Sexual Abuse Therapists in Berkeley, CA

During times of struggle, you have an absolute right to support from an attentive, warm, trustworthy witness - someone who believes in your strength and brilliance when you can no longer see it, and who stands by your side as you emerge as the architect of your own healing. My work and my passion is to be that witness. I entered into the field of mental health to uplift the experiences of those who often struggle to find responsive and attuned care. As a queer, biracial, Latinx therapist and advocate, I am wholly dedicated to opening a space with you through which you can experience repair, discovery, growth and transformation.

I work with clients to cultivate deeper insight & understanding about the ways in which our life experiences & ways of being in the world impact our choices & behaviors. In working this way I have found that clients feel empowered to make changes to unhealthy behaviors & create proactive coping strategies for managing situations they may not, as yet, be able to change. I draw upon clients' strengths, culture, spirituality & community as a means of facilitating healing, empowerment & change. My therapeutic approach is grounded in anti-racist and social justice principles.

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.

In my 30+ years practicing psychotherapy, I have had extensive experience working with adults who are trying to adjust to the problems that life presents to us---a difficult childhood, trauma, anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, stress, working with a child who has a difficult mental illness, sexual abuse ,couples' relationship struggles (heterosexual, gay, and lesbian), and grief from the loss of someone treasured. Always my treatment goal is to facilitate the improvement in the quality of life for each individual and to look for the creative aspect within the destruction. Healing is a natural process, but sometimes it is difficult to remember that fact.

In light of the shelter in place orders, we are now providing Teletherapy so individuals and/or families can meet face-to-face online with a therapist. Attending to your mental health needs is especially important during these stressful times. ABOUT US - We are an incorporated psychotherapy group practice established in 1985. We specialize in working with children, adults, families who are dealing with issues of sexual abuse and/or other forms of trauma. We also provide co-parenting, custody evaluation, forensic evaluation, family reunification, and general psychotherapy services, including couples counseling.

When something terrible has happened and you feel unable to cope, life can become overwhelming. At Haven, we offer compassionate mental health counseling to help you get your life back. With thoughtful attention, we address common symptoms of trauma such as panic attacks, nightmares, substance abuse, co-occurring depression and anxiety, and relationship problems. Our goal is to help alleviate distress so you can start living a life you love.

I welcome those into my practice who are struggling with a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I have over ten years of experience working with adults, children and families. I have worked with adults and teens who have come to seek treatment for various types of developmental traumas such as childhood physical and sexual abuse , neglect, as well as single incident trauma. I welcome anyone who is looking to create a safe working alliance through which to explore issues with boundaries and self care, whereby I can assist you in the cultivation of a compassionate inner awareness.

My primary area of focus has been working with people who suffer from trauma and anxiety, in addition to depression. I do much work with those who suffer from emotional neglect, abuse histories, & post-traumatic stress (PTSD). I'm certified in EMDR and am continually impressed at the ability of something so simple to so rapidly relieve pain and suffering. EMDR has been listed as one of the leading trauma therapies. It can also be very effective in helping those who suffer from a childhood history of family difficulties and a lack of nurturing. Also trained in Somatic Experiencing.

As we go through life, we all develop particular patterns for dealing with challenges. Though some of these patterns are helpful, others actually get in the way of reaching our goals. Sometimes we're not even aware that what we're doing may be sabotaging our happiness and success. In therapy, I will give you direct feedback which will illuminate these problematic patterns. This will help you understand how to overcome obstacles, and find deeper satisfaction in your life. As a therapist with over 20 years experience, I have helped many people work through depression and anxiety and move towards success.

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.

I have 26 years of experience as a body focused psychotherapist specializing in shock and developmental trauma, attachment and relationship issues. My approach is empowering &compassionate, & gently takes you beyond difficulties into your wholeness. I've been a Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner for 22 years and can help you calm your Autonomic Nervous System as well as processing relational issues, trauma, grief, etc.

I want your body to feel like a home. When we experience overwhelm, trauma, and loss, our experience in our bodies and minds can feel unpredictable, scary, or foreign. I offer therapy that aims to collaborate with you to restore an inner sense of safety, peace and agency. I believe therapy is about creating enough safety to stretch beyond what is familiar into a place of thriving. I will assist you to identify and change any trauma-related patterns and beliefs that constrict your ability to live fully, and help you to develop your capacity for self-compassion and acceptance.

Stress and trauma can take many forms. Sometimes we survive an event such as a car accident, wildfire, assault , or military-related event. Or we may notice chronic struggles with trusting others and ourselves, and feeling stressed and unsatisfied in our relationships. The experience of trauma can significantly impact how we change or grow in each present moment, how we connect and separate from others, and how we experiment, take risks, and resource our creativity. Let's co-create a therapy relationship that works to support the development of loving relationships with self and others.

Would you like to feel more present in life and more secure in relationships? I have helped many to move past difficult experiences to reconnect with the beauty of life. My treatment focus is helping people to effect change through making different life choices, and on therapy as a working partnership. Trained in both traditional and holistic understandings of mind-body-spirit, my experience includes private practice; crisis work; directorships at mental health agencies; supervision of student therapists; and consultation for providers and organizations. I also integrate spiritual and energy healing perspectives when appropriate.

As humans, we are brilliantly complex, wired for connection, attachment, and survival. Our experience of joy and suffering are innately human and are connected to our physical and emotional wellness--inseparable realms. In somatic psychotherapy we hold space for the body to have a language of its own, honoring what it has to say, so that we may more clearly see what is beneath the surface. As a somatic psychotherapist, I am a collaborator, guide and mirror, supporting you in increasing your own sense of exploration of conscious and unconscious patterns of behaviors, beliefs, body signals and cues.

Are you struggling with anxiety and trauma and turning towards unhealthy coping mechanisms in an attempt to manage your emotions? Now is a trying time for almost everyone, and if you have a trauma background what's coming up in the current environment may be reminiscent of the stress, isolation, and fear induced by early childhood experiences. You don't have to handle this alone, and with clinically tested techniques to regulate the mind and body, it's possible to shift from a place of disempowerment to strength.