Psychoanalytic Therapists in Berkeley, CA

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.

Are you stuck in a frustrating relationship or an unsatisfying job? Do you feel sad or anxious a lot of the time? Do you worry that life is passing you by? Do you wish that you could talk to someone who would understand what you're going through and help you get on top of your problems? If this sounds like you, I'd like to help by working with you in a supportive, non-judgmental environment where you can safely get to know yourself better and make positive changes in your life.

You may long to live wholeheartedly - and to feel loved and connected - but struggle with anger, depression, loneliness, or inexplicable sadness and anxiety. You may find the stress of work, life, running a household, or parenting has diminished your capacity to feel joy and be creative. Once a source of comfort and pleasure, your intimate relationship may now be disappointing, frustrating, or even deadening. Therapy can help relieve the symptoms of debilitating feelings by uncovering the underlying (and sometimes unconscious) causes, and empower individuals - and couples - to become the authors of the lives they want to live.

What matters to you? Being curious makes a significant difference when you are thinking of making changes because now you are interested in yourself - in what you think and feel and want- and want to become. Are relationships your core concern? - wondering what is working and what is not, what is missing, and what is disappointing?Losses or fear of loss makes us anxious, ashamed, often traumatized by our own feelings. I am committed to working with your personal needs in a trusting, creative, dynamic, caring process and will help you achieve what you desire. Real changes take real time.

When psychological suffering feels unbearable, seeking a therapist to help you find your way is a great act of courage. Psychotherapy is an active collaboration in which we tend to your inner life, bringing care and curiosity to the deepest parts of you. Profound change is possible in a therapeutic relationship based on trust. From your most disturbing and shame inducing symptoms to your greatest strengths--every part of you belongs here. I have been successful in treating individuals/couples with: anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma, relationship troubles, sex, cultural identity issues, perinatal mood disorders, problem drinking, infidelity and grief.

I have always found the more relational and emotionally based this work is then the more rewarding and successful it is for clients and myself. I work with a wide range of clients. Their basic desire is to connect with themselves and others. Of late, it seems, many of my clients are couples; men ; adolescents; and mid-life and elderly of both sexes. Each are addressing important problems and/or transitional stages of life. Our work can be fearful and/or fearless, exciting and/or slow and always the challenge of facing not-knowing, making choices and exploring ourselves.

I think of therapy as like sanctuary - a place where there aren't distractions, where there is an opportunity to pay attention to what is important, in a spirit of kindness. Because of this, many individuals and couples find it to be enjoyable, and very relieving. Of course, since people do therapy to work on painful things, therapy itself isn't always easy. But at least things can be approached thoughtfully and skillfully, in a safe context, and this itself brings great benefits.

I provide a warm, supportive environment that is uniquely yours, dedicated to your life and development. We will pay close attention to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors, helping you to better understand all the different parts of yourself. Together we will identify and explore the patterns of behavior and negative self perceptions that may hold you back from a life of balance, vitality and inner peace.

Are you struggling with depression, low self-confidence, or anxiety? Are you having difficulties in your relationships or at work? Are you finding it hard to cope with a loss, life transition, or illness? I have brought warmth, knowledge, and compassion to my work with individuals & couples for 25 years as a Psychologist. My approach to psychotherapy is to create a safe environment through listening and empathy that will enable you to talk about patterns in your life that are causing you distress. My goal is to help you achieve greater life satisfaction, healthier relationships & new sources of self worth.

If you hold yourself back in life, work and relationships, worry too much about things you've done or things you're about to do, are often bummed out, or would like your relationships to be more satisfying, then these are good indications that you may benefit from the type of psychotherapy I offer. I have helped many people through all of these issues, and others. Give me a call, and if I'm not the right fit for you, I promise to help you find the therapist who is. You don't have to keep suffering alone.

Life can be hard. Things that may feel easy at one time, feel impossible at another. Sometimes, there are issues that feel like they'll never go away. I work to create an environment where we can think together about what is troubling you and get to the root of the issues, so lasting change can be possible.

Therapy with me will have you leaving my office with tangible ways, for you or you and your loved ones, to facilitate changes in what you want in your life from the very first session. I will challenge you hard but with compassion. I enjoy helping people develop an enthusiasm for the process of self-discovery and healing. I make authentic contact with people help them cultivate a taste for their own Truths while making space to grieve the loss of old ways or relating to people and the world around them. I see starting therapy is a sign of intelligence.

Have you survived a trauma but can't shake the effects of it? Do you want help reclaiming your thoughts, feelings and relationships? I specialize in treating people who have experienced traumatic events such as sexual assault, sudden loss, childhood abuse or divorce. I work with my clients to treat common trauma symptoms such as depression, anxiety, issues with sexuality, and chronic pain. Because trauma affects the body, I combine traditional psychotherapy with a somatic focus to bring relief to the whole self. Ultimately, we work together to alleviate distress and create a life you love.

People turn to therapy when they are in too much emotional pain, stuck in intractable situations with intimate partners or at work, or acting in ways that are self-destructive or harmful to others. When other solutions have not worked, therapy offers a chance to address and change outmoded ways of being. The therapeutic relationship is key to this work. It offers the possibility of exploring new ways of relating to ourselves and others that can lead to a richer and more fulfilling life. The therapist must provide a place of safety and be a partner in this process.

I am a seasoned clinician with expertise to accompany you on your inner journey. I am flexible in my approach so that I can respond to the particular needs you bring to therapy. At one point you may need support and practical tools for addressing experiences that are painful or challenging. At another time, you may need room to explore the patterns of thought, feeling or behavior that are puzzling to you, including more unconscious factors that may be exerting their invisible influence on your life. I see people from a variety of backgrounds, including many therapists.

It can seem impossible to figure things out, to feel loved, secure, less lonely, frightened or sad. Work, family and social demands can cause stress and/or burn-out. People get caught in cycles of porn/sexual addiction, video games or online surfing that derails them. I'm seasoned and adept at providing safety to think things through. I see many types of people from widely diverse cultural backgrounds and with different sexual orientations. My approach is engaging, warm and exploratory. I provide help at times of crisis, or when life feels unsatisfying, frozen, boring, numb or sad.

Therapy can help you overcome difficulties, live creatively, and feel more alive. Many people become stuck in ways of thinking and living that no longer serve them. Through a caring therapeutic relationship, you can develop the courage to live in a meaningful and fulfilling way. Over the past 17 years, I have helped people with a wide variety of issues work through significant challenges, freeing them to make better choices. In addition to my clinical work, I teach and supervise at various training programs throughout the Bay Area, and am the Director of Counseling at California College of the Arts.

I am a Harvard trained psychologist with over 15 years experience in the mental health field. I specialize in working with individuals and families who are feeling stuck in their lives. Many of my clients report feeling overwhelmed with feelings of depression, hopelessness, anger, or low self-esteem. They may have experienced relationship or career conflicts, personal loss, trauma, or be in the middle of important life transitions. I also have advanced post-doctoral training in working with individuals who engage in potentially harmful behaviors and young adults struggling to develop their life path.