Psychoanalytic Therapists in Berkeley, CA
In this crazy world we all need someone that will underst. Someone who understands what it' like to be lost, confused, hurt, sad or not heard. I, too, have felt that way so I understand. Traumas are the things that haunt our families like ghosts. It is passed from generation to generation and reenacted like a shadow from the past that no one can catch. We barely know it’s there until we see its effects on the world around us. These ghost can be healed and when that happens they can become our family’s ancestors that spread wisdom and love to those around us. I hope that we can catch the ghost in our past and make them our ancestors.
In this crazy world we all need someone that will underst. Someone who understands what it' like to be lost, confused, hurt, sad or not heard. I, too, have felt that way so I understand. Traumas are the things that haunt our families like ghosts. It is passed from generation to generation and reenacted like a shadow from the past that no one can catch. We barely know it’s there until we see its effects on the world around us. These ghost can be healed and when that happens they can become our family’s ancestors that spread wisdom and love to those around us. I hope that we can catch the ghost in our past and make them our ancestors.
I believe you’re here because you haven’t given up. Some part of you knows more is possible — more joy, more connection, more ease, more fulfillment, more meaning. You're grappling with complex emotions and experiences, seeking a safe space to explore and understand yourself at a deeper level. Whether you're questioning your identity or your purpose, grieving the loss of someone you love, feeling stuck in yucky relationship dynamics, or struggling to find your way out of anxiety or depression — therapy offers the necessary time, space, and connection to heal and grow.
I believe you’re here because you haven’t given up. Some part of you knows more is possible — more joy, more connection, more ease, more fulfillment, more meaning. You're grappling with complex emotions and experiences, seeking a safe space to explore and understand yourself at a deeper level. Whether you're questioning your identity or your purpose, grieving the loss of someone you love, feeling stuck in yucky relationship dynamics, or struggling to find your way out of anxiety or depression — therapy offers the necessary time, space, and connection to heal and grow.
Are you a worrier? Overwhelmed? Anxious about challenges in your life? I offer individual talk therapy so you will feel better, find your strengths, and can be yourself. Therapy is a focused time, place, and person to think things through with. It helps you gain perspective, feel connected, and feel understood. I use warmth and creativity to help you find compassion and insight to draw upon, especially for when you are preoccupied by your worries and dilemmas.
Are you a worrier? Overwhelmed? Anxious about challenges in your life? I offer individual talk therapy so you will feel better, find your strengths, and can be yourself. Therapy is a focused time, place, and person to think things through with. It helps you gain perspective, feel connected, and feel understood. I use warmth and creativity to help you find compassion and insight to draw upon, especially for when you are preoccupied by your worries and dilemmas.
Starting therapy can be daunting. Perhaps you are in crisis and feeling overwhelmed. Or you have long meant to get help with an issue, but it feels hard to know where to start. I am skilled at helping people find the part of themselves that most urgently needs to be attended to.
Starting therapy can be daunting. Perhaps you are in crisis and feeling overwhelmed. Or you have long meant to get help with an issue, but it feels hard to know where to start. I am skilled at helping people find the part of themselves that most urgently needs to be attended to.
How do you maintain a grounded, heartfelt approach to your life as you navigate the complexity of the moment? Anxiety, insomnia, depression, and looping thoughts are all expressions of being overwhelmed without the tools you need to effectively address the stressors you are currently facing. Meeting with a therapist can be a place to let out the exquisite scream of humanity, without needing to wonder-as you might with partners and friends-is now a good time? Do they have the bandwidth to receive me in my rawest form? Therapy is a place where the rawness, confusion, grief and fear are all welcome.
How do you maintain a grounded, heartfelt approach to your life as you navigate the complexity of the moment? Anxiety, insomnia, depression, and looping thoughts are all expressions of being overwhelmed without the tools you need to effectively address the stressors you are currently facing. Meeting with a therapist can be a place to let out the exquisite scream of humanity, without needing to wonder-as you might with partners and friends-is now a good time? Do they have the bandwidth to receive me in my rawest form? Therapy is a place where the rawness, confusion, grief and fear are all welcome.
