Trauma Focused Therapists in Berkeley, CA

I am dedicated to providing a safe place where we can work through your experiences together. I understand that it is a privilege to bear witness to your vulnerability, so I will support you with compassion and a strengths-based approach. You are the expert in your life and my goal is to listen and help you identify the patterns or behaviors you have developed throughout your life that no longer serve you.

Regardless of our histories, healing is possible. I know because I have experienced it myself & have accompanied people in untenable conditions deepen their awareness & access what they need to heal. I provide therapy for people who want to transform limiting beliefs & patterns, heal attachment trauma and abuse, navigate relationships & complex families, & take accountability for past harm. I support people to feel compassion for all parts of themselves & live with more resilience and joy. My clients are queer & transgender people, social justice organizers, survivors, people impacted by the legal system, addiction, and/or violence.

I have been in private practice as a psychotherapist in Berkeley since 1994, working with adults and teens individually and with couples and groups, on recovering from relationship and betrayal trauma. This trauma may manifest as recurring intrusive reminders of overwhelming and unresolved past experiences and as emotional / somatic distress in your present life. Or it may result from inadequate nurture and protection in childhood (attachment trauma). Often, both contribute to the need and desire for relief and a better life beyond trauma. Individualized trauma therapy addresses the need for a new relationship with your past.

My practiced is specialized in working with Adults, Couples and Families who are seeking psychological help with Old/New trauma, Grief/Bereavement/Loss, living with Cancer, living with Movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson disease), living with a Dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), Aging, and Confronting End-of-Life. If you are seeking relief and healing related to living with any of the above concerns, together we will look closely at your particular situation and work toward reducing the intensity of emotional or psychological suffering.

My therapy style is down to earth, warm, inviting and active. I believe therapy is most effective when it is a collaborative process between the client and the therapist. We will work together to explore, reflect and identify areas in which insight and change are needed to achieve your goals. In sessions, I openly share my thoughts and my perspective as a guiding force but respect and believe that you are the leader in the room. I provide therapy as a transformative experience or a space to just let go, it can be whatever you need it to be, as long as the purpose of this space is for you to heal and find more joy in your life.

Therapy is an opportunity for getting support when we recognize that the old ways of coping with challenging life situations are no longer working. You may feel that seeking professional help is the last resort. In fact, it is the most important step. In my practice, I provide a warm and collaborative environment to support clients in making positive changes to live healthier, happier, and more productive lives. I see adults, adolescents, and couples with a wide variety of issues and concerns including depression, anxiety, PTSD, childhood trauma, relationship difficulties, sexual issues, anger management, and substance abuse.

I provide individual, couples, and group psychotherapy to children and adults. I have experience in treating numerous psychological disorders and supporting patients through difficult times, grieving, pandemic related stress, conflictual relationships, and troubling emotions. Along with the general areas of psychology, I specialize in the treatment of trauma. I have worked as a trauma researcher for ten years at the Palo Alto VA and Palo Alto University, publishing a book chapter on personality disorders and paper in the Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. I also provide assessment and expert witness services.

You deserve support navigating life's challenges. You may be feeling overwhelm, worry, stuckness, perfectionism, self-doubt, difficult relationships or any number of challenges many of us face. Together we will work on what matters to you.

I am passionate about offering strengths-based and client-centered therapy while providing a safe and welcoming atmosphere to help clients navigate through the challenges that life may bring. I will focus on your strength and your progress along the way. I have supported many members of the LGBTQIA community with a variety of concerns, including assisting some on their gender journey. I have also supported women with trauma, clients with anxiety disorders, and issues around perfectionism, identity, and purpose. I have also enjoyed working with adolescents and those that dance to the beat of their own drum.

If you need relief from depression, anxiety, and the effects of early traumatic loss, parental neglect, abuse, or mental illness, I could be the right therapist for you. I've been helping clients with these issues, as a licensed therapist, since 2011. I'm sensitive to who you are as a unique individual and what you need at this time of your life, whether that's brief or deep, intensive work. I'll support you in trusting and valuing yourself as you are, and, at the same time, encourage you to take healthy risks and stretch gently beyond your comfort zone. My approach is warm, compassionate, and collaborative.

