. We all suffer in different ways and suffering is universal, but it is precisely that suffering that leads us into a process of discovering how our deepest selves want to be expressed in the world and then to find the inner resources to live that out. In its truest sense, psychotherapy – which means “tending to the soul” – is not only concerned with alleviating symptoms, resolving issues, or adapting to life’s demands (though these are important), but ultimately with living lives that are more joyful, creative and free.

Suffering can come in many forms. It is personal and distressing and can also be overwhelming, paralyzing, and lonely. But you do not have to face it alone. Many have come to me for help with what makes them unhappy and out of balance. I take satisfaction when my clients accept their own complexity and uniqueness and have successful outcomes in their lives due to therapy.

I offer psychotherapy, personality testing with feedback, and individual treatment of addictions. My approach to therapy is flexible but especially inspired by psychodynamic, Jungian and existential thought. Collaborative assessment means that together you and I would look at the results of tests and interviews to help answer questions you have about yourself, to get to know you more quickly and to focus the therapy. This kind of assessment can be a brief therapeutic intervention in itself. I also have a specialization in working with addictions, with motivational interviewing.

Jungian Analyst Steven Herrmann, Ph.D., MFT, Montclair, Oakland, California. Are you looking to find ways to make changes in order to live a more satisfying and meaningful life? Are you finding yourself in repetitive patterns that are no longer working for you? Then I may be of assistance to you. I bring an in-depth approach that builds on your strengths and aims to untangle the roots to what is causing problems. This may lead to a reduction in painful symptoms, an opening of vocational possibilities, a newly found sense of joy, and to the transformation of your personality. Please feel free to visit my website at stevenherrmann.com

I am a psychotherapist with offices in SF and Oakland, where I treat both adults and couples. I take a relational and collaborative approach to psychotherapy. We are all unique, consciously and unconsciously influenced by the relationships and life-events that leave a lasting impact on how we address our current situation. Difficulties can sometimes arise when the habitual thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that once served us now have us feeling stuck, depressed, and powerless. Fear, ambivalence, compulsivity and patterned thinking can hamper our ability to address the inevitable twists and turns of daily life.

You've likely read countless therapist bios and blurbs by now. Allow me to respect the issues pressing against your time by not advertising generic compassion. After all, it may be a problem of time leading you to this website. Maybe your relationships stay in the same conflict; perhaps life hurries you without direction. A vague sense of yourself may linger outside your grasp – is that person hinting for (or hiding from) your attention? I wonder why? Together in our work, we could attempt to hold the afflictions expressed through such stories with curiosity and care by inquiring into their necessities for the life you're living.

Seasoned licensed psychologist with a cognitive behavioral brief psychotherapy theoretical orientation. I serve as a mirror to our community and specialize in trauma, stress management, chemical dependency, domestic violence and family systems. Bienvenidos a mi practica. Somos un cucharon para servir al pueblo. Sirvo como espejo para ayudarle encontrar tu destino.

For 25 years, I have assisted people with a variety of addictions, from the exogenous abuse of drugs and alcohol, to the ones that stem from the chemicals already inside the brain, such as sex and love addiction, abandonment patterns, sexual compulsions, gambling, internet, and workaholism. Unlike most psychotherapists, I’m a Board Certified Addiction Specialist, well versed in both abstinence and harm reduction strategies. Unlike most addiction professionals, I am also psychotherapist who also treats the anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues that often manifest after being uncovered through recovery.

Successful psychotherapy is a partnership based on trust. People do change, becoming more truly themselves when they find the right, trained therapist and are able to talk freely. I listen to you with respect and you develop greater self awareness. This enables you to communicate more clearly, to reflect on difficult issues, and to let go of outmoded behaviors that do not further your deeper needs.

I provide depth-oriented psychotherapy for people from all walks of life who are struggling with a loss of meaning, confusion about one's place in the world and spiritual stagnation. This could manifest in hopelessness about one's career, a life crisis, various depressions and anxieties, loneliness and isolation, or feeling stuck in a relationship, too frozen to make a change.

I often find myself working well with creative individuals, self described geeks, teenagers in turmoil and inquisitive children. My unique brand of therapy is based on authenticity, compassion and collaboration while guided by a direct and pragmatic approach. I like to encourage self-care, building on personal strengths, while helping my clients in exploring their relational patterns and the significance of their dreams, fantasies and interests.

I offer both short-term and long-term therapy with adults, young adults, and seniors. I have a good deal of experience with grief and loss, depression and anxiety, struggles unique to students (across a variety of ages), and issues particular to the creative process. I welcome individuals who desire adaptability in a therapist, deep empathy, and a collaborative attitude about what works.

Initiating therapy can understandably feel overwhelming, that’s why I strive to provide a supportive, non-judgmental, and confidential space for clients to explore difficult parts of their lives. At some point many people find that their familiar patterns and habits of relating to others, coping with stress, and being in the world no longer serve them. Clients who see me often feel anxiety, distress in relationships, dissatisfaction at work or school, overwhelm with life transition, and have a wish for more connection and intimacy.

I support people of various ethnic groups, sexual orientations, gender identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds to bring meaning to their lives, connect with their aliveness, and expand their sense of personal choice and freedom.

Creativity can be foundational to positive and longstanding change. We come into the world with an innate skill to solve the many problems that arise during development. Sometimes these solutions bring up new challenges or get in the way of our relationships and our ability to enjoy life. I work with children, adults, elders, and couples who are struggling to adapt to a stressful world. By developing a trusting relationship where exploration is welcomed and analyzed, we are able to find new ways of functioning, new solutions to our interpersonal conflicts, and improve our ability to flexibly adapt to our changing world.

When seeking help for anxiety or other mental health related issues, having an attentive, engaging, and grounding presence can be the first step towards healing. I have experienced it as a therapist and as a client. It is my intention to provide this presence for those I serve. Clients who come to me are seeking a trusted person to help with anxiety that comes in many forms, such as depression, inflation, or panic. This can cause people to feel lost and wanting guidance. Additionally, I have found that people want to be more in touch with themselves in a calmer manner to find their own inner guidance to live life more fully.

In my practice I am focused on helping you find meaning and resolution for your adverse or challenging life experiences. My goal is for you to feel better connected to the Big Picture of our common reality: humanity as one people, one community, spinning together on this planet we call Earth, in which all of our actions affect both ourselves and each other.

My approach as a relational and somatic therapist is to create a collaborative space to explore your relationship with yourself, others, and the world. We will unearth unconscious beliefs and patterns to help you live a more connected and fulfilling life. Our work together will, hopefully, help you relieve suffering, foster growth, and develop insight in all dimensions of your life.

Life will present us now and then with the unexpected.  This clearly is a time of major change for all of us. Not all of this is new nor is it novel. Even in the most normal of times we often do experience unwelcome events, the loss of a loved one, disability, addiction, economic insecurity, loneliness. To live is perhaps also to suffer. But we need not suffer alone. You will find me to be a compassionate, capable psychotherapist. Working together, I can help you to live a happier, more contented and fulfilling life. So then, where are you now? Where would you like to go from here? Would you like to create a new narrative?