In an effort to make sense of the difficulties that come with being human, some turn to psychotherapy for clarity. If you believe psychotherapy might be able to remedy the issues putting a strain on your wellbeing, then you might be looking in the right place. Beginning psychotherapy can be complicated; it requires a certain level of communication between you and the therapist in order for things to go smoothly.
In an effort to make sense of the difficulties that come with being human, some turn to psychotherapy for clarity. If you believe psychotherapy might be able to remedy the issues putting a strain on your wellbeing, then you might be looking in the right place. Beginning psychotherapy can be complicated; it requires a certain level of communication between you and the therapist in order for things to go smoothly.
Feeling stuck in grief, illness, burnout, or existential dread? You’re not alone. Unresolved emotions and unconscious patterns can keep you trapped in cycles of pain and disconnection. Depth psychotherapy goes beyond symptom relief—it uncovers the root causes of your struggles, helping you heal past wounds, process deep emotions, and reconnect with your true self. Through this transformative process, pain becomes growth, isolation turns into connection, and self-doubt shifts to clarity. Together, we’ll create lasting change so you can live with greater meaning, resilience, and self-acceptance.
Feeling stuck in grief, illness, burnout, or existential dread? You’re not alone. Unresolved emotions and unconscious patterns can keep you trapped in cycles of pain and disconnection. Depth psychotherapy goes beyond symptom relief—it uncovers the root causes of your struggles, helping you heal past wounds, process deep emotions, and reconnect with your true self. Through this transformative process, pain becomes growth, isolation turns into connection, and self-doubt shifts to clarity. Together, we’ll create lasting change so you can live with greater meaning, resilience, and self-acceptance.
Are you an over-achiever with a painful childhood? Do you push yourself to be the best, even when it taxes your personal life and mental health? I help adults like you who’ve experienced chaotic or traumatic childhoods. I understand how exhausting it can be to stay one step ahead of the inner critic and keep hidden the most vulnerable parts inside. I know the toll it takes: low self-confidence, burnout and anxiety. And I want more for you. More confidence, more clarity, and more joy.
Are you an over-achiever with a painful childhood? Do you push yourself to be the best, even when it taxes your personal life and mental health? I help adults like you who’ve experienced chaotic or traumatic childhoods. I understand how exhausting it can be to stay one step ahead of the inner critic and keep hidden the most vulnerable parts inside. I know the toll it takes: low self-confidence, burnout and anxiety. And I want more for you. More confidence, more clarity, and more joy.
It's hard to go it alone with painful feelings of confusion, guilt, sadness, anxiety, despair. Therapy helps to unravel internal knots related to relationship conflict, work dissatisfaction, and just getting through the day. These issues may be connected to a history of family dysfunction, divorce, addiction, mental illness, abuse, unresolved conflict or estrangement from loved ones. I can help with that.
It's hard to go it alone with painful feelings of confusion, guilt, sadness, anxiety, despair. Therapy helps to unravel internal knots related to relationship conflict, work dissatisfaction, and just getting through the day. These issues may be connected to a history of family dysfunction, divorce, addiction, mental illness, abuse, unresolved conflict or estrangement from loved ones. I can help with that.
Our work together is a journey of transformation. We use the practice of inquiry into your bodysoul. My approach is experiential somatic with a spiritual orientation to the practice of inquiry. You just get it in your bones. The work allows you to understand your particular psychological dilemmas and challenges and as this happens you have more capacity to not engage the reactive self and embrace the true self. My work with you is unique for each individual responding to your particular needs and inner direction of your soul’s unfoldment. This is a deep dive and its not for anyone, it is however a journey of immense importance.
Our work together is a journey of transformation. We use the practice of inquiry into your bodysoul. My approach is experiential somatic with a spiritual orientation to the practice of inquiry. You just get it in your bones. The work allows you to understand your particular psychological dilemmas and challenges and as this happens you have more capacity to not engage the reactive self and embrace the true self. My work with you is unique for each individual responding to your particular needs and inner direction of your soul’s unfoldment. This is a deep dive and its not for anyone, it is however a journey of immense importance.