I offer a safe and compassionate space for individuals and couples in their healing process. Life can get difficult sometimes as we try to juggle the demands of the external world while finding internal balance and harmony. We can carry the pain inflicted on us due to circumstances, or by others. And sometimes it is just a feeling of wanting something more from life than what seems feasible. These experiences can leave us feeling isolated and disconnected from our sense of aliveness, joy and creativity. I support my clients on their journey towards creating a more satisfying life that feels wholesome both internally and externally.

As a psychotherapist, I act as your collaborator, witness and guide, and bring curiosity and warmth to your exploration. Trauma, past wounding and internalized negative beliefs can make it difficult to know what you need from moment to moment. Therefore, in session, I support you in cultivating self-agency so that you may become familiar with what is right for you at a pace that is both constructive and safe. I am here to help you navigate difficult transitions, past and new traumas, grief and loss, shifts in identity, and a desire to change patterns in relationship on your path towards fulfilling connections to self and others.

Are you trans, queer, or LGBTQIA adjacent looking to better manage the effects of stress, mood problems or anxiety? Maybe you're exploring your relationship to some problematic habits or making some changes? You want a therapist who is warm, welcoming and insightful, but who isn't too psycho-babbley. I won't tell you that you're too sensitive or that your feelings don't make sense.

You may be navigating identity issues, feeling stuck in one or more areas of your life, wanting to experience more connection in relationships, or seeking a time and space that is totally separate from the other parts of your life—where you can pause, think, and feel in the privacy of a therapy relationship. I'll attempt to engage you in a co-created process of inquiry about your subjective experience (what you are feeling and thinking). I approach psychotherapy collaboratively, meaning, we will do this together.

You feel like something is off but you're not exactly sure why. Your mind races and you feel stressed most of the time. You have a hard time slowing down and feeling connected with yourself as well as other people in your life. These statements describe the experience of many clients that I work with. I specialize in helping people who feel anxious, disconnected, or just "off." If you experience general anxiety, panic attacks, agitation, or disconnection from yourself or others, then I may be able to help you feel less alone and more settled in your life.

These uncertain times can feel overwhelming. The world can seem frightening. Many folks feel isolated and exhausted. Others may feel anxious, depressed, or both. Now is a great time to seek therapy and find a safe place to connect, mine resources, discover tools and explore ways to help you manage challenges. I provide a warm, practical and comfortable practice where you can expect to be treated with respect, kindness, a sense of humor, compassion and over 25 years of experience with teens and families. I have a diverse practice and experience working with a variety of folx. Please contact me, I'm here to help.

You met someone; you fell in love…is it time to build a family together? What about all the fights you have been having recently? Now you are a mother/father, juggling childcare, professional development, housework… what about US? What about ME? How to teach our kids when we don’t even agree? Things are not working out; Shall we give it one last try before separating? My partner wants to open up the relationship/marriage. What does it even mean?

I recognize that seeking therapy means that you or a loved one have determined a need for connection beyond that of friends and family. Knowing how difficult and intimidating this outreach can be, as a psychologist I strive to establish a safe space where clients can speak freely and be listened to intently. The work we do together is about creating an alliance that allows you to delve into painful memories and face feelings that can be frightening or uncomfortable. We do this work in collaboration, so I can hear your stories, and create a meaningful relationship.

Hello! If you are here you are contemplating taking the first step towards your journey of healing! Life continues to happen and we can't control that but we can learn to can control how we respond. With my therapeutic support you will develop the tools needed to gain acceptance, use your voice and reclaim your power. I can help you arrange the pieces of your puzzle in a way that creates a healing space to learn to manage your triggers, stand in your truth and live the life you deserve. I am passionate about providing a safe, nonjudgmental space to practice this work.