Marriage Counseling Therapists in Castro Valley, CA

Does it seem like you are often on edge, irritable, angry, or anxious? Do people complain that you are isolated, a workaholic, drink too much, are shut down emotionally? Is it difficult to get motivated to do anything? Maybe you are haunted by a horrific incident that happened to you. Perhaps you are struggling with a significant loss. Often the people we care about the most take the brunt of our anger, irritability and anxiety. This can lead to strained or conflicted relationships with a spouse, other family members, co-workers or friends and may result in significant negative consequences to a marriage and career.

I work with Individuals, Couples, adolescents, and persons identifying as LGBTQI, who feel as if they need assistance figuring out their personal barriers to success and happiness. I provide assistance to those who may need to overcome generational stigmas or traumas that have left them with negative self thoughts, mood issues, thinking and behaviors. In todays society we face a daily onslaught of emotional and physical triggers, just by reading the news or figuring out sheltering in place during a pandemic, with the kids home! I get it, and I can help balance your emotions, priorities and self-care, in the midst of all the chaos.

I enjoy working with a diverse group of people. I work well with individuals who are feeling conflicted or lost within ambivalence. I work well with couples who are frustrated in trying to find a connection. I work well with children who are sensitive and parents who are longing to connect.

Are you or your family under stress, or does personal tension or relational conflict rule the day? Are you experiencing a transition, a divorce, a loss, or have new partners entered the family picture? Do you worry that your child is depressed or anxious? Do you worry that you are not a good parent? For over 23 years, I have been helping people like you successfully resolve these issues. I help adults navigate individual and marital challenges and parents master the skills that parenting requires. I help teens make better choices as they come to know themselves.

I have been a therapist since 1987. I see adults only, specializing in women’s issues, couples’ therapy and issues in aging. I listen well, applying both psychological theories and practical life experience to understand what my client is experiencing from a psychological perspective. I also consider what social pressures or situations impact your thinking/emotional states and what therapeutic approaches might be most helpful. I take into account the client's unique human diversity, personal development, and spirituality. Together, we select achievable goals and work toward those.

Is your marriage or partnership showing signs of stress? Are you not sure if blending families is a good idea? Over 60% of blended families in the U.S. with children do not succeed and negatively impact children's mental health. I help couples in conflict or who have grown apart (especially in blended families), create a more loving home using evidence-based methods, including the Gottman Method, and Bader-Pearson Couples Therapy. I utilize compassion- and mindfulness-based methods to improve your parenting AND your partnership at the same time, while addressing the underlying causes of conflicts.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have broad professional experience as a mediator, conflict management consultant, educator, and trainer. I bring the skills I've acquired in these roles to my therapy work. We humans are adaptive beings. When we adopt behaviors and mindsets that do not serve us, we may feel stuck, fearful, or intensely unhappy. Thankfully, we can modify our thinking and behaviors to promote a life of growth, happiness and healthy relationships. I provide skilled support to help repair troubled relationships and re-route unproductive thinking and behavior patterns.

Dealing with depression, anxiety or stress can be overwhelming — it isn’t easy to do. Every one experiences “ups and downs” in life but some “downs” can be more problematic than others. Let me help you. I offer compassionate and honest help for: repetitive relationship problems, difficult with emotional intimacy or closeness, problems at work or school, periods of marked depression or anxiety, over-consumption of alcohol or drugs, compulsive or addictive use of a computer, phone, tv, shopping, food, exercise, work or obsessive thinking and vulnerability to self injurious or self-sabotaging behaviors.

I am committed to collaboratively working with you in a safe environment to provide support in your endeavor toward a solution to your unique and special needs. I provide therapy to families and couples, as well as individual teens and adults. I assist clients in dealing with stress of illness, cultural and life transitions, personal growth and development, and relationships.

My focus is on working with you to address current challenges, process past difficulties, and develop tools to overcome hurdles in relationships and daily life. I frequently work with individuals going through life changes, experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma, and couples with communication and conflict concerns. In addition, I work with neurodivergent individuals, including those on the autism spectrum, and parents, including parents of children with disabilities.

Hello there, I'm Susie. I'm a bilingual therapist who speaks English and Spanish. I have specialized training in Art Therapy and EMDR. In my work with individuals and groups, I am compassionate, collaborative, culturally sensitive and creative.

"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better." -Maya Angelou. Therapy is a collaborative and supportive journey where we will work together to help you learn practical skills and tools, and to help you to view yourself and others in a more accurate and nonjudgmental light. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions to address thoughts or behaviors that may be negatively impacting your emotions and relationships, and/or getting in the way of achieving your goals.

I provide individual, couples, and family therapy. I work with families with both teenage (ages 15+) and adult children. When working with teens, I take a family therapy approach and involve both the adolescent and the parents. With individuals, I work with adults on issues such as anxiety, past trauma, stress, relationship issues, boundary setting, assertiveness, self-criticism, and overall enhancement of their wellbeing, happiness, and life satisfaction. With couples, I primarily utilize Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy but also pull from other couples therapy modalities such as Gottman.

My practice is rooted in the belief that there is power in knowing and telling your own story. Who are you? Where did you come from? What's important to you? Let's work together to untangle your story, identify your strengths, goals, passions, and barriers; and make you the author of what comes next. I work with people who want to make positive changes, but feel paralyzed by stress, fear, indecision, or old habits. I can also help you learn concrete strategies for managing uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, transitions, health conditions or problematic relationships.

Joy provides families with survival tools and peace of mind to successfully accomplish the monumental task of raising kids and a family - a task that came without an instruction manual and changes at every turn. While she doesn't claim to know every particular circumstance, she has a reputation for respecting, honoring, and supporting people from a wide variety of life experiences. Joy has the ability to not just understand but FEEL your struggle without judgment.

I am dedicated to helping individuals grow, heal, and find their true selves. I believe that the therapy space needs to be one of complete safety, where clients feel empathized with, seen, understood, and free to be who they really are. I help clients discover and take pride in their strengths, solve complicated problems, find self-compassion, and gain a deeper understanding of how they got here and where they are going.

I am committed to supporting individuals who are overwhelmed with work and life stressors, challenged with trauma/crisis, or frustrated with fractured relationships; to develop solutions for stress management, repair and deepen relationships, and heal from being hurt so that you thrive through life with emotional health, wealth, and wellness.