Psychotherapy starts with exploring you, your thoughts, and your life so that we can begin to understood what you need to develop new capacities to deal with the problems you’re facing in the world and in your self. As we start to talk, we will collaborate on a plan for how best to help you, tailored to your specific situation.
Psychotherapy starts with exploring you, your thoughts, and your life so that we can begin to understood what you need to develop new capacities to deal with the problems you’re facing in the world and in your self. As we start to talk, we will collaborate on a plan for how best to help you, tailored to your specific situation.
Meet Our Psychoanalytic Therapists
The decision to begin therapy can be daunting, especially if you are already feeling vulnerable and uncertain about what to expect from a therapist. Whether you have specific symptoms that you want to address or a vague sense of something not feeling right, therapy can help. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of US and international experience. I’ve worked with individuals and couples across the lifespan who come from every region of the world. I have successfully treated a broad range of difficulties, and my work is grounded in effective treatment methods.
The decision to begin therapy can be daunting, especially if you are already feeling vulnerable and uncertain about what to expect from a therapist. Whether you have specific symptoms that you want to address or a vague sense of something not feeling right, therapy can help. I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of US and international experience. I’ve worked with individuals and couples across the lifespan who come from every region of the world. I have successfully treated a broad range of difficulties, and my work is grounded in effective treatment methods.
Susan '' Bernie'' Bernstein
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, (she/, they)
Verified Verified
Serves Area
Feeling deeply understood, feeling held, and feeling relief are at the core of psychotherapy. Therapy can help when life’s challenges become too much to approach alone. Together, we can explore and understand difficult issues you are experiencing. Some common therapy goals are to understand and make changes in important relationships, alleviate anxiety and depression, ease emotional pain, reduce work stress, get support with life transitions and losses, deepen self-understanding, and unlock troubling stuckness. In a safe setting with warmth and engagement, I provide an opportunity to gently move through what is bothering you most.
Feeling deeply understood, feeling held, and feeling relief are at the core of psychotherapy. Therapy can help when life’s challenges become too much to approach alone. Together, we can explore and understand difficult issues you are experiencing. Some common therapy goals are to understand and make changes in important relationships, alleviate anxiety and depression, ease emotional pain, reduce work stress, get support with life transitions and losses, deepen self-understanding, and unlock troubling stuckness. In a safe setting with warmth and engagement, I provide an opportunity to gently move through what is bothering you most.
My clients often show up to therapy because of a need for meaningful change in their lives, and a desire to feel happier and more fulfilled. You may find yourself struggling with self-doubt and a harsh, critical inner voice; feeling stuck, sad, far away, and disconnected; navigating a new or difficult circumstance such as death of a loved one; or wanting help to reduce conflict and improve communication with your partner. I see therapy as an opportunity for transformative insight, creativity, self-expression, and healing. It is a place to process and move past the painful experience that stick with us and hold us back.
My clients often show up to therapy because of a need for meaningful change in their lives, and a desire to feel happier and more fulfilled. You may find yourself struggling with self-doubt and a harsh, critical inner voice; feeling stuck, sad, far away, and disconnected; navigating a new or difficult circumstance such as death of a loved one; or wanting help to reduce conflict and improve communication with your partner. I see therapy as an opportunity for transformative insight, creativity, self-expression, and healing. It is a place to process and move past the painful experience that stick with us and hold us back.
Jon-David Settell
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, LCSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Serves Area
Much of philosophy today contends that modern life is damaged life. Theodor Adorno tells us that this life is wrong and cannot be lived rightly, while Walter Benjamin observes that, in terms of our structures of feeling and knowing the world, “we have become impoverished”. Adorno and Max Horkheimer suggest that magic died long ago. Wrong life, poverty of experience, and the death of magic: how then can we live? This question animates my thought as psychotherapist and educator. Over two decades of clinical practice have taught me that damaged life can be beautiful life, capable of the most radical kind of joy.
Much of philosophy today contends that modern life is damaged life. Theodor Adorno tells us that this life is wrong and cannot be lived rightly, while Walter Benjamin observes that, in terms of our structures of feeling and knowing the world, “we have become impoverished”. Adorno and Max Horkheimer suggest that magic died long ago. Wrong life, poverty of experience, and the death of magic: how then can we live? This question animates my thought as psychotherapist and educator. Over two decades of clinical practice have taught me that damaged life can be beautiful life, capable of the most radical kind of joy.
Anxiety, sadness, anger, regret are natural and human, but when one is stuck thinking and feeling these ways, something is wrong. If you are stuck, repeating the same kinds of experiences, or if there has been an unmanageable disruption in your life, I have been in practice helping people in similar situations for more than 30 years. Through talking and thinking together to deeply understand your experience, we discover and create new ways for you to think and act in the world. Your sense of self and of life expand, opening up space in which to move, breathe and grow.
Anxiety, sadness, anger, regret are natural and human, but when one is stuck thinking and feeling these ways, something is wrong. If you are stuck, repeating the same kinds of experiences, or if there has been an unmanageable disruption in your life, I have been in practice helping people in similar situations for more than 30 years. Through talking and thinking together to deeply understand your experience, we discover and create new ways for you to think and act in the world. Your sense of self and of life expand, opening up space in which to move, breathe and grow.
Therapy offers a profound opportunity for growth and change. I'll be curious about your experience, and we'll pay attention to what feels most important to you as we talk together about your thoughts and feelings. Through this process you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself. You'll also come to better know your own strengths and resiliency. I am warm, thoughtful, and engaging in my approach and believe that a safe and supportive therapy relationship is essential in easing feelings of discomfort and vulnerability that normally accompany change. Please visit my website for more info about my practice: www.kateghidinellipsyd.com
Therapy offers a profound opportunity for growth and change. I'll be curious about your experience, and we'll pay attention to what feels most important to you as we talk together about your thoughts and feelings. Through this process you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself. You'll also come to better know your own strengths and resiliency. I am warm, thoughtful, and engaging in my approach and believe that a safe and supportive therapy relationship is essential in easing feelings of discomfort and vulnerability that normally accompany change. Please visit my website for more info about my practice: www.kateghidinellipsyd.com
As a licensed clinical psychologist I work with clients with a wide range of problems, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, low motivation, chronic trauma, and disappointment with life circumstances. We will look together at how you consciously and unconsciously think, feel, and act in your daily life, and where you may be stuck or holding yourself back. We will use what we find to increase emotional balance, and stimulate your capacity to grow and live a life that feels meaningful to you.
As a licensed clinical psychologist I work with clients with a wide range of problems, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, low motivation, chronic trauma, and disappointment with life circumstances. We will look together at how you consciously and unconsciously think, feel, and act in your daily life, and where you may be stuck or holding yourself back. We will use what we find to increase emotional balance, and stimulate your capacity to grow and live a life that feels meaningful to you.
I like to work with people who are ready to get freedom from their suffering. The suffering can be coming from old traumas that are getting acted out in one's current life, or from situations that are occurring in the here and now. I want to help people who feel stuck and want to gain insight and tools to deal with the stress in their lives.
I like to work with people who are ready to get freedom from their suffering. The suffering can be coming from old traumas that are getting acted out in one's current life, or from situations that are occurring in the here and now. I want to help people who feel stuck and want to gain insight and tools to deal with the stress in their lives.
As a licensed therapist, I have dedicated my career to helping people thrive. But the uneven nature of the process always struck me as limiting the human potential. Each of my clients has an incredible power to heal other people, but they’re not being empowered to use it when they see me for 1-1 therapy. I now specialize in an innovative and transformative small-group approach called Effective Listening. This unique method is taught in groups of 6 people, and each person gets to learn to use their awesome healing power and to be an instrumental part of each other person’s transformational journey.
As a licensed therapist, I have dedicated my career to helping people thrive. But the uneven nature of the process always struck me as limiting the human potential. Each of my clients has an incredible power to heal other people, but they’re not being empowered to use it when they see me for 1-1 therapy. I now specialize in an innovative and transformative small-group approach called Effective Listening. This unique method is taught in groups of 6 people, and each person gets to learn to use their awesome healing power and to be an instrumental part of each other person’s transformational journey.
